Kit Carson County, Colorado

Not to be confused with Kit Carson, Colorado.

Kit Carson County
County
Burlington State Armory in Burlington
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°19′N102°36′W / 39.31°N 102.6°W / 39.31; -102.6
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	April 11, 1889
Named for	Kit Carson
Seat	Burlington
Largest city	Burlington
Area
• Total	2,162 sq mi (5,600 km2)
• Land	2,161 sq mi (5,600 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.04%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,087
• Density	3.3/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	kitcarsoncounty.colorado.gov

Kit Carson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,087. ^[1] The county seat is Burlington. ^[2] The county was established in 1889 and named for American frontiersman and Indian fighter Kit Carson. ^{[3] [4]}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,162 square miles (5,600 km²), of which 2,161 square miles (5,600 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (0.04%) is water. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• Yuma County (north)
• Cheyenne County, Kansas (northeast/Central Time border)
• Sherman County, Kansas (east)
• Wallace County, Kansas (southeast)
• Cheyenne County (south)
• Lincoln County (west)
• Washington County (northwest)

Major highways

• Interstate 70
• I-70 BS
• I-70 BL
• U.S. Highway 24
• U.S. Highway 385
• State Highway 59

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	2,472		—
1900	1,580		−36.1%
1910	7,483		373.6%
1920	8,915		19.1%
1930	9,725		9.1%
1940	7,512		−22.8%
1950	8,600		14.5%
1960	6,957		−19.1%
1970	7,530		8.2%
1980	7,599		0.9%
1990	7,140		−6.0%
2000	8,011		12.2%
2010	8,270		3.2%
2020	7,087		−14.3%
2023 (est.)	6,994	[6]	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2020 [1]

At the 2000 census there were 8,011 people, 2,990 households, and 2,081 families living in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.28% White, 1.74% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.20% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 13.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[11] Of the 2,990 households 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.20% of households were one person and 12.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 26.70% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 112.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.10 males.

The median household income was $33,152 and the median family income was $41,867. Males had a median income of $28,700 versus $19,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,964. About 9.40% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Like all the High Plains, Kit Carson County is powerfully Republican. Since 1920, it has been won only twice by a Democratic presidential candidate – during the landslides of 1932 and 1964. Along with Elbert County and Rio Blanco County, it was one of three Colorado counties to be won by Alf Landon in 1936.

United States presidential election results for Kit Carson County, Colorado ^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,083	83.37%	556	15.04%	59	1.60%
2020	3,144	81.22%	662	17.10%	65	1.68%
2016	2,967	80.15%	536	14.48%	199	5.38%
2012	2,785	75.23%	838	22.64%	79	2.13%
2008	2,455	71.32%	912	26.50%	75	2.18%
2004	2,721	77.70%	729	20.82%	52	1.48%
2000	2,542	73.51%	809	23.40%	107	3.09%
1996	2,068	60.26%	1,073	31.26%	291	8.48%
1992	1,801	49.23%	925	25.29%	932	25.48%
1988	2,262	64.41%	1,196	34.05%	54	1.54%
1984	2,762	77.06%	778	21.71%	44	1.23%
1980	2,622	71.78%	790	21.63%	241	6.60%
1976	1,888	52.28%	1,647	45.61%	76	2.10%
1972	2,316	70.89%	824	25.22%	127	3.89%
1968	1,977	61.08%	1,026	31.70%	234	7.23%
1964	1,316	40.71%	1,906	58.95%	11	0.34%
1960	2,248	66.88%	1,103	32.82%	10	0.30%
1956	2,243	70.96%	911	28.82%	7	0.22%
1952	2,511	71.03%	998	28.23%	26	0.74%
1948	1,873	58.88%	1,281	40.27%	27	0.85%
1944	2,471	72.27%	937	27.41%	11	0.32%
1940	2,481	68.69%	1,100	30.45%	31	0.86%
1936	1,980	50.76%	1,730	44.35%	191	4.90%
1932	1,835	42.55%	2,289	53.07%	189	4.38%
1928	2,486	67.37%	1,137	30.81%	67	1.82%
1924	2,108	60.21%	720	20.57%	673	19.22%
1920	1,872	65.48%	796	27.84%	191	6.68%
1916	1,030	37.06%	1,571	56.53%	178	6.41%
1912	569	25.08%	719	31.69%	981	43.23%
1908	983	54.10%	752	41.39%	82	4.51%
1904	514	66.67%	219	28.40%	38	4.93%
1900	384	58.36%	259	39.36%	15	2.28%
1896	252	51.12%	229	46.45%	12	2.43%
1892	277	54.10%	0	0.00%	235	45.90%

In other statewide elections, Kit Carson County also leans strongly Republican. At a gubernatorial level, it has been won by Democrat Roy Romer in 1990 ^[13] – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010. ^[14]

Recreation

National historic landmark

• Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6, National Historic Landmark

Historic trail

• Smoky Hill Trail

Communities

City

• Burlington

Towns

• Bethune
• Flagler
• Seibert
• Stratton
• Vona

See also

• Government portal
• History portal
• United States portal
• Colorado portal

• Bibliography of Colorado
• Geography of Colorado
• History of Colorado
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Kit Carson County, Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado-related lists
  • List of counties in Colorado
• Outline of Colorado

References

1. "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. Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 957
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  176.
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.
13. "1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
14. "2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.

External links

• Official website
• Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society

39°19′N102°36′W / 39.31°N 102.60°W / 39.31; -102.60