Delta County, Colorado Explained

County:Delta County
State:Colorado
Ex Image:Egyptian Theatre on Main St, Delta, Colorado..JPG
Ex Image Size:220px
Founded Year:1883
Founded Date:February 11
Seat Wl:Delta
Largest City Wl:Delta
Area Total Sq Mi:1149
Area Land Sq Mi:1142
Area Water Sq Mi:6.5
Area Percentage:0.6%
Census Yr:2020
Pop:31196
Density Sq Mi:27
Time Zone:Mountain
Web:www.deltacounty.com
District:3rd
Population Est:31746
Pop Est As Of:2023
Pop Est Footnotes:[1]

Delta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,196.[2] The county seat is Delta.[3]

History

Delta County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 11, 1883, out of portions of central Gunnison County. The county was named from a delta of arable land at the mouth of the Uncompahgre River, where it flows into the Gunnison River.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.6%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

State protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

At the 2000 census there were 27,834 people, 11,058 households, and 7,939 families living in the county. The population density was 24/mi2. There were 12,374 housing units at an average density of 11/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 92.29% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.25% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 11.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[6] Of the 11,058 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 12.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.

The median household income was $32,785 and the median family income was $37,748. Males had a median income of $31,348 versus $19,916 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,152. About 8.50% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Towns

Census Designated Place

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Delta County votes predominantly Republican in national, state, and local elections. No Democratic presidential candidate has reached forty percent of Delta County's vote since Lyndon Johnson carried the county in 1964, and since 1920 Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 is the only other Democrat to gain a majority, although Roosevelt did win a plurality against Alf Landon in 1936.

Delta County is split between two house districts for the Colorado House of Representatives, House District 58 & House District 54.[7] Prior to the redistricting, which took affect in the November 2022 election, Delta County was split by House District 54 & 61.[8] The Current Representative for House District 58 is Marc Catlin, who carried the county in the election.[9]

Media

The local papers are the Delta County Independent and the Merchant Herald.

Education

The county is served by Delta County Joint School District 50-J.

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Higher Education

Technical College of the Rockies, a trade school offering technical training and professional certificates, is located in the city of Delta.

See also

External links

38.86°N -107.86°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 . March 24, 2024 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: State & County QuickFacts. United States Census Bureau. September 4, 2021.
  3. Web site: Find a County . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 .
  4. Book: The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States . Govt. Print. Off. . Gannett, Henry . 1905 . 103.
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website . . May 14, 2011 .
  7. October 13, 2021 . Colorado House Districts - West Final Approved Plan . Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions.
  8. December 2011 . Legislative District Information After 2011 Reapportionment - House District 54 . Colorado Reapportionment Commissions.
  9. Web site: Marc Catlin Colorado General Assembly . January 3, 2024 . leg.colorado.gov.