Colorado

Rio Blanco

6,529
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Rio Blanco

Rio Blanco, Colorado, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 1,200. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 6,529.

Its recorded population peaked at 6,666 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

On the ground today, 19 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Ute War — Battle of Milk Creek, Battle of Red Canyon (Thornburgh), White River Agency Attack (Meeker Massacre), and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20206,529
20106,666
20005,986
19905,972
19806,255
19704,842
19605,150
19504,719
19402,943
19302,980
19203,135
19102,332
19001,690
18901,200
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Rio Blanco

Military engagements that took place in Rio Blanco, Colorado.

Ute War — Battle of Milk Creek
1879
Battle of Red Canyon (Thornburgh)
1879
White River Agency Attack (Meeker Massacre)
1879
Meeker Massacre and Battle of Milk Creek
1879
Battle of Meeker Ambush (Utah Territory)
1879
Battle of Milk Creek (Thornburgh Fight)
1879
Ute War — Meeker Massacre
1879
White River Ute Uprising — Agency Attack and Milk Creek Combined
1879
White River Agency — Pre-Massacre Tensions (September 1879)
1879
Ute War — Meeker Massacre Colorado 1879
1879
Meeker Massacre
1879
White River Agency Attack
1879
White River Agency (Ute)
1879
Battle of Milk Creek (White River Ute War)
1879
Battle of Milk Creek (September 29 – October 5, 1879)
1879
Meeker Massacre Ute White River Agency
1879
White River Agency Massacre
1879
Battle of Milk Creek – Relief Column
1879
Milk Creek Battle (Meeker Massacre)
1879

Historic places in Rio Blanco

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rio Blanco, Colorado.

Meeker Historic District
Meeker
Hay's Ranch Bridge
Meeker
Canon Pintado
Rangely
Meeker I.O.O.F. Lodge-Valentine Lodge No. 47
Meeker
Pyramid Guard Station
Yampa
Hotel Meeker
Meeker
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 Rio Blanco County, Colorado

This page charts the census history of Rio Blanco 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 Rio Blanco

When does Rio Blanco first appear in the US census?
Rio Blanco, Colorado first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 1,200.
What is the population of Rio Blanco?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rio Blanco had a recorded population of 6,529.
When did Rio Blanco's population peak?
Rio Blanco's recorded population peaked at 6,666 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Rio Blanco?
19 documented military engagements took place in Rio Blanco, including Ute War — Battle of Milk Creek, Battle of Red Canyon (Thornburgh), White River Agency Attack (Meeker Massacre).
How many historic places are in Rio Blanco?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rio Blanco, Colorado.
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