It was named for Jose Manuel Archuleta, "head of one of the old Spanish families of New Mexico",[3] and in honor of his son Antonio D. Archuleta, who was the Senator from Conejos County at the time.

As of 2021, there were 9,693 housing units at an average density of 7.2 per square mile (2.8/km2).

The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 3.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 3.1% from two or more races.

[1] As of January 2022, Archuleta County had approximately 10,696 active registered voters.

[12] Voting in the county tends to favor conservative choices, especially at the state and national level, but winning elections for unaffiliated local candidates are not uncommon.