Editing Elbert County, Colorado

{{Short description|County in the United States}}
{{about|Elbert County, Colorado|Elbert County, Georgia|Elbert County, Georgia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county         = Elbert County
| state              = Colorado
| ex image           = St. Mark United Presbyterian Church 04.JPG
| ex image size      = 220px
| ex image cap       = [[St. Mark United Presbyterian Church]]

[[Elbert, Colorado]]. 
| seal               = 
| founded year       = 1874
| founded date      = February 2
| seat wl            = Kiowa
| largest city wl    = Ponderosa Park
| city type          = town
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1851
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1851
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.2
| area percentage    = 0.01%
| census yr          = 2020
| pop                = 26062
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| population_est     = 29382 {{gain}}
| density_sq_mi      = auto
| time zone          = Mountain
| footnotes          = 
| web                = www.elbertcounty-co.gov
| named for          = [[Samuel Hitt Elbert]]
| district           = 4th }}

'''Elbert County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 26,062.<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elbertcountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Kiowa, Colorado|Kiowa]] and the largest town is [[Elizabeth, Colorado|Elizabeth]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> Elbert County is included in the [[Denver]]-[[Aurora, Colorado|Aurora]]-[[Lakewood, Colorado|Lakewood]], CO [[Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Elbert County was created on February 2, 1874, from the eastern portions of [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas County]]. On February 6, 1874, the county was enlarged to include part of northern [[Greenwood County, Colorado Territory|Greenwood County]]  upon Greenwood's dissolution, and originally extended south and east of its present boundaries to reach to the [[Kansas]] state line. The county was named for [[Samuel Hitt Elbert]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n115 116]}}</ref> the [[Governor]] of the [[Territory of Colorado]] when the county was formed. In 1889, Elbert County was reduced to its modern size when its eastern portions were taken to create [[Lincoln County, Colorado|Lincoln]], [[Kit Carson County, Colorado|Kit Carson]], and [[Cheyenne County, Colorado|Cheyenne]] counties.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1851|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1851|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi}} (0.01%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe County]] - north
* [[Lincoln County, Colorado|Lincoln County]] - east
* [[El Paso County, Colorado|El Paso County]] - south
* [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas County]] - west

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-70 (CO).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 70 (Colorado)|Interstate 70]]
*{{jct|state=CO|BS|70|dab1=Agate}}
*{{jct|state=CO|BS|70|dab1=Limon}}
* [[File:US 24.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 24 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 24]]
* [[File:US 40.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 40 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 40]]
* [[File:US 287.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 287 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 287]]
* [[File:Colorado 86.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 86|State Highway 86]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1708
|1890= 1856
|1900= 3101
|1910= 5331
|1920= 6980
|1930= 6580
|1940= 5460
|1950= 4477
|1960= 3708
|1970= 3903
|1980= 6850
|1990= 9646
|2000= 19872
|2010= 23086
|2020= 26062
|estyear=2024
|estimate=29382
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="2020Census" />
}}

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 19,872 people, 6,770 households, and 5,652 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|11|/sqmi|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|abbr=out}}. There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=out}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 95.22% White, 0.64% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 3.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> Of the 6,770 households 42.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.10% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.50% were non-families. 12.20% of households were one person and 3.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.19.

The age distribution was 30.20% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 6.00% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median household income was $62,480 and the median family income was $66,740. Males had a median income of $45,329 versus $29,767 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,960. About 2.50% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.60% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Towns===
*[[Elizabeth, Colorado|Elizabeth]]
*[[Kiowa, Colorado|Kiowa]]
*[[Simla, Colorado|Simla]]

===Census-designated places===
*[[Elbert, Colorado|Elbert]]
*[[Matheson, Colorado|Matheson]]
*[[Ponderosa Park, Colorado|Ponderosa Park]]

===Other unincorporated places===
*[[Agate, Colorado|Agate]]
*[[Fondis, Colorado|Fondis]]

==Politics==
Elbert is a strongly Republican county in Presidential elections. Along with [[Rio Blanco County, Colorado|Rio Blanco County]] and [[Kit Carson County, Colorado|Kit Carson County]], it was one of three Colorado counties to be won by [[Alf Landon]] in 1936, and stood together with [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale]] and [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington Counties]] by supporting [[Barry Goldwater]] over [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1964. The last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Elbert County was [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] in 1932.

{{PresHead|place=Elbert County, Colorado|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,209|4,768|445|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,027|4,490|466|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,705|3,134|1,141|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,266|3,603|309|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|9,108|3,819|279|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|8,389|2,834|141|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,151|2,326|488|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,125|1,894|739|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,205|1,237|1,603|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,805|1,566|77|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,605|802|54|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,107|698|317|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,279|1,068|79|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,416|451|65|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,043|484|185|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|924|857|4|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,240|686|2|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,295|702|3|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,579|586|11|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,155|873|21|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,413|628|3|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,756|934|10|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,374|1,319|83|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,277|1,649|148|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,933|738|37|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,428|506|664|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,654|673|166|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|951|1,230|118|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|496|757|795|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|973|785|101|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|768|482|43|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|626|640|32|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|274|751|8|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|189|0|229|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|784|578|16|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|227|190|1|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Democratic|176|195|6|Colorado}}

Elbert County is in the [[Colorado's 4th congressional district|4th Congressional District]] and the current representative is Republican [[Lauren Boebert]].

In senatorial elections, the county has been similarly Republican. In gubernatorial elections, Elbert County has also generally been powerfully Republican, but was nonetheless carried by Democrat [[Roy Romer]] by a narrow margin in 1990<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado]</ref> – when he carried all but four counties statewide – by [[Dick Lamm]] in 1982<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1982&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 1982 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado]</ref> and by Constitution Party candidate [[Tom Tancredo]] in 2010.<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado]</ref>

The official newspaper of record used by the county is the weekly ''Elbert County News''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90051311/|title=Elbert County news.|last=Humanities|first=National Endowment for the|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref> The weekly ''Ranchland News'' and monthly ''Prairie Times'' also cover local events.

==Education==
School districts covering sections of the county include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08039_elbert/DC20SD_C08039.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elbert County, CO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08039_elbert/DC20SD_C08039_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Agate School District 300]]
* [[Big Sandy School District 100J]]
* [[Calhan School District RJ-1]]
* [[Douglas County School District RE-1]]
* [[Elbert School District 200]]
* [[Elizabeth School District (Colorado)|Elizabeth School District]]
* [[Kiowa School District C-2]]
* [[Limon School District RE-4J]]
* [[Miami-Yoder School District 60-JT]]
* [[Peyton School District 23-JT]]
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Government|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
*[[Geography of Colorado]]
*[[History of Colorado]]
**[[Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory]]
**[[Arrappahoe County, Jefferson Territory]]
**[[Arapahoe County, Colorado Territory]]
**[[Greenwood County, Colorado Territory]]
**[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Elbert County, Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of counties in Colorado]]
**[[List of statistical areas in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]
**[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160124124235/http://www.elbertcountycolorado.net/ Elbert County Community Homepage]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Elbert County, Colorado
|North     = [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Lincoln County, Colorado|Lincoln County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[El Paso County, Colorado|El Paso County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas County]]
|Northwest = 
}} 
{{Elbert County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Elbert County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Colorado Territory]]
[[Category:Eastern Plains]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1874]]