Weld County, Colorado

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Weld County

| state = Colorado

| founded date = November 3

| founded year = 1861

| seat wl = Greeley

| largest city wl = Greeley

| area_total_sq_mi = 4017

| area_land_sq_mi = 3987

| area_water_sq_mi = 30

| area percentage = 0.7

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 328981

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 359442 {{gain}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| web = www.weldgov.com

| ex image = Greeley, Colorado Courthouse.JPG

| ex image cap = Weld County Courthouse

| district = 2nd

| district2 = 4th

| district3 = 8th

| time zone = Mountain |named for=Lewis Ledyard Weld}}

Weld County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 328,981.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/weldcountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}} The county seat is Greeley.{{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}} Weld County comprises the Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Denver–Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/bulletins/b10-02.pdf|title=OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses|date=December 1, 2009|access-date=April 19, 2012|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121004722/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/bulletins/b10-02.pdf|via=National Archives|work=Office of Management and Budget|archive-date=January 21, 2017}}

History

File:Weld County Courthouse from Lincoln Park.jpg from Lincoln Park.]]

On May 30, 1854, the Kansas–Nebraska Act created the Nebraska Territory and the Kansas Territory, divided by the Parallel 40° North (Baseline Road or County Line Road or Weld County Road 2 in the future Weld County). Present-day Weld County, Colorado, lay in the southwestern portion of the Nebraska Territory, bordering the Kansas Territory.

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. 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 St. Vrain County. St. Vrain County was named in honor of Ceran de Hault de Lassus de St. Vrain, the French trader who established the first trading post on the upper South Platte River. St. Vrain County encompassed much of what is today Weld County.

The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, but on February 28, 1861, U.S. President James Buchanan signed an act organizing the Territory of Colorado.{{cite web|url=http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/territory.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025191401/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/territory.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2004 |url-status=live|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}} On November 1, 1861, the Colorado General Assembly organized 17 counties, including Weld County, for the new Colorado Territory. Weld County was named for Lewis Ledyard Weld, a lawyer and territorial secretary. He died while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War.{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9735 |title=Weld County, Colorado County Information |publisher=ePodunk |access-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711184841/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9735 |archive-date=July 11, 2014 |url-status=dead }} Until February 9, 1887, Weld County's boundaries included the area now comprising Weld County, Washington County, Logan County, Morgan County, Yuma County, Phillips County, and Sedgwick County.

Weld County was thrust into the media spotlight on the evening of November 1, 1955, when United Airlines Flight 629, a Douglas DC-6B airliner flying from Denver to Portland, Oregon, exploded in midair and crashed, killing all 44 persons on board the plane and scattering bodies, wreckage and debris over a six-square-mile area of the county. The subsequent investigation of the accident revealed that Denver resident John Gilbert Graham had secretly placed a time bomb composed of 25 sticks of dynamite in a suitcase belonging to his mother, who was a passenger on the airplane. Graham was tried and convicted of the crime, and executed in 1957.

In northeastern Weld County, Minuteman III missile silo "N-8",{{cite web |url=http://asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~jimkirk/warren-mm.html |title=Warren AFB Minuteman Missile Site Coordinates |publisher=Asuwlink.uwyo.edu |access-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625055815/http://asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~jimkirk/warren-mm.html |archive-date=June 25, 2014 }} one of the many unmanned silos there, was the target of symbolic vandalism by Catholic peace activists in 2002.[http://www.boulderweekly.com/archive/080703/coverstory.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707211958/http://www.boulderweekly.com/archive/080703/coverstory.html|date=July 7, 2007}}[http://www.greeleytrib.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=GR&Date=20030402&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=304020001&Ref=AR&template=printart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032912/http://www.greeleytrib.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=GR&Date=20030402&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=304020001&Ref=AR&template=printart|date=September 27, 2007}}

Weld County also holds the distinction of having more confirmed tornado sightings than any other U.S. county from 1950 to 2011, with 252 confirmed reports.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ustornadoes.com/2012/05/22/map-u-s-tornadoes-by-county-1950-2011/|title=Map: U.S. Tornadoes by County, 1950-2011 - U.S. Tornadoes|date=May 22, 2012|work=U.S. Tornadoes|access-date=June 29, 2018|language=en-US}}

