Delta County, Colorado#History

Delta County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 11, 1883, out of portions of central Gunnison County. The county was named from a delta of arable land at the mouth of the Uncompahgre River, where it flows into the Gunnison River.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n102 103]}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1149|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1142|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.5|sqmi}} (0.6%) is 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}}

• Mesa County – northwest
• Gunnison County – east
• Montrose County – south

• 20px U.S. Highway 50
• 20px State Highway 65
• 20px State Highway 92
• 20px State Highway 133
• 20px State Highway 348

• Dominguez Canyon Wilderness
• Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (part)
• Grand Mesa National Forest
• Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (part)
• Gunnison Gorge Wilderness
• Gunnison National Forest

• Crawford State Park
• Sweitzer Lake State Park

• American Discovery Trail
• Crag Crest National Recreation Trail
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110202181256/http://grandmesabyway.com/ Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway]}}
• West Elk Loop Scenic Byway

{{US Census population

|1890= 2534

|1900= 5487

|1910= 13688

|1920= 13668

|1930= 14204

|1940= 16470

|1950= 17365

|1960= 15602

|1970= 15286

|1980= 21225

|1990= 20980

|2000= 27834

|2010= 30952

|2020= 31196

|estyear=2023

|estimate=31746

|estref=

|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

}}

At the 2000 census there were 27,834 people, 11,058 households, and 7,939 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|24|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 12,374 housing units at an average density of {{convert|11|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.29% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.25% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 11.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}

Of the 11,058 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 12.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.

The median household income was $32,785 and the median family income was $37,748. Males had a median income of $31,348 versus $19,916 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,152. About 8.50% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

• Delta

• Cedaredge
• Crawford
• Hotchkiss
• Orchard City
• Paonia

• Lazear

• Austin{{efn|The unincorporated communities of Austin, Cory, and Eckert are all within the town limits of Orchard City.}}
• Cory
• Eckert

Delta County votes predominantly Republican in national, state, and local elections. No Democratic presidential candidate has reached forty percent of Delta County's vote since Lyndon Johnson carried the county in 1964, and since 1920 Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 is the only other Democrat to gain a majority, although Roosevelt did win a plurality against Alf Landon in 1936.

Delta County is split between two house districts for the Colorado House of Representatives, House District 58 & House District 54.{{Cite journal |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Colorado House Districts - West Final Approved Plan |url=https://redistricting.colorado.gov/rails/active_storage/disk/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDRG9JYTJWNVNTSWhPSE5oTkRSdWQyTTROV0l3ZVRKNmJuQXhaV2R6ZGpBeU9XUnRlUVk2QmtWVU9oQmthWE53YjNOcGRHbHZia2tpTzJsdWJHbHVaVHNnWm1sc1pXNWhiV1U5SWxkbGMzUXVjR1JtSWpzZ1ptbHNaVzVoYldVcVBWVlVSaTA0SnlkWFpYTjBMbkJrWmdZN0JsUTZFV052Ym5SbGJuUmZkSGx3WlVraUZHRndjR3hwWTJGMGFXOXVMM0JrWmdZN0JsUT0iLCJleHAiOiIyMDI0LTAxLTAzVDE3OjMxOjIzLjk0NFoiLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2tleSJ9fQ==--b22d1472f27e63129da74960e13eee2230b3cd91/West.pdf?content_type=application%2Fpdf&disposition=inline%3B+filename%3D%22West.pdf%22%3B+filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27West.pdf |journal=Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions}} Prior to the redistricting, which took effect in the November 2022 election, Delta County was split by House District 54 & 61.{{Cite journal |date=December 2011 |title=Legislative District Information After 2011 Reapportionment - House District 54 |url=https://redistricting.colorado.gov/rails/active_storage/disk/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDRG9JYTJWNVNTSWhaRzgwZURKdGNtcHViSHByTldkb01YcGtjR0ZzZERCM2F6UTBjZ1k2QmtWVU9oQmthWE53YjNOcGRHbHZia2tpYldsdWJHbHVaVHNnWm1sc1pXNWhiV1U5SWtoRUlEVTBJRWx1Wm04Z1UyaGxaWFFnWVc1a0lFMWhjQzV3WkdZaU95Qm1hV3hsYm1GdFpTbzlWVlJHTFRnbkowaEVKVEl3TlRRbE1qQkpibVp2SlRJd1UyaGxaWFFsTWpCaGJtUWxNakJOWVhBdWNHUm1CanNHVkRvUlkyOXVkR1Z1ZEY5MGVYQmxTU0lVWVhCd2JHbGpZWFJwYjI0dmNHUm1CanNHVkE9PSIsImV4cCI6IjIwMjQtMDEtMDNUMTc6NTg6MDAuNjc4WiIsInB1ciI6ImJsb2Jfa2V5In19--bcd5ae88ebe58dbada7f202b439fc683b88e3418/HD%2054%20Info%20Sheet%20and%20Map.pdf?content_type=application%2Fpdf&disposition=inline%3B+filename%3D%22HD+54+Info+Sheet+and+Map.pdf%22%3B+filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27HD%252054%2520Info%2520Sheet%2520and%2520Map.pdf |journal=Colorado Reapportionment Commissions}}

