Colorado

La Plata

55,638
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About La Plata

La Plata, Colorado, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 1,110. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 55,638.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Sacred Ridge Massacre, Wason Park Massacre (Pueblo I), La Plata Highway Project Massacre Site, and 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202055,638
201051,334
200043,941
199032,284
198027,424
197019,199
196019,225
195014,880
194015,494
193012,975
192011,218
191010,812
19007,016
18905,509
18801,110
Source

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

Battles & engagements in La Plata

Military engagements that took place in La Plata, Colorado.

Sacred Ridge Massacre
810
Wason Park Massacre (Pueblo I)
850
La Plata Highway Project Massacre Site
900
Sacred Ridge Massacre – Colorado
1030
La Plata Valley Conflicts
1260
Battle of Las Animas River (August 21, 1879)
1879
Durango Marshal Wightman Killed, La Plata County CO
1881

Historic places in La Plata

National Register of Historic Places listings in La Plata, Colorado.

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Locomotive No. 315
Durango
Durango High School
Durango
Main Avenue Historic District
Durango
Durango-Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad
Durango
Durango Rock Shelters Archeology Site
Durango
Browse all Coloradohistoric sites ›

Other counties in Colorado

Explore census history and historic records for more Colorado counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about La Plata County, Colorado

This page charts the census history of La Plata 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 La Plata

When does La Plata first appear in the US census?
La Plata, Colorado first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 1,110.
What is the population of La Plata?
At the most recent federal census (2020), La Plata had a recorded population of 55,638.
Were any battles fought in La Plata?
7 documented military engagements took place in La Plata, including Sacred Ridge Massacre, Wason Park Massacre (Pueblo I), La Plata Highway Project Massacre Site.
How many historic places are in La Plata?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in La Plata, Colorado.
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