Gilpin County, Colorado

Gilpin County, Colorado
County
The Gilpin Combined Court, the county courthouse.
The Gilpin Combined Court, the county courthouse.
Flag of Gilpin County, Colorado
Flag
Official seal of Gilpin County, Colorado
Seal
Map of Colorado highlighting Gilpin County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Coordinates: 39°52′N 105°31′W / 39.86°N 105.52°W / 39.86; -105.52
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
Named afterWilliam Gilpin
SeatCentral City
Largest cityCentral City
Area
 • Total
150 sq mi (390 km2)
 • Land150 sq mi (390 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
5,808
 • Estimate 
(2024)
5,963 Increase
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitegilpincounty.colorado.gov

Gilpin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado, smallest in land area behind only the City and County of Broomfield. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,808.[1] The county seat is Central City.[2] The county was formed in 1861, while Colorado was still a territory, and was named after Colonel William Gilpin,[3] the first territorial governor. Gilpin County is part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

1904 broadside bird's eye view or map of Gilpin County, Colorado, issued by the Gilpin County Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado map publisher George Samuel Clason

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 150 square miles (390 km2), of which 150 square miles (390 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4] It is the second-smallest county by area in Colorado.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

State protected area

Scenic trail and byway

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18705,490—
18806,48918.2%
18905,867−9.6%
19006,69014.0%
19104,131−38.3%
19201,364−67.0%
19301,212−11.1%
19401,62534.1%
1950850−47.7%
1960685−19.4%
19701,27285.7%
19802,44191.9%
19903,07025.8%
20004,75755.0%
20105,44114.4%
20205,8086.7%
2024 (est.)5,963[5] Increase2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,808. Of the residents, 15.4% were under the age of 18 and 18.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.7 years. For every 100 females there were 112.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 115.6 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[10][11][12]

Gilpin 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) 4,377 4,947 4,952 92.01% 90.92% 85.26%
Black or African American alone (NH) 24 28 32 0.50% 0.51% 0.55%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 33 34 36 0.69% 0.62% 0.62%
Asian alone (NH) 33 75 85 0.69% 1.38% 1.46%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 9 9 4 0.19% 0.17% 0.07%
Other race alone (NH) 11 3 37 0.23% 0.06% 0.64%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 68 78 282 1.43% 1.43% 4.86%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 202 267 380 4.25% 4.91% 6.54%
Total 4,757 5,441 5,808 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

The racial makeup of the county was 87.4% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 7.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.5% of the population.[12]

There were 2,608 households in the county, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 18.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 3,516 housing units, of which 25.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.4% were owner-occupied and 19.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.1%.[11]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 4,757 people, 2,043 households, and 1,264 families in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 2,929 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.37% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 4.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[16] Of the 2,043 households 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.10% were non-families. 26.80% of households were one person and 3.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was 21.10% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 37.40% from 25 to 44, 30.00% from 45 to 64, and 5.70% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 112.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.10 males.

The median household income was $51,942 and the median family income was $61,859. Males had a median income of $38,560 versus $30,820 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,148. About 1.00% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.40% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Gilpin County, Colorado[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1880 1,236 59.74% 805 38.91% 28 1.35%
1884 1,129 61.43% 614 33.41% 95 5.17%
1888 953 53.09% 688 38.33% 154 8.58%
1892 431 32.53% 0 0.00% 894 67.47%
1896 266 9.43% 2,532 89.76% 23 0.82%
1900 1,371 45.72% 1,498 49.95% 130 4.33%
1904 1,311 49.01% 1,260 47.10% 104 3.89%
1908 843 39.52% 1,185 55.56% 105 4.92%
1912 443 26.65% 931 56.02% 288 17.33%
1916 407 34.17% 763 64.06% 21 1.76%
1920 416 66.99% 189 30.43% 16 2.58%
1924 361 54.78% 161 24.43% 137 20.79%
1928 299 55.17% 236 43.54% 7 1.29%
1932 271 32.46% 539 64.55% 25 2.99%
1936 321 29.81% 736 68.34% 20 1.86%
1940 413 48.65% 431 50.77% 5 0.59%
1944 272 55.85% 213 43.74% 2 0.41%
1948 302 49.43% 296 48.45% 13 2.13%
1952 357 60.41% 228 38.58% 6 1.02%
1956 394 61.66% 244 38.18% 1 0.16%
1960 315 58.55% 223 41.45% 0 0.00%
1964 233 38.83% 363 60.50% 4 0.67%
1968 358 52.57% 218 32.01% 105 15.42%
1972 516 57.02% 362 40.00% 27 2.98%
1976 451 41.19% 563 51.42% 81 7.40%
1980 694 50.04% 441 31.80% 252 18.17%
1984 896 57.03% 634 40.36% 41 2.61%
1988 728 45.79% 804 50.57% 58 3.65%
1992 462 26.26% 726 41.27% 571 32.46%
1996 682 38.12% 799 44.66% 308 17.22%
2000 1,006 40.81% 1,099 44.58% 360 14.60%
2004 1,329 41.58% 1,807 56.54% 60 1.88%
2008 1,283 38.08% 1,990 59.07% 96 2.85%
2012 1,346 40.32% 1,892 56.68% 100 3.00%
2016 1,566 43.79% 1,634 45.69% 376 10.51%
2020 1,833 43.79% 2,223 53.11% 130 3.11%
2024 1,729 41.86% 2,254 54.58% 147 3.56%

Communities

The Old Courthouse in Central City houses much of the county government.

Cities

Census-designated places

Other

Historic district

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 138.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 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 8, 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 – Gilpin County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  14. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Gilpin County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  15. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Gilpin County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilpin_County,_Colorado