[2] The county name is the Spanish language word for a grove of cottonwood trees.

[3] Alamosa is served by San Luis Valley Regional Airport.

At the 2000 census there were 14,966 people, 5,467 households, and 3,651 families living in the county.

There were 6,088 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km2).

The racial makeup of the county was 71.19% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 2.34% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 20.34% from other races, and 4.16% from two or more races.

[12] It consists of 18 sworn law enforcement officers and 21 civilian support personnel.