Grand County, Colorado

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Grand County
Grand County Judicial Center.JPG
The Grand County Judicial Center in Hot Sulphur Springs, July 2016
Grand County co seal.png
Map of Colorado highlighting Grand County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado in United States.svg
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°06′N106°07′W / 40.10°N 106.12°W / 40.10; -106.12
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
FoundedFebruary 2, 1874
Named for Grand Lake and Grand River
Seat Hot Sulphur Springs
Largest town Granby
Area
  Total1,870 sq mi (4,800 km2)
  Land1,846 sq mi (4,780 km2)
  Water23 sq mi (60 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
  Total15,717
  Density8.5/sq mi (3.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website co.grand.co.us
Whiteley Peak along U.S. Highway 40 north of Kremmling Whiteley Peak.JPG
Whiteley Peak along U.S. Highway 40 north of Kremmling

Grand County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,717. [1] The county seat is Hot Sulphur Springs. [2]

Contents

History

When Grand County was created on February 2, 1874, it was carved out of Summit County and contained land to the western and northern borders of the state, which is in present-day Moffat County and Routt County. It was named after Grand Lake and the Grand River, [3] an old name for the upper Colorado River, which has its headwaters in the county. On January 29, 1877, Routt County was created and Grand County shrunk down to its current western boundary. When valuable minerals were found in North Park, Grand County claimed the area as part of its county, a claim Larimer County also held. It took a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court in 1886 to declare North Park part of Larimer County, setting Grand County's northern boundary.

In 2004, Marvin John Heemeyer, a local businessman from Granby, used a modified bulldozer to destroy parts of the town of Granby. This was after Heemeyer lawsuit against the town alleging the government ruined his business was dismissed. [4] His attack ended when one of the bulldozer tracks became inoperable and he committed suicide.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,870 square miles (4,800 km2), of which 1,846 square miles (4,780 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (1.2%) is water. [5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Bicycle routes

Scenic byways

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 417
1890 60444.8%
1900 74122.7%
1910 1,862151.3%
1920 2,65942.8%
1930 2,108−20.7%
1940 3,58770.2%
1950 3,96310.5%
1960 3,557−10.2%
1970 4,10715.5%
1980 7,47582.0%
1990 7,9666.6%
2000 12,44256.2%
2010 14,84319.3%
2020 15,7175.9%
2023 (est.)15,935 [6] 1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9]
1990-2000 [10] 2010-2020 [1]

Demographics

At the 2000 census, there were 12,442 people in 5,075 households, including 3,217 families, in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 10,894 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.15% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 4.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.8% were of German, 12.6% Irish, 10.0% English and 7.3% American ancestry. [11] Of the 5,075 households 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 5.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.60% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 4.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85.

The age distribution was 21.80% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 34.70% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 112.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.70 males.

The median household income was $47,759 and the median family income was $55,217. Males had a median income of $34,861 versus $26,445 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,198. About 5.40% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Unlike many counties dominated by a ski town, Grand County leans Republican. However, the town of Winter Park, where the Winter Park Ski Resort is located, is solidly Democratic.

United States presidential election results for Grand County, Colorado [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.%No.%No.%
2020 4,88349.47%4,71047.72%2772.81%
2016 4,49452.33%3,35839.10%7368.57%
2012 4,25351.95%3,68445.00%2503.05%
2008 4,12849.68%4,03748.59%1441.73%
2004 4,26055.99%3,24342.62%1061.39%
2000 3,57056.19%2,30836.33%4757.48%
1996 2,26446.30%2,01241.15%61412.56%
1992 1,76335.85%1,67834.12%1,47730.03%
1988 2,30660.08%1,45137.81%812.11%
1984 2,86572.72%1,01725.81%581.47%
1980 2,13361.28%82023.56%52815.17%
1976 1,70361.77%91033.01%1445.22%
1972 1,72169.93%68527.83%552.23%
1968 1,16767.38%43325.00%1327.62%
1964 81447.22%90252.32%80.46%
1960 1,10462.62%65737.27%20.11%
1956 1,23971.33%49628.55%20.12%
1952 1,33370.34%55429.23%80.42%
1948 77749.74%76348.85%221.41%
1944 96863.52%55436.35%20.13%
1940 1,07455.19%86344.35%90.46%
1936 71445.54%84653.95%80.51%
1932 59842.87%77155.27%261.86%
1928 77062.15%45136.40%181.45%
1924 68154.31%30824.56%26521.13%
1920 64952.51%55344.74%342.75%
1916 37837.17%62461.36%151.47%
1912 24825.78%50752.70%20721.52%
1908 52951.31%48747.24%151.45%
1904 47563.16%26635.37%111.46%
1900 17148.17%18251.27%20.56%
1896 124.53%25194.72%20.75%
1892 10443.70%00.00%13456.30%
1888 16264.80%8333.20%52.00%
1884 24958.18%17440.65%51.17%
1880 12157.08%8741.04%41.89%

Communities

The Fraser Valley in eastern Grand County is a key tourist area. Fraser Valley.jpg
The Fraser Valley in eastern Grand County is a key tourist area.

Towns

Census-designated places

Other

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  141.
  4. "Marvin Heemeyer Wanted Revenge — So He Built A 'Killdozer'". February 8, 2022.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.