Elbert County, Colorado

Infobox U.S. County
county = Elbert County
state = Colorado


founded year = 1874
founded date = February 2
seat wl = Kiowa
largest city wl = Elizabeth
city type = town
area_total_sq_mi = 1851
area_total_km2 = 4794
area_land_sq_mi = 1851
area_land_km2 = 4794
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 0
area percentage = 0.01%
census yr = 2000
pop = 19872
density_sq_mi = 11
density_km2 = 4
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.elbertcounty-co.gov
named for = Samuel H. Elbert

Elbert County is the 21st most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,872 at U.S. Census 2000.cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/files/CO-EST2006-ALLDATA.csv | title = Annual County Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CO-EST2006-alldata) | format = CSV | work = 2006 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2007-03-22 | accessdate = 2007-05-10] The county seat is Kiowa. Despite its rural nature, Elbert County is part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area.

History

Elbert County was created on February 2nd, 1874, from the eastern portions of Douglas County. On 1874-02-06, the county was enlarged to include part of northern Greenwood County upon Greenwood's dissolution, and originally extended south and east of its present boundaries to reach to the Kansas state line. The county was named for Samuel Hitt Elbert, the Governor of the Territory of Colorado when the county was formed. In 1889, Elbert County was reduced to its modern size when its eastern portions were taken to create Lincoln, Kit Carson, and Cheyenne counties.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,851 square miles (4,794 km²), of which, 1,851 square miles (4,794 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) of it (0.01%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Arapahoe County, Colorado - (north)
* Lincoln County, Colorado - (east)
* El Paso County, Colorado - (south)
* Douglas County, Colorado - (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 19,872 people, 6,770 households, and 5,652 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.22% White, 0.64% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 3.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,770 households out of which 42.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.10% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.50% were non-families. 12.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county the population was spread out with 30.20% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 6.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $62,480, and the median income for a family was $66,740. Males had a median income of $45,329 versus $29,767 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,960. About 2.50% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.60% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Elizabeth
*Elbert
*Fondis
*Kiowa
*Matheson
*Ponderosa Park CDP
*Simla

Historic trail

*Smoky Hill Trail

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado metropolitan areas
*Colorado municipalities
*Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area
*Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area
*Front Range Urban Corridor

References

External links

* [http://www.elbertcounty-co.gov/ Elbert County Government website]
* [http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]