County · code 08067
La Plata CountyColorado
La Plata County is a county in Colorado with its seat in Durango, formed in 1874.
- Founded1874
- County seatDurango
- Land area1,690 sq mi + 9.9 sq mi water
- Population55,638 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped35,755 checked 13 October 2026
Where it is
La Plata on the map of Colorado
Colorado has 64 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1874 from Conejos County and Lake County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
La Plata County was created on February 10, 1874, by the Colorado Territory from Conejos and Lake counties. On May 1, 1876, La Plata County lost territory to the creation of Hinsdale and San Juan counties. On April 16, 1889, La Plata County lost territory to the creation of Montezuma County.
- 1874La Plata County created La Plata created by Colorado Territory from Conejos and Lake. · Colo. Terr. Laws 1874, 10th sess., sec. 3/p. 67
- 1876Lost territory La Plata lost to Hinsdale and lost to creation of San Juan; act passed 31 January 1876; took effect 1 May 1876. · Colo. Terr. Laws 1876, 11th sess., secs. 1, 9, 12/pp. 58-61
- 1889Lost territory La Plata lost to creation of Montezuma. · Colo. Laws 1889, 7th sess., H.B. 220, pp. 262-265
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in La Plata
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 35,755 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 25 June 2026 · checked 13 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for La Plata County yet.
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Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
La Plata by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
County government
- County government
The official website of La Plata County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open La Plata County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about La Plata County
- When was La Plata County founded?
- La Plata County was founded in 1874, formed from Conejos County and Lake County.
- What is the county seat of La Plata County?
- The county seat of La Plata County is Durango.
- Is there an online parcel map for La Plata County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 35,755 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has La Plata County's boundary or name changed?
- La Plata County was created in 1874 from Conejos County and Lake County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 2 later changes, chiefly involving Hinsdale County, Montezuma County and San Juan County.
- Who issues building permits in La Plata County?
- The county's page on building permits: Licenses and Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for La Plata County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby