La Plata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,638. The county seat is Durango. The county was named for the La Plata River and the La Plata Mountains. "La plata" means "the silver" in Spanish. La Plata County comprises the Durango, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is home to Durango Rock Shelters Archeology Site, the type site for the Basketmaker II period of Anasazi culture.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.4%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- San Juan County - north
- Hinsdale County - northeast
- Archuleta County - east
- San Juan County, New Mexico - south
- Montezuma County - west
- Dolores County - northwest
Major highways
- 20px U.S. Highway 160
- 20px U.S. Highway 550
- 20px State Highway 140
- 20px State Highway 151
- 20px State Highway 172