Kit Carson County, Colorado
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,162 square miles (5,600 km), of which 2,161 square miles (5,600 km) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km) (0.04%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Yuma County (north)
- Cheyenne County, Kansas (northeast/Central Time border)
- Sherman County, Kansas (east)
- Wallace County, Kansas (southeast)
- Cheyenne County (south)
- Lincoln County (west)
- Washington County (northwest)
Major highways
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 2,472 | — | |
1900 | 1,580 | −36.1% | |
1910 | 7,483 | 373.6% | |
1920 | 8,915 | 19.1% | |
1930 | 9,725 | 9.1% | |
1940 | 7,512 | −22.8% | |
1950 | 8,600 | 14.5% | |
1960 | 6,957 | −19.1% | |
1970 | 7,530 | 8.2% | |
1980 | 7,599 | 0.9% | |
1990 | 7,140 | −6.0% | |
2000 | 8,011 | 12.2% | |
2010 | 8,270 | 3.2% | |
2020 | 7,087 | −14.3% | |
2023 (est.) | 6,994 | −1.3% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
At the 2000 census there were 8,011 people, 2,990 households, and 2,081 families living in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km). There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 87.28% White, 1.74% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.20% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 13.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,990 households 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.20% of households were one person and 12.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.07.
The age distribution was 26.70% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 112.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.10 males.
The median household income was $33,152 and the median family income was $41,867. Males had a median income of $28,700 versus $19,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,964. About 9.40% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Like all the High Plains, Kit Carson County is powerfully Republican. Since 1920, it has been won only twice by a Democratic presidential candidate – during the landslides of 1932 and 1964. Along with Elbert County and Rio Blanco County, it was one of three Colorado counties to be won by Alf Landon in 1936.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 3,083 | 83.37% | 556 | 15.04% | 59 | 1.60% |
2020 | 3,144 | 81.22% | 662 | 17.10% | 65 | 1.68% |
2016 | 2,967 | 80.15% | 536 | 14.48% | 199 | 5.38% |
2012 | 2,785 | 75.23% | 838 | 22.64% | 79 | 2.13% |
2008 | 2,455 | 71.32% | 912 | 26.50% | 75 | 2.18% |
2004 | 2,721 | 77.70% | 729 | 20.82% | 52 | 1.48% |
2000 | 2,542 | 73.51% | 809 | 23.40% | 107 | 3.09% |
1996 | 2,068 | 60.26% | 1,073 | 31.26% | 291 | 8.48% |
1992 | 1,801 | 49.23% | 925 | 25.29% | 932 | 25.48% |
1988 | 2,262 | 64.41% | 1,196 | 34.05% | 54 | 1.54% |
1984 | 2,762 | 77.06% | 778 | 21.71% | 44 | 1.23% |
1980 | 2,622 | 71.78% | 790 | 21.63% | 241 | 6.60% |
1976 | 1,888 | 52.28% | 1,647 | 45.61% | 76 | 2.10% |
1972 | 2,316 | 70.89% | 824 | 25.22% | 127 | 3.89% |
1968 | 1,977 | 61.08% | 1,026 | 31.70% | 234 | 7.23% |
1964 | 1,316 | 40.71% | 1,906 | 58.95% | 11 | 0.34% |
1960 | 2,248 | 66.88% | 1,103 | 32.82% | 10 | 0.30% |
1956 | 2,243 | 70.96% | 911 | 28.82% | 7 | 0.22% |
1952 | 2,511 | 71.03% | 998 | 28.23% | 26 | 0.74% |
1948 | 1,873 | 58.88% | 1,281 | 40.27% | 27 | 0.85% |
1944 | 2,471 | 72.27% | 937 | 27.41% | 11 | 0.32% |
1940 | 2,481 | 68.69% | 1,100 | 30.45% | 31 | 0.86% |
1936 | 1,980 | 50.76% | 1,730 | 44.35% | 191 | 4.90% |
1932 | 1,835 | 42.55% | 2,289 | 53.07% | 189 | 4.38% |
1928 | 2,486 | 67.37% | 1,137 | 30.81% | 67 | 1.82% |
1924 | 2,108 | 60.21% | 720 | 20.57% | 673 | 19.22% |
1920 | 1,872 | 65.48% | 796 | 27.84% | 191 | 6.68% |
1916 | 1,030 | 37.06% | 1,571 | 56.53% | 178 | 6.41% |
1912 | 569 | 25.08% | 719 | 31.69% | 981 | 43.23% |
1908 | 983 | 54.10% | 752 | 41.39% | 82 | 4.51% |
1904 | 514 | 66.67% | 219 | 28.40% | 38 | 4.93% |
1900 | 384 | 58.36% | 259 | 39.36% | 15 | 2.28% |
1896 | 252 | 51.12% | 229 | 46.45% | 12 | 2.43% |
1892 | 277 | 54.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 235 | 45.90% |
In other statewide elections, Kit Carson County also leans strongly Republican. At a gubernatorial level, it has been won by Democrat Roy Romer in 1990 – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.
Recreation
National historic landmark
Historic trail
Communities
City
Towns
See also
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- Outline of Colorado
Notes
References
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 957
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 176.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ^ "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 8, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
- ^ "2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.