Washington County, Colorado

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Washington County

| state = Colorado

| ex image = Washington County Court House (Colorado).JPG

| ex image size = 225px

| ex image cap = The old Washington County Courthouse in Akron

| seal =

| founded year = 1887

| founded date = February 9

| seat wl = Akron

| largest city wl = Akron

| city type = town

| area_total_sq_mi = 2524

| area_land_sq_mi = 2518

| area_water_sq_mi = 5.9

| area percentage = 0.2%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 4817

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 4855 {{gain}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Mountain

| footnotes =

| web = washingtoncounty.colorado.gov/

| named for = George Washington

| district = 4th }}

Washington County is a county located in the eastern side of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,817, making it the least populous "Washington County" in the United States.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/washingtoncountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}{{Failed verification|date=February 2024}} The county seat is Akron.{{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}} The county was named in honor of the United States President George Washington.

History

Colorado State Legislature made Washington County out of larger Weld County in 1887. In 1889, Washington County's eastern half formed Yuma County. In 1903, Arapahoe County ceded its eastern portion to Washington County to create its present form.

Like many Counties in Eastern Colorado, The Great Depression affected Washington County, bringing its population down significantly. Recently growth has been stagnant.

Washington County's Eastern Colorado Roundup is home to Colorado's first home-owned carnival held on every July annually. There are activities such as rodeos, various rides, and animals to see.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2524|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2518|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.9|sqmi}} (0.2%) 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=

Logan County - northeast
Yuma County - east
Kit Carson County - southeast
Lincoln County - southwest
Adams County - west
Arapahoe County - west
Morgan County - northwest

=Major highways=

20px Interstate 76
{{jct|state=CO|BS|76|dab1=Fort Morgan-Sterling}}
20px U.S. Highway 34
20px U.S. Highway 36
20px State Highway 59
20px State Highway 61
20px State Highway 63
20px State Highway 71

=Trails and byways=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1890= 2301

|1900= 1241

|1910= 6002

|1920= 11208

|1930= 9591

|1940= 8336

|1950= 7520

|1960= 6625

|1970= 5550

|1980= 5304

|1990= 4812

|2000= 4926

|2010= 4814

|2020= 4817

|estyear=2023

|estimate=4855

|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 11, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 11, 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 11, 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 11, 2014}} 2010–2020

}}

At the 2000 census there were 4,926 people in 1,989 households, including 1,408 families, in the county. The population density was {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 2,307 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.39% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 6.29% 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 1,989 households 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.20% of households were one person and 11.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.10 males.

The median household income was $32,431 and the median family income was $37,287. Males had a median income of $26,225 versus $21,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,788. About 8.60% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

=Towns=

Akron
Otis

= Census-designated places =

Cope

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost towns=

Politics

Like all of the High Plains, Washington is a powerfully Republican county in Presidential elections. Among Colorado counties only Washington, Elbert and Hinsdale were carried by Barry Goldwater in 1964, and no Democratic presidential nominee has carried Washington County since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. The last five Republican presidential candidates have all obtained over 75 percent of Washington County's vote.

{{PresHead|place=Washington County, Colorado|source=Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?year=1960&fips=8&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1960 Presidential General Election Data Graphs – Colorado] (and subsequent years)}}

In other statewide elections, Washington County also leans Republican, although the county was carried by Democrat Roy Romer by a narrow margin in 1990Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado] – when he carried all but three counties statewide – by Dick Lamm in 1982Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1982&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 1980 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado] and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado]

Education

There are 5 school districts in Washington County:{{Cite web|url=http://www.cde.state.co.us/edulibdir/directory.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030403093158/http://www.cde.state.co.us/edulibdir/directory.pdf |archive-date=April 3, 2003 |url-status=live|title=2008-2009 Colorado Education & Library Directory|access-date=May 26, 2009|year=2008–2009|author=Education, Colorado Department of}}

Akron R-1
Arickaree R-2
Lone Star 101
Otis R-3
Woodlin R-104.

Akron R-1 includes:{{Cite web|url=http://www.akronrams.net/|title=Contacts|access-date=May 26, 2009|author=School, Akron High}}

Akron High School

Arickaree R-2 includes:{{Cite web|url=http://arickareeschool.info/index.html|title=Home of the Indians|access-date=May 26, 2009|author=School, Arickaree}}

Arickaree School (all grades K-12)

Lone Star 101 includes:{{Cite web|url=http://www.lonestar.k12.co.us/|title=Lone Star School » About|access-date=May 26, 2009|author=School, Lone Star}}

Lone Star School (all grades K-12)

Otis R-3 includes:{{Cite web|url=http://www.osdco.com/education/components/sectionlist/sectionlist.php?sectiondetailid=5&PHPSESSID=0446c92a197d84c6055d08dc909ff0bb |title=Otis School District R-3 - Schools |access-date=May 26, 2009 |date=September 2004 |author=School District R-3, Otis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001225818/http://www.osdco.com/education/components/sectionlist/sectionlist.php?sectiondetailid=5&PHPSESSID=2242bf47eef7702fac4ac2c9ed29789c |archive-date=October 1, 2008 }}

Otis Elementary School
Otis Jr.-Sr. High School

Note

References

External links

{{Official website|https://washingtoncounty.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 = Washington County, Colorado

|North =

|Northeast = Logan County

|East = Yuma County

|Southeast = Kit Carson County

|South =

|Southwest = Lincoln County

|West = Adams County, Arapahoe County, and Morgan County

|Northwest =

}}

{{coord|39.98|-103.20|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}