Arapahoe County, Colorado

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Arapahoe County

| state = Colorado

| image_flag = File:Flag of Arapahoe County, Colorado.svg

| seal =

| logo = Logo of Arapahoe County, Colorado.png

| founded date = November 1

| founded year = 1861

| seat wl = Littleton

| largest city wl = Aurora

| area_total_sq_mi = 805

| area_land_sq_mi = 798

| area_water_sq_mi = 7.3

| area percentage = 0.9%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 655070 (3rd){{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/arapahoecountycolorado/PST045219|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts|access-date=September 4, 2021|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 656061 {{gain}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| density_km2 = 317

| time zone = Mountain

| web = www.arapahoegov.com/

| named for = The Arapaho Nation

| ex image = Little Dry Creek.JPG

| ex image cap = Little Dry Creek in Englewood

| district = 1st

| district2 = 4th

| district3 = 6th }}

Arapahoe County ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|æ|p|ə|h|oʊ}} {{respell|ə|RAP|ə|hoh}}) is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, its population was 655,070, making it the third-most populous county in Colorado. The county seat is Littleton,{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}} and the most populous city is Aurora. The county was named for the Arapaho Native American tribe, who once lived in the region. Arapahoe County is part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan statistical area. Arapahoe County calls itself "Colorado's First County", since its origins antedate the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.

History

On August 25, 1855, the Kansas Territorial Legislature created a huge Arapahoe County to govern the entire western portion of the Territory of Kansas. The county was named for the Arapaho Nation, who lived in the region.{{cite book|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1905|pages=[https://archive.org/details/origincertainpl00ganngoog/page/n33 27]|author=Gannett, Henry|url=https://archive.org/details/origincertainpl00ganngoog}}

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County (in present-day Englewood). This discovery precipitated the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Many residents of the mining region felt disconnected from the remote territorial governments of Kansas and Nebraska, so they voted to form their own Territory of Jefferson on October 24, 1859. The following month, the Jefferson Territorial Legislature organized 12 counties for the new territory, including a smaller Arapahoe County. Denver City served as the county seat of Arapahoe County.

The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, and when the State of Kansas was admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861, the mining regions temporarily reverted to unorganized territory. On February 28, 1861, Congress passed an act organizing the Territory of Colorado, using present-day borders.{{cite web|url=http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/territory.pdf|title=An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado|publisher=Thirty-sixth United States Congress|date=February 28, 1861|access-date=November 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126202957/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/territory.pdf|archive-date=November 26, 2007|url-status=live}} On November 1, 1861, the Colorado Territorial Assembly organized the 17 original counties of Colorado, including a new Arapahoe County. Arapahoe County originally stretched from the line of present-day Sheridan Boulevard {{convert|160|mi|km}} east to the Kansas border, and from the line of present-day County Line Road {{convert|30|mi|km}} north to the 40th parallel north (168th Avenue). Denver City served as the county seat of Arapahoe County until 1902.

In 1901, the Colorado General Assembly voted to split Arapahoe County into three parts - a new consolidated City and County of Denver, a new Adams County, and the remainder of the Arapahoe County to be renamed South Arapahoe County. A ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, subsequent legislation, and a referendum delayed the reorganization until November 15, 1902. Governor James Bradley Orman designated Littleton as the temporary county seat of South Arapahoe County. On April 11, 1903, the Colorado General Assembly changed the name of South Arapahoe County back to Arapahoe County. On November 8, 1904, Arapahoe County voters chose Littleton over Englewood by a vote of 1310 to 829 to be the permanent county seat.

Geography

File:Arapahoe County Justice Center.JPG

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|805|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|798|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|7.3|sqmi}} (0.9%) are covered by water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} The county measures {{convert|72|mi|km|abbr=on}} east-west and {{convert|4|to|12|mi|km|abbr=on}} north-south.

Two exclaves of Arapahoe County are entirely surrounded by the City and County of Denver, the City of Glendale, and the Holly Hills neighborhood, a census-designated place.

=Adjacent counties=

City and County of Denver – northwest and exclaves
Adams County – north
Washington County – east
Lincoln County – southeast
Elbert County – south
Douglas County – southwest
Jefferson County – west

=Major highways=

20px Interstate 25
20px Interstate 70
20px Interstate 225
{{jct|state=CO|BL|70|dab1=Denver}}
{{jct|state=CO|BS|70|dab1=Watkins}}
{{jct|state=CO|BS|70|dab1=Strasburg}}
{{jct|state=CO|BS|70|dab1=Deer Trail}}
20px U.S. Highway 85
20px U.S. Highway 285
20px State Highway 30
20px State Highway 36
20px State Highway 40
20px State Highway 75
20px State Highway 79
20px State Highway 83
20px State Highway 88
20px State Highway 177
20px State Highway 470
E-470 (tollway)

=State park=

Cherry Creek State Park

=Historic trails=

=Recreation trails=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1870= 6829

|1880= 38644

|1890= 132135

|1900= 153017

|1910= 10263

|1920= 13766

|1930= 22647

|1940= 32150

|1950= 52125

|1960= 113426

|1970= 162142

|1980= 293621

|1990= 391511

|2000= 487967

|2010= 572003

|2020= 655070

|estyear=2023

|estimate=656061

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 7, 2014 }}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 7, 2014}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

As of the census of 2000, 487,967 people, 190,909 households, and 125,809 families were residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|608|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. The 196,835 housing units averaged {{convert|245|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 79.93% White, 7.67% African American, 0.66% Native American, 3.95% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.51% from other races, and 3.16% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 11.81% of the population.

