Colorado

Otero

18,690
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Otero

Otero, Colorado, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 4,192. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 18,690.

Its recorded population peaked at 25,275 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 26 percent.

On the ground today, 22 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202018,690
201018,831
200020,311
199020,185
198022,567
197023,523
196024,128
195025,275
194023,571
193024,390
192022,623
191020,201
190011,522
18904,192
Source

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

Historic places in Otero

National Register of Historic Places listings in Otero, Colorado.

Finney, Dr. Frank, House
La Junta
North La Junta School
La Junta
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
La Junta
Rourke, Eugene, House
La Junta
Sciumbato, Daniel, Grocery Store
La Junta
Hart, Wilson A., House
La Junta
Santa Fe Railway Manzanola Depot
Manzanola
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 Otero County, Colorado

This page charts the census history of Otero 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 Otero

When does Otero first appear in the US census?
Otero, Colorado first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 4,192.
What is the population of Otero?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Otero had a recorded population of 18,690.
When did Otero's population peak?
Otero's recorded population peaked at 25,275 in 1950.
How many historic places are in Otero?
22 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Otero, Colorado.
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