Delta County, Colorado

For other counties with similar names, see Delta County.

Delta County, Colorado
County
Egyptian Theatre (Delta, Colorado)
Egyptian Theatre (Delta, Colorado)
Map of Colorado highlighting Delta County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Coordinates: 38°52′N 107°52′W / 38.86°N 107.86°W / 38.86; -107.86
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 11, 1883
Named afterCity of Delta, Colorado
SeatDelta
Largest cityDelta
Area
 • Total
1,149 sq mi (2,980 km2)
 • Land1,142 sq mi (2,960 km2)
 • Water6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
31,196
 • Estimate 
(2024)[1]
32,215
 • Density27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.deltacounty.com
Hay stack and automobiles of peach pickers, Delta County, 1940.
Pioneer Town in Cedaredge, 2008

Delta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,196.[2] The county seat is Delta.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

State protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,534—
19005,487116.5%
191013,688149.5%
192013,668−0.1%
193014,2043.9%
194016,47016.0%
195017,3655.4%
196015,602−10.2%
197015,286−2.0%
198021,22538.9%
199020,980−1.2%
200027,83432.7%
201030,95211.2%
202031,1960.8%
2024 (est.)32,215[1]3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[2]

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.[10][11][12]

Delta County, Colorado – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 23,945 25,685 24,907 86.03% 82.98% 79.84%
Black or African American alone (NH) 135 137 121 0.48% 0.44% 0.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 150 190 121 0.54% 0.61% 0.39%
Asian alone (NH) 83 146 236 0.30% 0.47% 0.76%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 12 9 0.03% 0.04% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 24 41 192 0.09% 0.13% 0.62%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 319 396 1,281 1.15% 1.28% 4.11%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,171 4,345 4,329 11.39% 14.04% 13.88%
Total 27,834 30,952 31,196 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

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.[12]

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.[11]

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%.[11]

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.[16] 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

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

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.[17] Prior to the redistricting, which took effect in the November 2022 election, Delta County was split by House District 54 & 61.[18]

United States presidential election results for Delta County, Colorado[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1884 230 55.96% 174 42.34% 7 1.70%
1888 257 44.01% 239 40.92% 88 15.07%
1892 237 33.05% 0 0.00% 480 66.95%
1896 139 7.79% 1,603 89.85% 42 2.35%
1900 822 35.69% 1,352 58.71% 129 5.60%
1904 1,567 50.65% 1,046 33.81% 481 15.55%
1908 1,838 42.92% 2,006 46.85% 438 10.23%
1912 803 16.28% 1,808 36.67% 2,320 47.05%
1916 1,612 33.75% 2,817 58.97% 348 7.28%
1920 2,596 56.40% 1,750 38.02% 257 5.58%
1924 2,752 54.36% 1,345 26.57% 966 19.08%
1928 3,731 67.32% 1,672 30.17% 139 2.51%
1932 2,341 37.00% 3,467 54.80% 519 8.20%
1936 2,661 41.14% 3,230 49.94% 577 8.92%
1940 4,175 57.07% 3,044 41.61% 96 1.31%
1944 3,462 59.30% 2,351 40.27% 25 0.43%
1948 3,158 48.82% 3,171 49.02% 140 2.16%
1952 4,986 67.01% 2,389 32.11% 66 0.89%
1956 4,531 64.71% 2,458 35.10% 13 0.19%
1960 4,644 63.24% 2,689 36.62% 10 0.14%
1964 2,883 42.24% 3,927 57.53% 16 0.23%
1968 3,692 55.50% 2,327 34.98% 633 9.52%
1972 4,890 67.73% 1,903 26.36% 427 5.91%
1976 4,980 58.82% 3,232 38.17% 255 3.01%
1980 6,179 66.97% 2,348 25.45% 700 7.59%
1984 6,678 69.28% 2,835 29.41% 126 1.31%
1988 5,449 59.59% 3,521 38.51% 174 1.90%
1992 4,359 41.54% 3,424 32.63% 2,711 25.83%
1996 6,047 54.48% 3,584 32.29% 1,469 13.23%
2000 8,372 65.99% 3,264 25.73% 1,050 8.28%
2004 9,722 68.66% 4,224 29.83% 213 1.50%
2008 10,067 65.23% 5,084 32.94% 283 1.83%
2012 10,915 68.54% 4,622 29.02% 388 2.44%
2016 11,655 69.42% 4,087 24.34% 1,048 6.24%
2020 13,081 67.53% 5,887 30.39% 402 2.08%
2024 12,948 66.47% 6,030 30.96% 500 2.57%

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.[20]

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

Notes

  1. ^ The unincorporated communities of Austin, Cory, and Eckert are all within the town limits of Orchard City.

References

  1. ^ a b "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 103.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "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 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  11. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  12. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Delta County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  14. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Delta County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  15. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Delta County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ "Colorado House Districts - West Final Approved Plan" (PDF). Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions. October 13, 2021.[dead link]
  18. ^ "Legislative District Information After 2011 Reapportionment - House District 54" (PDF). Colorado Reapportionment Commissions. December 2011.[dead link]
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  20. ^ Geography Division (December 17, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Delta County, CO (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 4, 2025. - Text list
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_County,_Colorado