Of the 190,909 households, 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.20% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were not families. About 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53, and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the age distribution was 26.70% under 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 33.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household was $53,570, and for a family was $63,875. Males had a median income of $41,601 versus $31,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,147. About 4.20% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.00% of those under age 18 and 5.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

=K-12 Education=

Arapahoe County is home to nine public school districts: Aurora, Bennett, Byers, Cherry Creek, Deer Trail, Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, and Strasburg.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08005_arapahoe/DC20SD_C08005.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Arapahoe County, CO|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-11-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08005_arapahoe/DC20SD_C08005_SD2MS.txt Text list]

In the 2023-2024 school year, Cherry Creek and Littleton were ranked the #5 and #6 school districts in Colorado, by Niche.com respectively.{{cite web | url=https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-school-districts/s/colorado/ | title=2024 Best School Districts in Colorado }} In addition, Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village was ranked the #2 public high school in Colorado, while Grandview High School in Aurora was ranked #6.{{cite news | url=https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-schools/s/colorado/ | title=Compare Public Schools in Colorado | newspaper=Niche }}

There are also several private schools throughout the county, including St. Mary's Academy in Cherry Hills Village, Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, and Kent Denver School in Englewood, the latter of which was ranked Colorado's #1 high school.{{cite news | url=https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-high-schools/s/colorado/ | title=2024 Best High Schools in Colorado | newspaper=Niche }}

=Higher Education=

Arapahoe County is home to two large community colleges: Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, and the Community College of Aurora. The county is also home to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Denver South campus of Colorado Technical University, both located in Aurora.

Politics

Arapahoe County was once a classic bastion of suburban conservatism. In the 1924 Colorado gubernatorial election, Republican Clarence Morley, who was openly affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, won over 66% of the vote in Arapahoe County, a higher percentage than he received in any other county in Colorado.{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - CO Governor Race - Nov 04, 1924 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264810 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} In addition, the county for many years was represented in congress by Republican Tom Tancredo, a hardcore conservative known for his controversial anti-immigration, anti-Catholic, and nativist political beliefs.{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Anne C. Mulkern {{!}} The Denver |date=April 17, 2008 |title=Tancredo slams pope on immigration |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/04/17/tancredo-slams-pope-on-immigration/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rosa |first=Erin |date=August 8, 2006 |title=Tancredo Vs. Catholics? |url=https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2006/08/07/tancredo-vs-catholics/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=The Colorado Independent |language=en-US}}

As the Denver Metro Area grew in the 1960s and beyond, Arapahoe County became the most Republican county in the state outside of Colorado Springs. However, heavy urbanization, demographic changes and population increases - such as the rapid diversification of Aurora's population and younger professionals in the southern suburbs - have caused the county to become much more competitive since the 1990s. It swung from a 22-point win for George H. W. Bush in 1988 to only a three-point win in 1992. By the turn of the millennium, it had become more of a suburban swing county. In 2008, the county swung over dramatically to support Barack Obama, who became the first Democrat to carry it since 1964, and only the second since 1936. It swung from a four-point win for George W. Bush in 2004 to a 13-point win for Obama in 2008. It voted for Obama by a similar margin in 2012, and provided much of Hillary Clinton's statewide margin in 2016 as Donald Trump failed to win even 40 percent of the vote in one of the worst showings for a Republican in the county's history, with the Democrats carrying the former Tech Center area Republican strongholds of Centennial and Littleton. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden turned in the strongest showing for a Democrat in over a century, becoming the first Democrat to win over 60% of the vote since 1916. Biden carried Aurora by lopsided margins and the traditionallly Republican southern parts of the county by nearly 20 points.{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Kara |title=LEFT TURN: Aurora, area suburbs veering left politically |url=https://sentinelcolorado.com/news/metro/left-turn-aurora-area-suburbs-veer-left-politically/ |website=Aurora Sentinel |date=March 13, 2020 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=June 17, 2020}}{{cite news |title=2020 Elections Map |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html |work=New York Times |date=February 2, 2021 |access-date=February 21, 2021|last1=Park |first1=Alice }}

Federal Representation

The bulk of the population and political strength of Arapahoe County is located in Colorado's 6th congressional district, Tancredo's former district, centered in Aurora and represented by Jason Crow. The more rural eastern parts of the county are located in the 4th District represented by Lauren Boebert while the Denver enclave portions such as Glendale and Holly Hills are in the Denver-based 1st District represented by Diana DeGette.

{{PresHead|place=Arapahoe County, Colorado|source1={{cite web|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections | access-date = June 11, 2011 | url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/}}|source2=There were 1,344 votes for the leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, followed by 267 votes for Socialist Eugene Debs, 40 votes for Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin, and 1 vote for Socialist Labor candidate Arthur E. Reimer.}}

Communities

=Cities=

Aurora (most; also extends into Adams County and Douglas County)
Centennial
Englewood
Glendale (exclave completely surrounded by the city of Denver)
Greenwood Village
Littleton (most; also extends into Douglas County and Jefferson County)
Sheridan

=Towns=

Bennett (part; also extends into Adams County)
Bow Mar (part; also extends into Jefferson County)
Columbine Valley
Deer Trail
Foxfield

=Census-designated places=

Aetna Estates
Brick Center
Byers
Cherry Creek
Columbine (part; also extends into Jefferson County)
Comanche Creek
Dove Valley
Four Square Mile
Holly Hills (exclave located within the city of Denver)
Inverness
Peoria
Strasburg (part; also extends into Adams County)
Watkins (part; also extends into Adams County)

=Former census-designated places=

Castlewood (now part of Centennial)
Southglenn (now part of Centennial)

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.arapahoegov.com/}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205102713/http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
[http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Arapahoe County, Colorado

|North = Adams County

|Northeast =

|East = Washington County

|Southeast = Lincoln County

|South = Elbert County

|Southwest = Douglas County

|West = Jefferson County

|Northwest = City and County of Denver

}}

{{coord|39.64|-104.33|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}