Boulder County, Colorado
| Boulder County, Colorado | |
 Location in the state of Colorado |
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 Colorado's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | November 1, 1861 |
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| Named for | large granite boulders in area |
| Seat | Boulder |
| Largest city | Boulder |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
751.37 sq mi (1,946 km²) 742.46 sq mi (1,923 km²) 8.91 sq mi (23 km²), 1.19% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
294,567 391/sq mi (151/km²) |
| Website | www.bouldercounty.org |
| Footnotes:
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Boulder County is the sixth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The most populous municipality in the county and the county seat is the City of Boulder. The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated Boulder County as the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area,[1] a component of the Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area.[2]
The United States Census Bureau that the county population was 294,567 in 2010 census.[3] This was a 8.4% between 2010 and 2000, but a gain of 3.95% since 2000 excluding the area transferred to the City and County of Broomfield. Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 161st most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States.[4]
The Boulder MSA together with the Denver-Aurora MSA, and the Greeley MSA comprise the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area.
Contents |
History [edit]
Boulder County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Territory of Colorado on November 1, 1861. The county was named for Boulder City and Boulder Creek, so named because of the abundance of boulders in the area. Boulder County retains essentially the same borders as in 1861, although a 27.5 square miles (71.2 km2) of its southeastern corner and its approximate population of 40,000 became part of the City and County of Broomfield in 2001.
Geography [edit]
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 751.37 square miles (1,946.0 km2), of which 742.46 square miles (1,923.0 km2) (or 98.81%) is land and 8.91 square miles (23.1 km2) (or 1.19%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties [edit]
- Larimer County, Colorado – north
- Weld County, Colorado – east
- City and County of Broomfield, Colorado – southeast
- Jefferson County, Colorado – south
- Gilpin County, Colorado – south
- Grand County, Colorado – west
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,939 |
|
|
| 1880 | 9,723 | 401.4% | |
| 1890 | 14,082 | 44.8% | |
| 1900 | 21,544 | 53.0% | |
| 1910 | 30,330 | 40.8% | |
| 1920 | 31,861 | 5.0% | |
| 1930 | 32,456 | 1.9% | |
| 1940 | 37,438 | 15.4% | |
| 1950 | 48,296 | 29.0% | |
| 1960 | 74,254 | 53.7% | |
| 1970 | 131,889 | 77.6% | |
| 1980 | 189,625 | 43.8% | |
| 1990 | 226,374 | 19.4% | |
| 2000 | 271,651 | 20.0% | |
| 2010 | 294,567 | 8.4% | |
| sources:[6][7] | |||
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 271,651 people, 114,680 households, and 68,808 families residing in the county. The population density was 392 people per square mile (151/km²). There were 119,900 housing units at an average density of 162 per square mile (62/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.54% White, 0.88% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 3.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.67% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 10.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 114,680 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.00% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.90% under the age of 18, 13.40% from 18 to 24, 33.60% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $55,861, and the median income for a family was $70,572. Males had a median income of $48,047 versus $32,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,976. About 4.60% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.60% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.
County government [edit]
Boulder County is divided into three individual districts each represented by a commissioner elected county-wide. The three commissioners comprise the county Board of Commissioners and represent the county as a whole. Each commissioner must reside in their respective district and may be elected to a maximum of two four-year terms. The current commissioners are Ben Pearlman (vice-chair), Will Toor, and Cindy Domenico (chair).
The Board of County Commissioners are full-time public servants and as such approve the budget for the entire County government. The Board also oversees the management of 10 County departments and the daily operations of the county, work that is done by a county manager or a chief administrative officer in some counties.
In addition to the commissioners Boulder County has seven other county-wide elected officials including the District Attorney, who represents the 20th Judicial District.[9]
Elected Officials [edit]
| Name | Office | Year Elected | Year Re-Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deb Gardner | County Commissioner | 2012* | |
| Elise Jones | County Commissioner | 2012 | |
| Cindy Domenico | County Commissioner | 2007/2008** | 2010 |
| Jerry Roberts | Assessor | 2007/2008*** | 2010 |
| Hillary Hall | Clerk and Recorder | 2006 | 2010 |
| Emma R. Hall | Coroner | 2010 | |
| Stanley L. Garnett | District Attorney | 2008 | |
| Joe Pelle | Sheriff | 2002 | 2006, 2010 |
| Jason Emery | Surveyor | 2002 | 2006, 2010 |
| Bob Hullinghorst | Treasurer | 2002 | 2006 |
*Deb Gardner of Longmont was appointed to the Boulder County Board of Commissioners by a majority vote of a Boulder County Democratic Party vacancy committee on Jan 8, 2012, and was sworn into office on Jan 10 replacing Ben Pearlman who resigned as commissioner on Jan 1, 2012 after being selected to head the County Attorney’s office.
