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Elbert County, Colorado

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This article is about Elbert County, Colorado. For Elbert County, Georgia, see Elbert County, Georgia.

Elbert County
County
[[St. Mark United Presbyterian Church] [Elbert, Colorado]].
[[St. Mark United Presbyterian Church] [Elbert, Colorado]].
Map of Colorado highlighting Elbert County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°17′N 104°08′W / 39.28°N 104.13°W / 39.28; -104.13
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 2, 1874
Named forSamuel Hitt Elbert
SeatKiowa
Largest townElizabeth
Area
 • Total1,851 sq mi (4,790 km2)
 • Land1,851 sq mi (4,790 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.01%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total26,062
 • Estimate 
(2023)
28,806 Increase
 • Density14/sq mi (5.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.elbertcounty-co.gov

Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,062.[1] The county seat is Kiowa and the largest town is Elizabeth.[2] Elbert County is included in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Elbert County was created on February 2, 1874, from the eastern portions of Douglas County. On February 6, 1874, the county was enlarged to include part of northern Greenwood County upon Greenwood's dissolution, and originally extended south and east of its present boundaries to reach to the Kansas state line. The county was named for Samuel Hitt Elbert,[3] the Governor of the Territory of Colorado when the county was formed. In 1889, Elbert County was reduced to its modern size when its eastern portions were taken to create Lincoln, Kit Carson, and Cheyenne counties.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,851 square miles (4,790 km2), of which 1,851 square miles (4,790 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.01%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,708—
18901,8568.7%
19003,10167.1%
19105,33171.9%
19206,98030.9%
19306,580−5.7%
19405,460−17.0%
19504,477−18.0%
19603,708−17.2%
19703,9035.3%
19806,85075.5%
19909,64640.8%
200019,872106.0%
201023,08616.2%
202026,06212.9%
2023 (est.)28,806[5]10.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

At the 2000 census there were 19,872 people, 6,770 households, and 5,652 families in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.22% White, 0.64% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 3.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] Of the 6,770 households 42.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.10% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.50% were non-families. 12.20% of households were one person and 3.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.19.

The age distribution was 30.20% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 6.00% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median household income was $62,480 and the median family income was $66,740. Males had a median income of $45,329 versus $29,767 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,960. About 2.50% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.60% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated places

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Politics

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Elbert is a strongly Republican county in Presidential elections. Along with Rio Blanco County and Kit Carson County, it was one of three Colorado counties to be won by Alf Landon in 1936, and stood together with Hinsdale and Washington Counties by supporting Barry Goldwater over Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Elbert County was Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932.

United States presidential election results for Elbert County, Colorado[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 14,027 73.89% 4,490 23.65% 466 2.45%
2016 11,705 73.25% 3,134 19.61% 1,141 7.14%
2012 10,266 72.41% 3,603 25.41% 309 2.18%
2008 9,108 68.97% 3,819 28.92% 279 2.11%
2004 8,389 73.82% 2,834 24.94% 141 1.24%
2000 6,151 68.61% 2,326 25.95% 488 5.44%
1996 4,125 61.04% 1,894 28.03% 739 10.94%
1992 2,205 43.71% 1,237 24.52% 1,603 31.77%
1988 2,805 63.06% 1,566 35.21% 77 1.73%
1984 2,605 75.27% 802 23.17% 54 1.56%
1980 2,107 67.49% 698 22.36% 317 10.15%
1976 1,279 52.72% 1,068 44.02% 79 3.26%
1972 1,416 73.29% 451 23.34% 65 3.36%
1968 1,043 60.92% 484 28.27% 185 10.81%
1964 924 51.76% 857 48.01% 4 0.22%
1960 1,240 64.32% 686 35.58% 2 0.10%
1956 1,295 64.75% 702 35.10% 3 0.15%
1952 1,579 72.56% 586 26.93% 11 0.51%
1948 1,155 56.37% 873 42.61% 21 1.02%
1944 1,413 69.13% 628 30.72% 3 0.15%
1940 1,756 65.04% 934 34.59% 10 0.37%
1936 1,374 49.50% 1,319 47.51% 83 2.99%
1932 1,277 41.54% 1,649 53.64% 148 4.81%
1928 1,933 71.38% 738 27.25% 37 1.37%
1924 1,428 54.97% 506 19.48% 664 25.56%
1920 1,654 66.35% 673 27.00% 166 6.66%
1916 951 41.37% 1,230 53.50% 118 5.13%
1912 496 24.22% 757 36.96% 795 38.82%
1908 973 52.34% 785 42.23% 101 5.43%
1904 768 59.40% 482 37.28% 43 3.33%
1900 626 48.23% 640 49.31% 32 2.47%
1896 274 26.52% 751 72.70% 8 0.77%
1892 189 45.22% 0 0.00% 229 54.78%
1888 784 56.89% 578 41.94% 16 1.16%
1884 227 54.31% 190 45.45% 1 0.24%
1880 176 46.68% 195 51.72% 6 1.59%

Elbert County is in the 4th Congressional District and the current representative is Republican Greg Lopez.

In senatorial elections, the county has been similarly Republican. In gubernatorial elections, Elbert County has also generally been powerfully Republican, but was nonetheless carried by Democrat Roy Romer by a narrow margin in 1990[12] – when he carried all but four counties statewide – by Dick Lamm in 1982[13] and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.[14]

The official newspaper of record used by the county is the weekly Elbert County News.[15] The weekly Ranchland News and monthly Prairie Times also cover local events.

Education

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School districts covering sections of the county include:[16]

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 116.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "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 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  13. ^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1982 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  14. ^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  15. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the. "Elbert County news". Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elbert County, CO" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 1, 2024. - Text list
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