Kit Carson County, Colorado
County
Burlington State Armory in Burlington
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Coordinates: 39°19′N 102°36′W / 39.31°N 102.60°W / 39.31; -102.60
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	April 11, 1889
Named after	Kit Carson
Seat	Burlington
Largest city	Burlington
Area
• Total	2,162 sq mi (5,600 km2)
• Land	2,161 sq mi (5,600 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)  0.04%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,087
• Estimate  (2024)	7,080
• Density	3.280/sq mi (1.266/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	kitcarsoncounty.colorado.gov

Kit Carson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,087.^[1] The county seat is Burlington.^[2] The county was established in 1889 and named for American frontiersman and Indian fighter Kit Carson.^[3][4]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,162 square miles (5,600 km²), of which 2,161 square miles (5,600 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (0.04%) is water.^[5]

• Yuma County (north)
• Cheyenne County, Kansas (northeast/Central Time border)
• Sherman County, Kansas (east)
• Wallace County, Kansas (southeast)
• Cheyenne County (south)
• Lincoln County (west)
• Washington County (northwest)

• Interstate 70
• I-70 BS
• I-70 BL
• U.S. Highway 24
• U.S. Highway 385
• State Highway 59

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,087. Of the residents, 25.1% were under the age of 18 and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[11][12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 79.7% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.6% from some other race, and 10.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 19.9% of the population.^[13]

There were 2,893 households in the county, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 3,410 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.2% were owner-occupied and 29.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 16.3%.^[12]

At the 2000 census there were 8,011 people, 2,990 households, and 2,081 families living in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.28% White, 1.74% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.20% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 13.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[14] Of the 2,990 households 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.20% of households were one person and 12.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 26.70% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 112.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.10 males.

The median household income was $33,152 and the median family income was $41,867. Males had a median income of $28,700 versus $19,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,964. About 9.40% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

Like all the High Plains, Kit Carson County is powerfully Republican. Since 1920, it has been won only twice by a Democratic presidential candidate – during the landslides of 1932 and 1964. Along with Elbert County and Rio Blanco County, it was one of three Colorado counties to be won by Alf Landon in 1936. The Republican leaning in the county has increased in recent elections, with Donald Trump performing better in 2016 than any Republican in county history. He surpassed this record in 2020, and again in 2024.

In other statewide elections, Kit Carson County also leans strongly Republican. At a gubernatorial level, it has been won by Democrat Roy Romer in 1990^[16] – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.^[17]

• Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6, National Historic Landmark

• Smoky Hill Trail

• Burlington

• Bethune
• Flagler
• Seibert
• Stratton
• Vona

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kit Carson County, Colorado
• List of counties in Colorado

• State of Colorado
  • History Colorado
• Official website
• Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck