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
 • Total2,211 sq mi (5,730 km2)
 • Land2,194 sq mi (5,680 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,390
 • Density7.9/sq mi (3.1/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.[1] The county seat is Fairplay.[2] 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

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.[3]

The headwaters of the South Platte River are in Park County.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

State protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

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%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[8] 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

United States presidential election results for Park County, Colorado[9]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
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%

Park County is consistently Republican. It has not voted for the Democratic nominee for president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

In popular culture

In the long-running animated television series South Park, the eponymous fictional town is situated in an unspecified part of the county.[10]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  9. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  10. ^ "Towelie". South Park. Season 5. Episode 8. August 8, 2001. Comedy Central.
  11. ^ "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.

External links

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

Places adjacent to Park County, Colorado
Municipalities and communities of Park County, Colorado, United States
State of Colorado
Authority control databases
Categories