On March 6, 2019, the county declared itself to be a Second Amendment sanctuary.{{Cite web|url=https://kdvr.com/2019/03/06/resolution-declares-weld-county-to-be-a-second-amendment-sanctuary/|title=Resolution declares Weld County to be a 'Second Amendment sanctuary'|date=March 6, 2019|website=FOX31 Denver|language=en|access-date=January 4, 2020}}

=Secession proposals=

In 2013, conservative Weld County commissioners began a campaign to secede from the State of Colorado to create a new state; a state ballot measure regarding the issue was put on the November 2013 ballot. The legality of this initiative has been questioned by local attorneys.{{cite news|last=Romano|first=Analisa|title=Greeley Attorneys Question Legality Of Weld Commissioners Advocating For 51st State|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/greeley-attorneys-questio_n_4071461.html|access-date=October 11, 2013|newspaper=The Greeley Tribune (via Huffington Post)|date=October 9, 2013}} On November 5, 2013, 6 out of 11 Colorado counties voted no for secession, including Elbert, Lincoln, Logan, Moffat, Sedgwick, and Weld counties voted no, while Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Phillips, Washington, and Yuma counties voted yes. "Weld County voters said this is an option we shouldn't pursue and we won't pursue it," said Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway, "But we will continue to look at the problems of the urban and rural divide in this state."{{cite news |url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24461077/11-counties-weigh-secession-from-colorado-formation-51st |title=51st state question answered "no" in 6 of 11 counties contemplating secession |last=Whaley |first=Monte |date=November 5, 2013 |website=www.denverpost.com |publisher=The Denver Post |access-date=March 6, 2014}}

File:Weld County Wyoming Logo.png

In 2021, a group known as "Weld County, WY" organized a petition to place a measure on the November 2021 ballot for the county to secede from Colorado to join Wyoming, due to a clash between the conservative politics of Weld County and the liberal government of Colorado.{{Cite news |last=Gstalter |first=Morgan |date=January 29, 2021 |title=Group in Colorado county seeks secession from state to join Wyoming |language=en |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/536440-colorado-countys-residents-asking-to-secede-from-state-join-wyoming |access-date=January 29, 2021}} Mark Gordon, the Governor of Wyoming, said when asked about the topic, "We would love that."{{Cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Nick |date=February 2, 2021 |title=Gordon on Weld County secession: 'We would love that' |language=en |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/gordon-on-weld-county-secession-we-would-love-that/article_c6cc0003-2c69-5224-97b9-bedff4c3edb4.html |access-date=February 2, 2021}} In response to Gordon's comment, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, "Hands off Weld County."{{Cite news |last=Holdman |first=Raetta |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Gov. Jared Polis Tells Wyoming Governor 'Hands Off Weld County' |language=en-US |url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/02/04/weld-county-secede-colorado-join-wyoming-governor-jared-polis-hands-off-mark-gordon/ |access-date=February 6, 2021}}

Geography

File:Weld County Fields.JPG

File:Pawnee Grassland Butte.jpg]]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|4017|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3987|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|30|sqmi}} (0.7%) are 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}} It is the third-largest county in Colorado by area.

Weld County lies within the relatively flat eastern portion of Colorado; the northeastern portions of the county contain the extensive Pawnee National Grassland and the Pawnee Buttes, which jut {{convert|350|ft|m}} above the surrounding terrain and are surrounded by many small canyons and outcroppings. Along the western border, hilly areas indicate the presence of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains further west.

The county is served by two interstate highways: I-25 (US 87) runs through the southwestern corner and I-76 from the south central edge northeastward to the Morgan county border. Other major roads include US 85 and US 34, which intersect near Greeley, and State Highway 14, which runs through Ault.

=Adjacent counties=

Kimball County, Nebraska - northeast
Logan County - east
Morgan County - east
Adams County - south
City and County of Broomfield - southwest
Boulder County - west
Larimer County - west
Laramie County, Wyoming - northwest

=Major highways=

=Transit=

=National protected area=

File:Pawnee Grassland Sunrise.jpg in northeastern Weld County.]]