{{PresHead|place=Delta County, Colorado|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 26, 2017}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|12,948|6,030|500|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|13,081|5,887|402|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,655|4,087|1,048|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,915|4,622|388|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,067|5,084|283|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|9,722|4,224|213|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,372|3,264|1,050|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,047|3,584|1,469|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,359|3,424|2,711|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,449|3,521|174|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,678|2,835|126|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,179|2,348|700|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,980|3,232|255|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,890|1,903|427|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,692|2,327|633|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,883|3,927|16|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,644|2,689|10|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,531|2,458|13|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,986|2,389|66|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,158|3,171|140|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,462|2,351|25|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,175|3,044|96|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,661|3,230|577|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,341|3,467|519|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,731|1,672|139|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,752|1,345|966|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,596|1,750|257|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,612|2,817|348|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|803|1,808|2,320|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,838|2,006|438|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,567|1,046|481|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|822|1,352|129|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|139|1,603|42|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1892|Populist|237|0|480|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|257|239|88|Colorado}}

{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|230|174|7|Colorado}}

The local papers are the Delta County Independent and the Merchant Herald.

{{clear}}

The county is served by Delta County Joint School District 50-J.

• Cedaredge Elementary School
• Garnet Mesa Elementary School (Delta)
• Hotchkiss K-8 School
• Lincoln Elementary School (Delta)
• Paonia K-8 School

• Cedaredge Middle School
• Delta Middle School
• Hotchkiss K-8 School
• Paonia K-8 School

• Cedaredge High School
• Delta High School
• North Fork High School (Hotchkiss)

Technical College of the Rockies, a trade school offering technical training and professional certificates, is located in the city of Delta.

{{portal|Government|History|Mountains|United States|Colorado}}

• Bibliography of Colorado
• Geography of Colorado
• History of Colorado
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Delta County, Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado-related lists
• List of counties in Colorado
• Outline of Colorado
• Delta County Libraries
• Delta County Memorial Hospital

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{{notelist}}

{{reflist|35em}}

• [http://www.deltacounty.com/ Delta County Government website]
• [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]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100311220704/http://deltaweathercam.com/ Delta Real Time Weather]

{{Commons category}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Delta County, Colorado

|North =

|Northeast =

|East = Gunnison County

|Southeast =

|South = Montrose County

|Southwest =

|West =

|Northwest = Mesa County

}}

{{Delta County, Colorado}}

{{Colorado}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|38.86|-107.86|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Colorado counties

Category:1883 establishments in Colorado

Category:Populated places established in 1883