[1] The county seat and only incorporated municipality is Las Animas.

[2] The county is named in honor of frontier trader William Bent.

As Colorado experienced population growth following the American Civil War, government had to be closer to the people for commerce and justice to be better served in growing communities.

The June 1, 1870, Federal Census was several months away and there were plans to apply for statehood.

At the time of this annexation, Bent County included a large portion of southeastern Colorado.

The last Democrat to carry Bent County was Bill Clinton in 1996, although Michael Dukakis in 1988 was the last to gain a majority.