**Cindy Domenico was appointed in July 2007 to fill Tom Mayer's seat after he died in June 2007. In 2008, voters elected Domenico to complete the remainder of the term which ran through 2010.
***Jerry Roberts was appointed in July 2007 to replace Cindy Domenico who was elected to the post of Boulder County Commissioner. In 2008, voters elected Roberts to complete the remainder of the term which runs through 2010.
Politics [edit]
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Green | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 69.69% | 125,091 | 27.84% | 49,981 | 0.48% | 870 | |
| 2008 | 72.29% | 124,159 | 26.14% | 44,904 | 0.15% | 250 | |
| 2004 | 66.28% | 105,564 | 32.39% | 51,586 | 0.07% | 118 | |
| 2000 | 50.12% | 69,983 | 36.44% | 50,873 | 11.82% | 16,498 | |
Politically, Boulder County is today regarded as one of the most liberal counties in Colorado. Republicans took less than 28% of the vote in Boulder County in both 2008 and 2012.
In 2000, Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader took 11.82% of the vote in Boulder County, more than twice the 5.25% he took statewide in Colorado, and more than four times his 2.73% nationwide vote share.[10]
Boulder County has also demonstrated its liberal leanings in referenda on social issues, such as in 2006, when nearly 2/3 of Boulder County voters voted to reject Amendment 43, a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Although the amendment passed statewide with 55% of the vote, only 33% of Boulder County supported it.[11] In 2012, over 66% of Boulder County voted in favor of Amendment 64, legalizing marijuana in the state of Colorado.
Local courts [edit]
The 20th Judicial District of Colorado, the state trial court of general jurisdiction, serves and is coextensive with Boulder County. As of 2009 the 20th Judicial Circuit has eight District Court judges. The Boulder County Court, the state trial court of limited jurisdiction, consists of five judges and six magistrates.
Boulder County has two combined courthouses:
- The Boulder County Justice Center is located in the City of Boulder and is headquarters to the 20th Judicial District of Colorado. The officies of the district attorney and sheriff are located here, as is the Juvenile Assessment Center, the county's combined assessment and detention facility
- The Longmont Courthouse in the City of Longmont acts as an extension of the County Court and the District Attorney's Office.[12]
Places [edit]
Incorporated [edit]
- City of Boulder
- Town of Erie (also partly in Weld County)
- Town of Jamestown
- City of Lafayette
- City of Longmont (also partly in Weld County)
- City of Louisville
- Town of Lyons
- Town of Nederland
- Town of Superior (also partly in Jefferson County)
- Town of Ward
Unincorporated [edit]
- Allenspark (unincorporated CDP)
- Caribou (unincorporated ghost town)
- Coal Creek (unincorporated CDP, locally called Coal Creek Canyon, also partly in Gilpin County and Jefferson County)
- Eldora (unincorporated CDP)
- Eldorado Springs (unincorporated CDP)
- Gold Hill (unincorporated CDP)
- Gunbarrel (unincorporated CDP)
- Hygiene (unincorporated)
- Niwot (unincorporated CDP)
Rocky Mountain National Park [edit]
Rocky Mountain National Park is located in Boulder County, Larimer County, and Grand County. Longs Peak, the park's highest summit at 4345 meters (14,255 ft) elevation, is located in Boulder County.
State park [edit]
Historic district [edit]
National forest and wilderness [edit]
Scenic trail and byway [edit]
See also [edit]
- Jackson County, Jefferson Territory
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Colorado counties
- Colorado metropolitan areas
- Colorado municipalities
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Boulder County, Colorado
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Combined Statistical Area
- Core Based Statistical Area
- Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Micropolitan Statistical Area
- Table of United States Combined Statistical Areas
- Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas
- Table of United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas
- Table of United States primary census statistical areas
- Larger urban regions that include Boulder County/the Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area:
- Core Based Statistical Areas adjacent toBoulder County/the Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Fort Collins – Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Weld County, Colorado (coextensive with the Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area)
References [edit]
- ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses". United States Office of Management and Budget. December 1, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- ^ See the Colorado census statistical areas.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ^ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005" (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. August 18, 2006. Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2006.
- ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ census.gov Colorado population by county, 1900–90 Retrieved 2009-05-12
- ^ quickfacts.census.gov – Boulder County Retrieved 2009-05-12
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Boulder County Board of County Commissioners". Boulder County. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ^ "20th Judicial District/Boulder County". Colorado State Courts. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
External links [edit]
- Boulder County Government website
- Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
- Colorado Historical Society
- Rocky Mountain National Park website
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Larimer County | |
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| Grand County |  |
Weld County | ||
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| Jefferson County and Gilpin County | City and County of Broomfield |
