Delta County, Colorado

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

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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,149 square miles (2,980 km2), of which 1,142 square miles (2,960 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (0.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Mesa County – northwest
• Gunnison County – east
• Montrose County – south

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 50
• State Highway 65
• State Highway 92
• State Highway 133
• State Highway 348

National protected areas

• Dominguez Canyon Wilderness
• Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (part)
• Grand Mesa National Forest
• Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (part)
• Gunnison Gorge Wilderness
• Gunnison National Forest

State protected areas

• Crawford State Park
• Sweitzer Lake State Park

Trails and byways

• American Discovery Trail
• Crag Crest National Recreation Trail
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail
• West Elk Loop Scenic Byway

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 31,196. Of the residents, 19.9% were under the age of 18 and 27.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 48.9 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males. 26.3% of residents lived in urban areas and 73.7% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.6% from some other race, and 8.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 13.9% of the population.

There were 13,075 households in the county, of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 14,780 housing units, of which 11.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.

2000 census

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 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 12,374 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). 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. 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

• Delta

Towns

• Cedaredge
• Crawford
• Hotchkiss
• Orchard City
• Paonia

Census-designated place

• Lazear

Unincorporated communities

• Austin
• Bowie
• Cory
• Eckert

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. Prior to the redistricting, which took effect in the November 2022 election, Delta County was split by House District 54 & 61.

Media

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

Education

There is one school district in the county: Delta County Joint School District 50-J.

Elementary Schools

• Cedaredge Elementary School
• Garnet Mesa Elementary School (Delta)
• Hotchkiss K-8 School
• Lincoln Elementary School (Delta)
• Paonia K-8 School

Middle Schools

• Cedaredge Middle School
• Delta Middle School
• Hotchkiss K-8 School
• Paonia K-8 School

High Schools

• Cedaredge High School
• Delta High School
• North Fork High School (Hotchkiss)

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

• Bibliography of Colorado
• Geography of Colorado
• History of Colorado National Register of Historic Places listings in Delta County, Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado-related lists List of counties in Colorado
• Outline of Colorado Delta County Libraries Delta County Memorial Hospital

Notes

External links