Pawnee National Grassland

=State protected area=

=Trails and byways=

American Discovery Trail
Pawnee Pioneer Trails{{Cite web|url=https://www.codot.gov/travel/scenic-byways/northeast/pawnee-pioneer-trails|title=Pawnee Pioneer Trails|website=Colorado Department of Transportation|language=en-us|access-date=March 2, 2020}}
Poudre River National Recreation Trail{{Cite web|url=https://www.codot.gov/travel/scenic-byways/north-central/cache-la-poudre|title=Cache la Poudre - North Park|website=Colorado Department of Transportation|language=en-us|access-date=March 2, 2020}}
South Platte Trail

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1870= 1636

|1880= 5646

|1890= 11736

|1900= 16808

|1910= 39177

|1920= 54059

|1930= 65097

|1940= 63747

|1950= 67504

|1960= 72344

|1970= 89297

|1980= 123438

|1990= 131821

|2000= 180936

|2010= 252825

|2020= 328981

|estyear=2023

|estimate=359442

|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

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|45|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of {{convert|17|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 81.71% White, 0.56% Black or African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 13.29% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. 27.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 63,247 households, out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 13.20% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,321, and the median income for a family was $49,569. Males had a median income of $35,037 versus $25,757 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,957. About 8.00% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Weld County is Colorado's leading producer of cattle, grain and sugar beets, and is the richest agricultural county in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and the fourth richest overall nationally. It is also becoming more important as a milk producing county, with close to half of the state's cattle.{{cite web|url=http://www.co.weld.co.us/AboutWeld |title=Weld County: About Weld |publisher=Co.weld.co.us |access-date=November 5, 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.upstatecolorado.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213031414/http://www.upstatecolorado.com/ | archive-date=February 13, 2011 | title=Welcome to Upstate Colorado Economic Development }} Weld County is also an important area of oil and natural gas production in the Denver-Julesburg Basin.

Communities

File:Bellmore Farms.jpg.]]

=Cities=

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost towns=

Adna{{Cite web |title=Ghost Towns in Weld County |url=https://history.weldgov.com/County-150/Weld-County-Towns/Ghost-Towns-in-Weld-County |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=history.weldgov.com |language=en-US}}
Agricola
Chapelton
Chenoa
Cherokee City
Cloverly
Coleman
Dearfield
Elwell{{cite journal |last=Hovey |first=Edmund Otis |author-link=Edmund Otis Hovey |date=November 30, 1925 |title=A New Meteoric Stone from Johnstown, Weld County, Colorado |journal=American Museum Novitates |location=New York City |publisher=The American Museum of Natural History}}
Flemings Ranch
Fort St. Vrain
Fosston
Gault
Geary
Graham
Green City
Highland Lake
Hillsborough
Hiltonville
Hungerford
Ione
Kalous
Kauffman
Koenig
Lancaster
Latham
Liberty
Masters
Nantes
New Liberty
Osgood
Peckham
Platte Valley
Raymer
Rinn
Rosedale
Saint Vrain
Serene
Sligo
Spanish Colony
Wentz
Zilar
Zita{{div col end}}

‡ means a populated place has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Politics

Similar to the fellow Denver Metropolitan Area county of Douglas, Weld leans Republican. Except for Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide win over Barry Goldwater, it has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1936.

{{PresHead|place=Weld 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=November 27, 2020}}}}

Education

School districts serving Weld County include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08123_weld/DC20SD_C08123.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719224630/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08123_weld/DC20SD_C08123.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Weld County, CO|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 19, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08123_weld/DC20SD_C08123_SD2MS.txt Text list]

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.weldgov.com/Home}}
[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/20110213031414/http://www.upstatecolorado.com/ Greeley/Weld Economic Development Action Partnership, Inc. (EDAP)]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Weld County, Colorado

|North =

|Northeast = Kimball County, Nebraska

|East = Logan County and Morgan County

|Southeast =

|South = Adams County

|Southwest = City and County of Broomfield

|West = Boulder County and Larimer County

|Northwest = Laramie County, Wyoming

}}

{{coord|40.54|-104.40|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}