Adams County, Colorado

Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 441,603.[3] The county seat is Brighton.[4] The county is named for Alva Adams, an early Governor of the State of Colorado in 1887–1889.[1]

Adams County
U.S. county
Adams County Government Center in Brighton
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°52′N 104°21′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedApril 15, 1901
Named forAlva Adams[1]
SeatBrighton
Largest cityThornton
Area
 • Total1,184 sq mi (3,070 km2)
 • Land1,168 sq mi (3,030 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  1.4%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
517,421[2]
 • Density431/sq mi (166/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts4th, 6th, 7th
Websitewww.adcogov.org
Fifth most populous Colorado county

Adams County is part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

On May 30, 1854, the Kansas–Nebraska Act created the Territory of Nebraska and Territory of Kansas, divided by the Parallel 40° North (168th Avenue in present-day Adams County). The future Adams County, Colorado, occupied a strip of northern Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory, immediately south of the Nebraska Territory.

In 1859, John D. "Colonel Jack" Henderson built a ranch, trading post, and hotel on Henderson Island in the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. Jack Henderson was the former editor and proprietor of the Leavenworth (Kansas Territory) Journal and an outspoken pro-slavery politician who had been accused of vote fraud in eastern Kansas. Henderson sold meat and provisions to gold seekers on their way up the South Platte River Trail to the gold fields during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Henderson Island was the first permanent settlement in the South Platte River Valley between Fort Saint Vrain in the Nebraska Territory and the Cherry Creek Diggings in the Kansas Territory. Jack Henderson eventually returned to eastern Kansas and fought for the Union in the American Civil War. Henderson Island is today the site of the Adams County Regional Park and Fairgrounds.

The eastern portion of the Kansas Territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas on January 29, 1861, and on February 28, 1861, the remaining western portion of the territory was made part of the new Colorado Territory.[5] The Colorado Territory created Arapahoe County, on November 1, 1861, and Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876.[5]

In 1901, the Colorado General Assembly voted to split Arapahoe County into three parts: a new Adams County, a new consolidated City and County of Denver, and the remainder of the Arapahoe County to be renamed South Arapahoe County. A ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, subsequent legislation, and a referendum delayed the creation of Adams County until November 15, 1902. Governor James Bradley Orman designated Brighton as the temporary Adams County Seat. Adams County originally stretched 160 miles (258 kilometers) from present-day Sheridan Boulevard to the Kansas state border. On May 12, 1903, the eastern 88 miles (142 kilometers) of Adams County was transferred to the new Washington County and the new Yuma County, reducing the length of Adams County to the present 72 miles (116 kilometers). On November 8, 1904, Adams County voters chose Brighton as the permanent county seat.

A 1989 vote transferred 53 square miles (137 square kilometers) of Adams County to the City and County of Denver for the proposed Denver International Airport, leaving the densely populated western portion of the county as two oddly-shaped peninsulas. Adams County lost the tip of its northwest corner when the consolidated City and County of Broomfield was created on November 15, 2001.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,184 square miles (3,070 km2), of which 1,168 square miles (3,030 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.4%) is water.[6]

Adams County surrounds (and surrendered the land for) most of Denver International Airport which is in the City and County of Denver.

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

National protected area

State park

Historic trail

Recreational trails

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19108,892—
192014,43062.3%
193020,24540.3%
194022,48111.0%
195040,23479.0%
1960120,296199.0%
1970185,78954.4%
1980245,94432.4%
1990265,0387.8%
2000363,85737.3%
2010441,60321.4%
2019 (est.)517,421[7]17.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[3]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 363,857 people, 128,156 households, and 92,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 305 people per square mile (118/km2). There were 132,594 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile (43/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.29% White, 2.97% Black or African American, 1.19% Native American, 3.21% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 11.73% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. 28.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 128,156 households, out of which 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 34.00% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 102.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,323, and the median income for a family was $52,517. Males had a median income of $36,499 versus $28,053 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,944. About 6.50% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, the largest denominational groups were Catholics (with 60,429 members) and Evangelical Protestants (with 25,552 members).[13] The largest religious bodies were the Catholic Church (with 60,429 adherents) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (with 6,808 adherents).[14]

Politics

Adams County is predominately Democratic, not having voted Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the county without a majority, becoming the first Democrat to do so since her husband Bill Clinton in 1992.

Presidential elections results
Adams County vote
by party in presidential elections[15]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2020 40.4% 95,657 56.7% 134,202 2.9% 6,881
2016 41.4% 80,082 49.9% 96,558 8.8% 17,037
2012 40.1% 70,972 56.9% 100,649 3.0% 5,272
2008 39.9% 63,976 58.2% 93,445 1.9% 3,080
2004 48.2% 65,912 50.6% 69,122 1.2% 1,643
2000 44.1% 47,561 50.2% 54,132 5.7% 6,159
1996 38.9% 36,666 51.3% 48,314 9.8% 9,234
1992 29.9% 30,856 44.0% 45,357 26.1% 26,864
1988 45.9% 43,163 52.6% 49,464 1.6% 1,467
1984 60.2% 55,092 38.6% 35,285 1.2% 1,134
1980 50.5% 42,916 36.9% 31,357 12.6% 10,702
1976 45.3% 35,392 51.9% 40,551 2.8% 2,184
1972 60.8% 40,372 36.4% 24,170 2.8% 1,870
1968 43.9% 24,343 45.3% 25,111 10.9% 6,039
1964 30.4% 15,652 69.0% 35,498 0.6% 304
1960 46.4% 18,452 53.2% 21,168 0.5% 178
1956 52.2% 12,778 46.9% 11,470 0.9% 215
1952 54.9% 8,995 44.7% 7,321 0.4% 71
1948 57.8% 6,240 41.0% 4,419 1.2% 132
1944 54.4% 4,933 45.3% 4,101 0.3% 29
1940 50.2% 4,767 49.2% 4,674 0.7% 62
1936 38.3% 3,124 59.7% 4,865 2.0% 162
1932 36.7% 2,812 59.4% 4,554 3.9% 299
1928 63.1% 4,031 35.5% 2,265 1.4% 92
1924 56.3% 2,931 23.2% 1,209 20.4% 1,063
1920 57.6% 2,510 37.5% 1,633 5.0% 217
1916 33.9% 1,165 61.7% 2,120 4.3% 149
1912 14.1% 398 46.5% 1,312 39.4% 1,113
1908 49.0% 1,301 46.4% 1,232 4.4% 119
1904 50.8% 1,115 47.5% 1,041 1.6% 35

Education
Main article: List of schools in Adams County, Colorado

The school districts serving Adams County are:[16]

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities
  • Henderson (portions have been annexed by Brighton, Commerce City, and Thornton)

License plate code

Up until 1999 when Colorado ceased coding license plates by county, Adams County used the following codes on license plates issued to passenger vehicles: TE-UF, GA-GG, SAA-SEW, and SEY-TZZ.[17]

Adams County was featured as the fictional rival of South Park's peewee hockey team in the South Park episode "Stanley's Cup".

See also

References
  1. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 23.
  2. "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau. March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. "State Government History". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. April 18, 2001. Archived from the original on November 30, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2006.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "U.S. Census website". Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  14. "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  15. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  16. Education, Colorado Department of. "Index of Counties and School Districts" (PDF). Colorado Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  17. "Colorado County Codes". www.15q.net. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

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