Colorado

Bent

5,650
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Bent

Bent, Colorado, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 592. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,650.

Its recorded population peaked at 9,705 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 42 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Fort Lyon – Colorado Territory Defense, and 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,650
20106,499
20005,998
19905,048
19805,945
19706,493
19607,419
19508,775
19409,653
19309,134
19209,705
19105,043
19003,049
18901,313
18801,654
1870592
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bent

Military engagements that took place in Bent, Colorado.

Fort Lyon – Colorado Territory Defense
1862

Historic places in Bent

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bent, Colorado.

Las Animas Post Office
Las Animas
Boggsville (Additional Documentation)
Las Animas
Bent County Courthouse and Jail
Las Animas
Fort Lyon
Las Animas
Bent County High School
Las Animas
Santa Fe Trail Mountain Route-Bent's New Fort
Lamar
Fort Lyon National Cemetery
Las Animas
Browse all Coloradohistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Bent County, Colorado

This page charts the census history of Bent County, Colorado. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bent

When does Bent first appear in the US census?
Bent, Colorado first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 592.
What is the population of Bent?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bent had a recorded population of 5,650.
When did Bent's population peak?
Bent's recorded population peaked at 9,705 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Bent?
1 documented military engagement took place in Bent, including Fort Lyon – Colorado Territory Defense.
How many historic places are in Bent?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bent, Colorado.
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