Park County, Colorado

Last updated

Park County
Park County Courthouse, July 2016.jpg
Old Park County Courthouse
Map of Colorado highlighting Park County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado in United States.svg
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°07′N105°43′W / 39.12°N 105.71°W / 39.12; -105.71
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
Seat Fairplay
Largest townFairplay
Area
  Total
2,211 sq mi (5,730 km2)
  Land2,194 sq mi (5,680 km2)
  Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
17,390
  Estimate 
(2023) [1]
18,117 Increase2.svg
  Density7.9/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 7th
Website www.parkco.us

Park County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,390. [2] The county seat is Fairplay. [3] The county was named after the large geographic region known as South Park, which was named by early fur traders and trappers in the area. Park County is included in the DenverAuroraLakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. A majority of the county lies within the boundaries of the South Park National Heritage Area.

Contents

Geography

At the 2020 United States census, the county had a total area of 2,211 square miles (5,730 km2), of which 2,194 square miles (5,680 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (0.8%) is water. [4]

The geographic center of the State of Colorado is located in Park County at coordinates 38°59′50″N105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (Geographic center of the State of Colorado) . The headwaters of the South Platte River are located in Park County at coordinates 39°00′40″N105°44′25″W / 39.0111°N 105.7403°W / 39.0111; -105.7403 (Geographic center of Colorado) . [5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

State protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870 447
1880 3,970788.1%
1890 3,548−10.6%
1900 2,998−15.5%
1910 2,492−16.9%
1920 1,977−20.7%
1930 2,0523.8%
1940 3,27259.5%
1950 1,870−42.8%
1960 1,822−2.6%
1970 2,18519.9%
1980 5,333144.1%
1990 7,17434.5%
2000 14,523102.4%
2010 16,20611.6%
2020 17,3907.3%
2023 (est.)18,117 [6] 4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9]
1990-2000 [10] 2010-2020 [2]

As of the 2020 United States census, [11] Park County was 87.8% White, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% Native American, 1.1% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, and 2.8% two or more races.

There were 7,688 houses, and only 3.6% of the population is below the age of 5.

According to the census [12] of 2000, there were 14,523 people, 5,894 households, and 4,220 families living in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 10,697 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.07% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. 4.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,894 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 30.60% from 45 to 64, and 7.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 107.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,899, and the median income for a family was $57,025. Males had a median income of $41,480 versus $27,807 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,019. About 3.40% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.60% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Park County, Colorado [13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 6,82856.67%4,84140.18%3803.15%
2020 6,99156.88%4,90339.89%3973.23%
2016 6,13558.89%3,42132.84%8618.27%
2012 5,23655.90%3,86241.23%2682.86%
2008 4,89652.18%4,25045.29%2372.53%
2004 4,78157.21%3,44541.22%1311.57%
2000 3,67755.17%2,39335.90%5958.93%
1996 2,66150.77%1,84435.18%73614.04%
1992 1,53035.78%1,30730.57%1,43933.65%
1988 1,90956.87%1,34340.01%1053.13%
1984 2,04170.33%78226.95%792.72%
1980 1,62359.34%67424.64%43816.01%
1976 1,03455.24%74139.58%975.18%
1972 1,00170.29%38627.11%372.60%
1968 60158.58%28627.88%13913.55%
1964 49348.86%51551.04%10.10%
1960 64259.33%43840.48%20.18%
1956 71570.58%29729.32%10.10%
1952 77568.89%34330.49%70.62%
1948 63755.30%50543.84%100.87%
1944 67060.80%42638.66%60.54%
1940 98652.98%86946.70%60.32%
1936 74635.36%1,33663.32%281.33%
1932 57733.26%1,05760.92%1015.82%
1928 74062.82%41935.57%191.61%
1924 66056.12%31626.87%20017.01%
1920 51158.20%32036.45%475.35%
1916 37234.48%67462.47%333.06%
1912 29329.87%52953.92%15916.21%
1908 46535.58%80761.74%352.68%
1904 68549.25%66948.09%372.66%
1900 57937.89%94061.52%90.59%
1896 1518.78%1,56290.81%70.41%
1892 38436.92%00.00%65663.08%
1888 76456.30%58843.33%50.37%
1884 77754.45%62944.08%211.47%
1880 69852.60%59845.06%312.34%

Park County is consistently Republican. It has not voted for the Democratic nominee for president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

In the long-running animated television series South Park , the eponymous fictional town is situated in an unspecified part of the county. [14]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "South Platte River". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  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 10, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 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 10, 2014.
  11. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/parkcountycolorado/PST045222 [ bare URL ]
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  14. "Towelie". South Park . Season 5. Episode 8. August 8, 2001. Comedy Central.
  15. "Rob Carrigan, Gottlieb Fluhmann's ghost and Ratcliff side of the story, October 27, 2012". trilakestribune.net. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.

39°07′N105°43′W / 39.12°N 105.71°W / 39.12; -105.71