Park County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,390.[2] The county seat is Fairplay.[3] The county was named after the large geographic region known as South Park, which was named by early fur traders and trappers in the area.
Park County | |
|---|---|
 Old Park County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Colorado | |
 Colorado's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 39°07′N 105°43′W / 39.12°N 105.71°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Founded | November 1, 1861 |
| Seat | Fairplay |
| Largest town | Fairplay |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,211 sq mi (5,730 km2) |
| • Land | 2,194 sq mi (5,680 km2) |
| • Water | 17 sq mi (40 km2) 0.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,390 |
• Estimate (2023)[1] | 18,117 |
| • Density | 7.9/sq mi (3.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
Park County is included in the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. A majority of the county lies within the boundaries of the South Park National Heritage Area.
The geographic center of the State of Colorado is located in Park County.
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,211 square miles (5,730 km2), of which 2,194 square miles (5,680 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]
The headwaters of the South Platte River are in Park County.
Adjacent counties
edit- Clear Creek County - north
- Jefferson County - northeast
- Teller County - east
- Fremont County - southeast
- Chaffee County - southwest
- Lake County - west
- Summit County - northwest
Major highways
editNational protected areas
editState protected areas
editTrails and byways
editDemographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 447 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,970 | 788.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,548 | −10.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,998 | −15.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,492 | −16.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,977 | −20.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,052 | 3.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,272 | 59.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,870 | −42.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,822 | −2.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,185 | 19.9% | |
| 1980 | 5,333 | 144.1% | |
| 1990 | 7,174 | 34.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,523 | 102.4% | |
| 2010 | 16,206 | 11.6% | |
| 2020 | 17,390 | 7.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 18,117 | [5] | 4.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[2] | |||
As of the 2020 United States census,[10] Park County was 87.8% White, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% Native American, 1.1% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, and 2.8% two or more races.
There were 7,688 houses, and only 3.6% of the population is below the age of 5.
According to the census[11] of 2000, there were 14,523 people, 5,894 households, and 4,220 families living in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 10,697 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.07% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. 4.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,894 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 30.60% from 45 to 64, and 7.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 107.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $51,899, and the median income for a family was $57,025. Males had a median income of $41,480 versus $27,807 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,019. About 3.40% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.60% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
edit| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 6,991 | 56.88% | 4,903 | 39.89% | 397 | 3.23% |
| 2016 | 6,135 | 58.89% | 3,421 | 32.84% | 861 | 8.27% |
| 2012 | 5,236 | 55.90% | 3,862 | 41.23% | 268 | 2.86% |
| 2008 | 4,896 | 52.18% | 4,250 | 45.29% | 237 | 2.53% |
| 2004 | 4,781 | 57.21% | 3,445 | 41.22% | 131 | 1.57% |
| 2000 | 3,677 | 55.17% | 2,393 | 35.90% | 595 | 8.93% |
| 1996 | 2,661 | 50.77% | 1,844 | 35.18% | 736 | 14.04% |
| 1992 | 1,530 | 35.78% | 1,307 | 30.57% | 1,439 | 33.65% |
| 1988 | 1,909 | 56.87% | 1,343 | 40.01% | 105 | 3.13% |
| 1984 | 2,041 | 70.33% | 782 | 26.95% | 79 | 2.72% |
| 1980 | 1,623 | 59.34% | 674 | 24.64% | 438 | 16.01% |
| 1976 | 1,034 | 55.24% | 741 | 39.58% | 97 | 5.18% |
| 1972 | 1,001 | 70.29% | 386 | 27.11% | 37 | 2.60% |
| 1968 | 601 | 58.58% | 286 | 27.88% | 139 | 13.55% |
| 1964 | 493 | 48.86% | 515 | 51.04% | 1 | 0.10% |
| 1960 | 642 | 59.33% | 438 | 40.48% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 715 | 70.58% | 297 | 29.32% | 1 | 0.10% |
| 1952 | 775 | 68.89% | 343 | 30.49% | 7 | 0.62% |
| 1948 | 637 | 55.30% | 505 | 43.84% | 10 | 0.87% |
| 1944 | 670 | 60.80% | 426 | 38.66% | 6 | 0.54% |
| 1940 | 986 | 52.98% | 869 | 46.70% | 6 | 0.32% |
| 1936 | 746 | 35.36% | 1,336 | 63.32% | 28 | 1.33% |
| 1932 | 577 | 33.26% | 1,057 | 60.92% | 101 | 5.82% |
| 1928 | 740 | 62.82% | 419 | 35.57% | 19 | 1.61% |
| 1924 | 660 | 56.12% | 316 | 26.87% | 200 | 17.01% |
| 1920 | 511 | 58.20% | 320 | 36.45% | 47 | 5.35% |
| 1916 | 372 | 34.48% | 674 | 62.47% | 33 | 3.06% |
| 1912 | 293 | 29.87% | 529 | 53.92% | 159 | 16.21% |
| 1908 | 465 | 35.58% | 807 | 61.74% | 35 | 2.68% |
| 1904 | 685 | 49.25% | 669 | 48.09% | 37 | 2.66% |
| 1900 | 579 | 37.89% | 940 | 61.52% | 9 | 0.59% |
| 1896 | 151 | 8.78% | 1,562 | 90.81% | 7 | 0.41% |
| 1892 | 384 | 36.92% | 0 | 0.00% | 656 | 63.08% |
| 1888 | 764 | 56.30% | 588 | 43.33% | 5 | 0.37% |
| 1884 | 777 | 54.45% | 629 | 44.08% | 21 | 1.47% |
| 1880 | 698 | 52.60% | 598 | 45.06% | 31 | 2.34% |
Park County is consistently Republican. It has not voted for the Democratic nominee for president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Communities
editTowns
editCensus-designated place
editOther unincorporated communities
editGhost towns
edit- Antero Junction
- Buckskin Joe (Also known as Laurette or Lauret)
- Garo
- Tarryall
- Trump
In popular culture
editIn the long-running animated television series South Park, the eponymous fictional town is situated in an unspecified part of the county.[13]
Notable people
edit- Gottlieb Fluhmann (Gottlieb Fluhmann disappeared in 1892 and his remains were found in a secluded cave in Park County in 1944. The cause of his death remains unknown).[14]
- Samuel Hartsel
- John J. Hoover
- Sheldon Jackson
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/parkcountycolorado/PST045222 [bare URL]
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "Towelie". South Park. Season 5. Episode 8. August 8, 2001. Comedy Central.
- ^ "Rob Carrigan, Gottlieb Fluhmann's ghost and Ratcliff side of the story, October 27, 2012". trilakestribune.net. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
External links
edit- Park County Government website
Geographic data related to Park County, Colorado at OpenStreetMap
- South Park National Heritage Area
- Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
- Colorado Historical Society
- Geologic Map of the Harvard Lakes 7.5ʹ Quadrangle, Park and Chaffee Counties, Colorado United States Geological Survey
- Gerald Fogarty Galloway Collection of Records Concerning Mines and Real Property in Park County, Colorado. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
- Colorado Election Results 2020