Jefferson County, Colorado

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Jefferson County
U.S. county
Jefferson County Courthouse in Golden
Jefferson County Courthouse in Golden
Motto(s): 
Gateway to the Rocky Mountains
Map of Colorado highlighting Jefferson 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°35′N 105°15′W / 39.59°N 105.25°W / 39.59; -105.25
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatGolden
Largest cityLakewood
Area
 • Total774 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land764 sq mi (1,980 km2)
 • Water9.8 sq mi (25 km2)  1.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
582,910
 • Density763/sq mi (295/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd, 7th
Websitewww.jeffco.us

Jefferson County, is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 582,910,[1] making it the fourth-most populous county in Colorado. The county seat is Golden,[2] and the most populous city is Lakewood.

Jefferson County is included in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the state capital of Denver.

In 2010, the center of population of Colorado was located in Jefferson County.[3]

The county's slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", and it is commonly nicknamed Jeffco. The name Jeffco is incorporated in the name of the Jeffco School District, the Jeffco Business Center Metropolitan District No. 1, and several businesses located in Jefferson County. Jeffco is also incorporated in the unofficial monikers of many Jefferson County agencies. The Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport operated by Jefferson County was previously known as the Jeffco Airport.

A major employer in Jefferson County is the large Coors Brewing Company in Golden. Also, the state-supported Colorado School of Mines is located in Jefferson County, focusing on topics such as mining, geology, chemistry, and engineering.

History[]

On August 25, 1855, the Kansas Territorial Legislature created Arapahoe County to govern the entire western portion of the territory. The county was named for the Arapaho Nation of Native Americans that lived in the region.

On June 22, 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County (in present-day Englewood). This discovery precipitated the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Many residents of the mining region felt disconnected from the remote territorial governments of Kansas and Nebraska, so they voted to form their own Territory of Jefferson on October 24, 1859. The following month, the Jefferson Territorial Legislature organized 12 counties for the new territory, including Jefferson County. Jefferson County was named for the namesake of the Jefferson Territory, Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the nation's third president.[4] Golden City served as the county seat of Jefferson County. Robert Williamson Steele, Governor of the Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson from 1859 to 1861, built his home in the county at Mount Vernon and later at .

The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, but during his last week in office, President James Buchanan signed an act which organized the Territory of Colorado on February 28, 1861.[5] That November 1, the new Colorado General Assembly organized the 17 original counties of Colorado, including a new Jefferson County. In 1908, the southern tip of Jefferson County was transferred to Park County, reducing Jefferson County to its present length of 54 miles (87 km). Several annexations by the City & County of Denver and the 2001 consolidation of the City & County of Broomfield removed the east and extreme northwestern portion of the county, respectively.

Geography[]

Long Scraggy Peak in the southeastern part of the county.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 774 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 764 square miles (1,980 km2) is land and 9.8 square miles (25 km2) (1.3%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties[]

Jefferson County is one of the few counties in the United States to border as many as ten counties.

  • Boulder County - north
  • City and County of Broomfield - northeast
  • Adams County - east
  • City and County of Denver - east
  • Arapahoe County - east
  • Douglas County - east
  • Teller County - south
  • Park County - southwest
  • Clear Creek County - west
  • Gilpin County - northwest

Major highways[]

Recreational areas[]

  • Alderfer/Three Sisters Park
  • Apex Park
  • Bear Creek Lake Park
  • Centennial Cone Park
  • Clear Creek Canyon Park
  • Coal Creek Canyon
  • Crown Hill Park
  • Deer Creek Canyon Park
  • Elk Meadow Park
  • Evergreen Lake
  • Fairmount Trail
  • Flying J Ranch Park
  • Hildebrand Ranch Park
  • Hiwan Homestead Museum
  • Lair o' the Bear Park
  • Lewis Meadows Park
  • Lookout Mountain Nature Center
  • Matthews/Winters Park
  • Meyer Ranch Park
  • Mount Falcon Park
  • Mount Galbraith Park
  • Mount Glennon
  • Mount Lindo
  • North Table Mountain Park
  • Pine Valley Ranch Park
  • Ranson/Edwards Homestead Ranch
  • Reynolds Park
  • Sister City Park
  • South Table Mountain Park
  • South Valley Park
  • Standley Lake Regional Park
  • Van Bibber Park
  • Welchester Tree Grant Park
  • White Ranch Park
  • Windy Saddle Park
  • Urban Trails

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18702,390—
18806,804184.7%
18908,45024.2%
19009,30610.1%
191014,23152.9%
192014,4001.2%
193021,81051.5%
194030,72540.9%
195055,68781.2%
1960127,520129.0%
1970233,03182.7%
1980371,75359.5%
1990438,43017.9%
2000527,05620.2%
2010534,5431.4%
2020582,9109.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]

1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 527,056 people, 206,067 households, and 140,537 families residing in the county. The population density was 683 people per square mile (264 people/km²). There were 212,488 housing units at an average density of 275 people per square mile (106 people/km²). The racial makeup of the county was

90.59%
 White
0.89%
 Black or African American
0.75%
 Native American
2.28%
 Asian
0.08%
 Pacific Islander
3.23%
 from other races
9.95% of the population were either Hispanic or Latino of any race
2.18% in two or more races

There were 206,067 households, out of which 33.40% had children under age 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, of those 6.30% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.03 persons.

In the county, the population ages were spread out:

25.30%
 under age 18
8.10%
 aged 18–24
32.10%
 from 25–44
24.90%
 from 45–64
9.60%
 65 years of age or older
The median age was 37 years.

For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $57,339, and the median income for a family was $67,310. Males had a median income of $45,306 versus $32,372 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,066. About 3.40% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.80% of those under age 18, and 5.10% of those age 65 or over.

According to a report in the JAMA, residents of Jefferson County had a 2014 life expectancy of 80.02 years.[12]

Education[]

  • Jefferson County School District R-1.

Government and infrastructure[]

Jefferson County was once a Republican stronghold, but starting with the 2008 election it has consistently voted Democratic. In 2020 Joe Biden won the largest percentage for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1916.

Presidential elections results

Recreation[]

State parks[]

National forests and wilderness[]

National wildlife refuges[]

Historic trail[]

Recreational trails[]

  • American Discovery Trail
  • Colorado Trail
  • Two Ponds National Recreation Trail

Scenic byway[]

  • Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway

Golf courses[]

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Arvada (part)
  • Edgewater
  • Golden
  • Lakewood
  • Littleton (part)
  • Westminster (part)
  • Wheat Ridge

Towns[]

Census-designated places[]

Unincorporated communities[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: 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. ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
  5. ^ "An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado" (PDF). Thirty-sixth United States Congress. February 28, 1861. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ U.S. Decennial Census (Report). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ^ Historical Census Browser. UVA Libraries (Report). University of Virginia. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ^ Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 (Report). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. ^ Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 (PDF) (Report). Census 2000. United States Census Bureau. PHC-T-4. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census" (main website). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Dwyer-Lindgren, Laura (May 8, 2017). "Inequalities in life expectancy among U.S. counties, 1980 to 2014". JAMA Internal Medicine. 177 (7): 1003–1011. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.0918. PMC 5543324. PMID 28492829.
  13. ^ "FCI Englewood Contact Information." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on July 28, 2010.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

External links[]

Coordinates: 39°35′N 105°15′W / 39.59°N 105.25°W / 39.59; -105.25

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