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Park County, Colorado

Coordinates: 39°07′N 105°43′W / 39.12°N 105.71°W / 39.12; -105.71
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Park County
County
Old Park County Courthouse
Old Park County Courthouse
Map of Colorado highlighting Park County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°07′N 105°43′W / 39.12°N 105.71°W / 39.12; -105.71
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
SeatFairplay
Largest townFairplay
Area
 • Total
2,211 sq mi (5,730 km2)
 • Land2,194 sq mi (5,680 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
17,390
 • Estimate 
(2023)[1]
18,117
 • Density7.9/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.parkco.us

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 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

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According 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

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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State protected areas

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Trails and byways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870447—
18803,970788.1%
18903,548−10.6%
19002,998−15.5%
19102,492−16.9%
19201,977−20.7%
19302,0523.8%
19403,27259.5%
19501,870−42.8%
19601,822−2.6%
19702,18519.9%
19805,333144.1%
19907,17434.5%
200014,523102.4%
201016,20611.6%
202017,3907.3%
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

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United States presidential election results for Park County, Colorado[12]
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

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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In the long-running animated television series South Park, the eponymous fictional town is situated in an unspecified part of the county.[13]

Notable people

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/parkcountycolorado/PST045222 [bare URL]
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  13. ^ "Towelie". South Park. Season 5. Episode 8. August 8, 2001. Comedy Central.
  14. ^ "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.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Park County, Colorado.

39°07′N 105°43′W / 39.12°N 105.71°W / 39.12; -105.71

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