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Jefferson County, Colorado

Coordinates: 39°35′N 105°15′W / 39.59°N 105.25°W / 39.59; -105.25
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Jefferson County
County
Jefferson County Courthouse
Jefferson County Courthouse
Motto: 
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 
(2015)
565,524
 • Density699/sq mi (270/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd, 7th
Websitewww.jeffco.us

Jefferson County (Jeffco) /ˈdʒɛfərsən/ is one of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 534,543,[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, offering programs in STEM 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.

In June 22, 1850, 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 Apex.

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

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.

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
  • 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

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
2015 (est.)565,524[7]5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[12] 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/km²). There were 212,488 housing units at an average density of 275 per square mile (106/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, and 2.18% from two or more races. 9.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 206,067 households out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 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 and 6.30% had 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.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 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.

Education

Jefferson County School District R-1.

Government and infrastructure

Recreation

State parks

National forests and wilderness

National wildlife refuges

Historic trail

Recreational trails

Scenic byway

Golf courses

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 168.
  5. ^ "An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado" (PDF). Thirty-sixth United States Congress. 1861-02-28. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  12. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. ^ "FCI Englewood Contact Information." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on July 28, 2010.
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