Washington County, Colorado

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,814.[1] The county seat is Akron.[2] The county was named in honor of the United States President George Washington.

For counties with a similar name, see Washington County (disambiguation).
Washington County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°59′N 103°12′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 9, 1887
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatAkron
Largest townAkron
Area
 • Total2,524 sq mi (6,540 km2)
 • Land2,518 sq mi (6,520 km2)
 • Water5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,908
 • Density1.9/sq mi (0.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district4th
Websiteco.washington.co.us

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,524 square miles (6,540 km2), of which 2,518 square miles (6,520 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.2%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

Trails and byways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18902,301—
19001,241−46.1%
19106,002383.6%
192011,20886.7%
19309,591−14.4%
19408,336−13.1%
19507,520−9.8%
19606,625−11.9%
19705,550−16.2%
19805,304−4.4%
19904,812−9.3%
20004,9262.4%
20104,814−2.3%
2019 (est.)4,908[4]2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2015[1]

At the 2000 census there were 4,926 people in 1,989 households, including 1,408 families, in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 2,307 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.39% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 6.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9] Of the 1,989 households 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.20% of households were one person and 11.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.10 males.

The median household income was $32,431 and the median family income was $37,287. Males had a median income of $26,225 versus $21,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,788. About 8.60% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated Communities

Ghost Towns
  • Abbott
  • Arickaree
  • Burdett
  • Elba
  • Harrisburg
  • Messex
  • Pinneo
  • Simpson
  • Spence
  • Waitley
  • Xenia

Politics

Washington is a powerfully Republican county in Presidential elections. Among Colorado counties only Washington, Elbert and Hinsdale were carried by Barry Goldwater in 1964, and no Democratic presidential nominee has carried Washington County since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. The last five Republican presidential candidates have all obtained over 75 percent of Washington County's vote.

Presidential elections results
Washington County, Colorado
vote by party
in presidential elections[10][11]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2020 86.3% 2,595 12.3% 369 1.5% 44
2016 84.1% 2,299 10.8% 296 5.1% 138
2012 80.1% 2,076 18.1% 468 1.8% 47
2008 77.6% 1,949 21.1% 529 1.4% 35
2004 81.0% 2,050 18.0% 455 1.0% 25
2000 76.8% 1,878 19.5% 477 3.7% 90
1996 64.2% 1,566 26.6% 649 9.2% 225
1992 48.5% 1,266 25.3% 660 26.3% 687
1988 62.9% 1,707 35.3% 958 1.8% 50
1984 77.5% 2,080 21.2% 568 1.3% 36
1980 71.4% 2,007 20.2% 568 8.4% 236
1976 52.6% 1,440 44.3% 1,211 3.1% 85
1972 69.9% 1,837 24.5% 643 5.7% 149
1968 60.9% 1,634 25.9% 694 13.2% 354
1964 51.6% 1,434 48.3% 1,341 0.1% 4
1960 65.5% 1,979 34.4% 1,039 0.1% 4
1956 65.2% 2,020 34.4% 1,067 0.4% 11
1952 69.7% 2,398 29.3% 1,009 1.1% 36
1948 55.3% 1,636 44.1% 1,304 0.6% 18
1944 67.9% 2,259 31.8% 1,058 0.3% 11
1940 62.6% 2,390 36.8% 1,403 0.6% 23
1936 44.3% 1,723 53.3% 2,071 2.4% 92
1932 35.4% 1,385 60.8% 2,378 3.8% 150
1928 70.0% 2,132 27.9% 851 2.1% 63
1924 54.3% 1,851 21.1% 720 24.6% 840
1920 63.4% 2,117 31.8% 1,060 4.8% 160
1916 34.1% 989 60.3% 1,748 5.6% 161
1912 18.3% 361 38.9% 765 42.8% 842[lower-alpha 1]

In other statewide elections, Washington County also leans Republican, although the county was carried by Democrat Roy Romer by a narrow margin in 1990[12] – when he carried all but three counties statewide – by Dick Lamm in 1982[13] and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.[14] Since 1994, no Democratic senatorial candidate has won thirty percent of Washington County's vote.

Education

There are 5 school districts in Washington County:[15]

  • Akron R-1
  • Arickaree R-2
  • Lone Star 101
  • Otis R-3
  • Woodlin R-104.

Akron R-1 includes:[16]

  • Akron High School

Arickaree R-2 includes:[17]

  • Arickaree School (all grades K-12)

Lone Star 101 includes:[18]

  • Lone Star School (all grades K-12)

Otis R-3 includes:[19]

  • Otis Elementary School
  • Otis Jr.-Sr. High School

See also

Note
  1. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 719 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 71 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 34 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 18 votes.

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1960 Presidential General Election Data Graphs – Colorado (and subsequent years)
  11. Scammon, Richard M. (compiler); America at the Polls: A Handbook of Presidential Election Statistics 1920-1964; pp. 64-72 ISBN 0405077114
  12. Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  13. Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1980 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  14. Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  15. Education, Colorado Department of (2008–2009). "2008-2009 Colorado Education & Library Directory" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  16. School, Akron High. "Contacts". Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  17. School, Arickaree. "Home of the Indians". Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  18. School, Lone Star. "Lone Star School » About". Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  19. School District R-3, Otis (September 2004). "Otis School District R-3 - Schools". Archived from the original on October 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-26.

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