Dolores County, Colorado

Founding: 1881
Parent county: Ouray

Namesake: The Dolores River
Seat: Rico (1881–1946); Dove Creek (1946–)

Land area: 1,067 square miles

Population (2020): 2,326

Population (historic): 1,498 (1890); 642 (1910); 1,412 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1880s; 1910–1940; 1950s; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: Two towns

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 144 (9.6%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 22.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 16.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 26.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $246
Average outbuilding value (1930): $236
Average farmhouse size (1940): 2.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 186
Average farm size (1920): 39.1 acres
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Rico (ex-seat)

Namesake: The Spanish word rico ("rich")

Founding: 1879 (platting); 1879 (post office)

Population (2020): 288

Population (historic): 894 (1880); 811 (1900); 447 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1876–1890; 1920s; 1950s; 1990–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 52 (19.9%)

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Dove Creek

Namesake: Dove Creek

Founding: 1915 (post office); 1939 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 635

Population (historic): 418 (1940); 702 (1950)

Periods of population growth: pre-1940–1960; 1970s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 14 (3.7%)

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