Morgan County, Colorado

Morgan County, Colorado
Location in the state of Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 19, 1889
Named for	Christopher A. Morgan
Seat	Fort Morgan
Largest city	Fort Morgan
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,293.87 sq mi (3,351 km²) 1,285.36 sq mi (3,329 km²) 8.51 sq mi (22 km²), 0.66%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	27,171 21/sq mi (8/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.co.morgan.co.us
Footnotes: 18th most populous Colorado county

Morgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000.^[1] The county seat is the City of Fort Morgan. The Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical Area comprises Morgan County.

Geography

Countryside in northern Morgan County

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,293.87 square miles (3,351.1 km²), of which 1,285.36 square miles (3,329.1 km²) (or 99.34%) is land and 8.51 square miles (22.0 km²) (or 0.66%) is water.^[2]

Adjacent counties

• Logan County, Colorado - northeast
• Washington County, Colorado - east, southeast
• Adams County, Colorado - southwest
• Weld County, Colorado - west

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 27,171 people, 9,539 households, and 6,973 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 10,410 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.65% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 16.37% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. 31.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,539 households out of which 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the county the population was spread out with 30.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,568, and the median income for a family was $39,102. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $21,524 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,492. About 8.50% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Brush
• Fort Morgan
• Hillrose
• Hoyt
• Log Lane Village
• Wiggins

State park

• Jackson Lake State Park

Historic trail

• South Platte Trail

Transcontinental trail

• American Discovery Trail

Scenic byway

• Pawnee Pioneer Trails

See also

• Colorado census statistical areas
• Colorado counties
• Colorado municipalities
• Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Morgan County, Colorado

References

1. ^ "Annual County Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CO-EST2006-alldata)" (CSV). 2006 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2007-03-22. http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/files/CO-EST2006-ALLDATA.csv. Retrieved 2007-05-10. 
2. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Morgan County Government website
• Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society

Coordinates: 40°16′N 103°49′W / 40.26°N 103.81°W / 40.26; -103.81