El Paso County, Colorado

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El Paso County, Colorado
File:El Paso County Justice Center by David Shankbone.jpg
El Paso County Justice Center
Map of Colorado highlighting El Paso County
Location in the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded November 1, 1861
Named for Spanish language name for Ute Pass
Seat Colorado Springs
Largest city Colorado Springs
Area
 • Total 2,130 sq mi (5,517 km2)
 • Land 2,127 sq mi (5,509 km2)
 • Water 2.7 sq mi (7 km2), 0.1%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 663,519
 • Density 293/sq mi (113/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website www.elpasoco.com
Footnotes:
Most populous Colorado county Texas of the Rockies
File:House in the mountains, El Paso County, CO IMG 5162.JPG
An isolated rural house next to a mountain in northern El Paso County.
File:Greenery of El Paso County, CO IMG 5163.JPG
Summer greenery of El Paso County

El Paso County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2014 Census, the population was 663,519.[1] The Census Bureau's 2014 estimate indicates it is the second most populous county in Colorado, after the City and County of Denver. The county seat is Colorado Springs,[2] the second most populous city in Colorado.

El Paso County is included in the Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

El Paso County is located in Colorado's 5th congressional district. It is known as the Texas of the Rockies. Since its creation in 1871, El Paso County has typically voted for the Republican presidential candidate in presidential elections; the last Democratic nominee to win the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The Democratic Party won El Paso County four additional times prior, and the Populist Party won in 1892, with General James B. Weaver.

In 2004, the voters of Colorado Springs and El Paso County established the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) and adopted a 1% sales tax dedicated to improving the region's transportation infrastructure. Together with state funding for COSMIX (2007 completion) and the I-25 interchange with Highway 16 (2008 completion), significant progress has been made since 2003 in addressing the transportation needs of the area.

History

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. 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 1859-10-24. The following month, the Jefferson Territorial Legislature organized 12 counties for the new territory including El Paso County. El Paso County was named for the Spanish language name for Ute Pass north of Pikes Peak. Colorado City served as the county seat of El Paso County.

The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, but on 1861-02-28, U.S. President James Buchanan signed an act organizing the Territory of Colorado.[3] El Paso County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Colorado legislature on November 1, 1861. Part of its western territory was broken off to create Teller County in 1899. Originally based in Old Colorado City (now part of Colorado Springs, not today's Colorado City between Pueblo and Walsenburg), El Paso County's county seat was moved to Colorado Springs in 1873.

Geography

File:El Paso County Fairground.jpg
El Paso County Fairgrounds in Calhan, Colorado.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,130 square miles (5,500 km2), of which 2,127 square miles (5,510 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.1%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

File:Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs by David Shankbone.jpg
Pikes Peak dominates the county's skyline.

State protected area

Historic sites

Trails

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Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870 987 —
1880 7,949 705.4%
1890 21,239 167.2%
1900 31,602 48.8%
1910 43,321 37.1%
1920 44,027 1.6%
1930 49,570 12.6%
1940 54,025 9.0%
1950 74,523 37.9%
1960 143,742 92.9%
1970 235,972 64.2%
1980 309,424 31.1%
1990 397,014 28.3%
2000 516,929 30.2%
2010 622,263 20.4%
Est. 2014 663,519 [5] 6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 516,929 people, 192,409 households, and 133,916 families residing in the county. The population density was 243 people per square mile (94/km²). There were 202,428 housing units at an average density of 95 per square mile (37/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.19% White, 6.51% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 2.53% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 4.70% from other races, and 3.91% from two or more races. 11.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 192,409 households out of which 36.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 8.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

Government

File:El Paso County Justice Center by David Shankbone.jpg
El Paso County Justice Center in Colorado Springs.

El Paso County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners. Its current members are Amy Lathen, Sallie Clark, Dennis Hisey, Darryl Glenn, and Peggy Littleton.

The Colorado Department of Corrections has its headquarters in an unincorporated area in the county.[11][12]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

File:Peyton Colorado by David Shankbone.jpg
Peyton, Colorado.

Unincorporated communities

Military sites

See also

References

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External links

 Douglas County and Elbert County
Fremont County and Teller County Elbert County and Lincoln County
  El Paso County, Colorado  
Pueblo County Crowley County

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  11. ↑ "Contacts." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Council District Map." City of Colorado Springs. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.
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