Kit Carson County, Colorado#History

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Kit Carson County

| state = Colorado

| ex image = Burlington State Armory 01.jpg

| ex image size = 220px

| ex image cap = Burlington State Armory in Burlington

| seal =

| founded year = 1889

| founded date = April 11

| seat wl = Burlington

| largest city wl = Burlington

| area_total_sq_mi = 2162

| area_land_sq_mi = 2161

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.9

| area percentage = 0.04%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 7087

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 6994 {{loss}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Mountain

| footnotes =

| web = kitcarsoncounty.colorado.gov

| named for = Kit Carson

| district = 4th

}}

Kit Carson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,087.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kitcarsoncountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}} The county seat is Burlington.{{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 }} The county was established in 1889 and named for American frontiersman and Indian fighter Kit Carson.Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 957{{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/n175 176]}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2162|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2161|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.9|sqmi}} (0.04%) 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}}

=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=

20px Interstate 70
{{jct|state=CO|BS|70|dab1=Vona}}
{{jct|state=CO|BL|70|dab1=Burlington}}
20px U.S. Highway 24
20px U.S. Highway 385
20px State Highway 59

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1890= 2472

|1900= 1580

|1910= 7483

|1920= 8915

|1930= 9725

|1940= 7512

|1950= 8600

|1960= 6957

|1970= 7530

|1980= 7599

|1990= 7140

|2000= 8011

|2010= 8270

|2020= 7087

|estyear=2023

|estimate=6994

|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 8, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 8, 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 8, 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 8, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

At the 2000 census there were 8,011 people, 2,990 households, and 2,081 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}

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. The Republican leaning in the county has increased in recent elections, with Donald Trump performing better in 2016 than any Republican in county history. He surpassed this record in 2020, and again in 2024.

{{PresHead|place=Kit Carson 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}}}}

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{{cite web|publisher=Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0|title=1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado}} – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.{{cite web|publisher=Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0|title=2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado}}

Recreation

=National historic landmark=

Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6, National Historic Landmark

=Historic trail=

Smoky Hill Trail

Communities

=City=

Burlington

=Towns=

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|https://kitcarsoncounty.colorado.gov/}}
[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 = Kit Carson County, Colorado

|North = Yuma County

|Northeast = Cheyenne County, Kansas

|East = Sherman County, Kansas

|Southeast = Wallace County, Kansas

|South = Cheyenne County

|Southwest =

|West = Lincoln County

|Northwest = Washington County

}}

{{coord|39.31|-102.60|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}