Bent County Demographics

A map of Bent County's Population by Race

Bent County, Colorado has an estimated population of 5,549, a slight decrease from the 5,650 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 53.7% White, 32.5% Hispanic, 8.4% Multiracial, 3.2% Black, 1.2% Native American/Other, and 0.9% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bent County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bent has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Colorado overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bent County, that probability was 55.5% in 2020 and 59.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bent County is ranked the 50th most populous county in Colorado, out of 64 counties. Bent County was ranked the 50th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Bent County's White Population

2,981 residents of Bent County, or 53.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bent County is considerably lower than in Colorado overall, where 64.8% of the population is White. Bent County ranks 49th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bent County's White population has declined by an estimated 10.1%. White residents' share of Bent County's population has decreased from 58.7% to 53.7%.

Bent County is more White than neighboring Otero County (52.4% White). Bent County is less White than neighboring Kiowa County (83.1% White), Prowers County (55% White), Crowley County (55.7% White), and Baca County (82.8% White).

Bent County's Black Population

179 residents of Bent County, or 3.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bent County is comparable to the share in Colorado overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Bent County ranks 6th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bent County's Black population has declined by an estimated 29.8%. Black residents' share of Bent County's population has decreased from 4.5% to 3.2%.

Bent County is more Black than neighboring Kiowa County (0% Black), Otero County (1.1% Black), Prowers County (1% Black), and Baca County (0.4% Black). Bent County is less Black than neighboring Crowley County (6.6% Black).

Bent County's Asian Population

52 residents of Bent County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bent County is slightly lower than in Colorado overall, where 3.2% of the population is Asian. Bent County ranks 31st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bent County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 33.3%. Asian residents' share of Bent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Bent County is more Asian than neighboring Otero County (0.7% Asian), Prowers County (0.3% Asian), and Crowley County (0.8% Asian). Bent County is less Asian than neighboring Kiowa County (1.5% Asian), and Baca County (2.6% Asian).

Bent County's Hispanic Population

1,801 residents of Bent County, or 32.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bent County is higher than in Colorado overall, where 22.5% of the population is Hispanic. Bent County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bent County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Bent County's population has increased from 31.2% to 32.5%.

Bent County is more Hispanic than neighboring Kiowa County (12.9% Hispanic), Crowley County (29% Hispanic), and Baca County (10.9% Hispanic). Bent County is less Hispanic than neighboring Otero County (42% Hispanic), and Prowers County (40.5% Hispanic).

Bent County's Native American/Other Population

69 residents of Bent County, or 1.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bent County is comparable to the share in Colorado overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Bent County ranks 13th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bent County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 29.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bent County's population has decreased from 1.7% to 1.2%.

Bent County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Kiowa County (0.4% Native American/Other), Otero County (0.8% Native American/Other), Prowers County (0.1% Native American/Other), and Baca County (0.4% Native American/Other). Bent County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Crowley County (3.9% Native American/Other).

Bent County's Multiracial Population

467 residents of Bent County, or 8.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bent County is slightly higher than in Colorado overall, where 4.6% of the population is Multiracial. Bent County ranks 49th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bent County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 155.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Bent County's population has increased from 3.2% to 8.4%.

Bent County is more Multiracial than neighboring Kiowa County (2% Multiracial), Otero County (2.9% Multiracial), Prowers County (3% Multiracial), Crowley County (4% Multiracial), and Baca County (2.9% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.