Editing Jackson County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county       = Jackson County
 | state              = Colorado
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1909
 | founded date         = May 5
 | seat wl              = Walden
 | largest city wl      = Walden
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1621
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1614
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.2
 | area percentage      = 0.4%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 1379
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 1309 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone          = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
 | web     = jacksoncountyco.gov
 | named for= [[Andrew Jackson]]
 | ex image             = DSCN2559 jacksoncountycourthouse 600.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Jackson County courthouse in Walden
 | district             = 2nd }}

'''Jackson County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 1,379, and it was the fourth least populated in the state.<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/jacksoncountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> The county is named after the United States President [[Andrew Jackson]]. The [[county seat]] and only [[Colorado municipalities|municipality]] in the county is [[Walden, Colorado|Walden]].<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/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

==History==
Most of Jackson County is a high relatively broad intermontane basin known as [[North Park (Colorado basin)|North Park]], which covers {{convert|1613|sqmi|km2}}. This basin opens north into Wyoming and is rimmed on the west by the [[Park Range (Colorado)|Park Range]] and [[Sierra Madre Range (Wyoming)|Sierra Madre Range]], on the south by the [[Rabbit Ears Range]] and the [[Never Summer Mountains]], and on the east by the [[Medicine Bow Mountains]]. Elevations range from 7,800 to {{convert|12953|ft|m}} above sea level and is home to the head waters of the [[North Platte River]]. The term park is derived from ''parc'', the French word for game preserve. At one time North Park was filled with herds of deer, antelope and buffalo. There were so many buffalo in the area the [[Ute Tribe]] gave North Park the name "Bull Pen." Now deer, elk, and cattle vie for the same area.

In November 1861, Colorado set up 17 counties for the state, including Larimer County. This was where Jackson County would be carved out of in 1909. Before then, both Grand and Larimer Counties claimed the North Park area. In the beginning, no one paid much attention to North Park because it was hunting grounds of the Ute and [[Arapaho]] Indians. They fiercely defended these lands and the white settlers were often afraid to venture in. When valuable minerals were discovered in North Park, Grand County claimed it as part of their county because they wanted the revenue it would provide. The residents didn't care much because the county seat for Grand County was closer than the one in Larimer County, and all official business needed to be done at the county seat. But Larimer also claimed this county and it was contested all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court. In 1886 the court decided in favor of Larimer. This did not make the North Park residents very happy and they pushed for their own county until Jackson was formed.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1621|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1614|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.2|sqmi}} (0.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020527061848/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|archive-date=May 27, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Jackson County contains the {{convert|71000|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Colorado State Forest]].

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Albany County, Wyoming]] - northeast
*[[Larimer County, Colorado|Larimer County]] - east
*[[Grand County, Colorado|Grand County]] - south
*[[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]] - west
*[[Carbon County, Wyoming]] - northwest

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 40.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 40 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 40]]
* [[File:Colorado 14.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 14|State Highway 14]]
* [[File:Colorado 125.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 125|State Highway 125]]
* [[File:Colorado 127.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 127|State Highway 127]]

===Airport===

[[Walden–Jackson County Airport|Jackson County Airport]]

[http://www.airnav.com/airport/33V Jackson County Airport Info]

===Transportation===

[[Bustang#Outrider services|Bustang's]] Outrider Service to [[Muddy Pass (Continental Divide)|Muddy Pass]]

[https://www.jccoa.net/programs/Transportation OATS (Older Americans Transport Service)]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1013
|1920= 1340
|1930= 1386
|1940= 1798
|1950= 1976
|1960= 1758
|1970= 1811
|1980= 1863
|1990= 1605
|2000= 1577
|2010= 1394
|2020= 1379
|estyear=2023
|estimate=1309
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="2020Census" />
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 1,577 people, 661 households, and 442 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|person&nbsp;|person}}. There were 1,145 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.20% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.25% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.76% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 1.46% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.27% from two or more races. 6.53% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 661 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 29.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,821, and the median income for a family was $37,361. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $18,417 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,826. About 10.30% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.50% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==

Jackson County’s politics mirror those of neighboring Wyoming in that it is heavily Republican. In no election since 1964 has any Democrat carried the county, and indeed none since then have managed even 40% of the vote.

{{PresHead|place=Jackson 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|634|173|27|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|681|175|20|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|629|171|61|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|600|216|32|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|624|277|13|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|710|210|14|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|682|173|70|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|486|222|125|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|422|216|328|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|584|294|13|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|722|191|10|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|673|283|103|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|455|279|14|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|623|178|11|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|474|177|51|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|354|384|3|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|504|360|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|594|297|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|579|305|2|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|327|291|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|463|252|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|526|357|5|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|419|433|34|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|390|415|17|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|401|249|16|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|394|111|80|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|402|113|12|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|157|331|9|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|218|242|50|Colorado}}

==Recreation==

===State forest and park===
*[[Colorado State Forest]]
*[[State Forest State Park]]

===National wildlife refuge===
*[[Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge]]

===National forest and wilderness===
*[[Routt National Forest]]
*[[Mount Zirkel Wilderness]]
*[[Never Summer Wilderness]]
*[[Platte River Wilderness]]

===National trail===
*[[Continental Divide National Scenic Trail]]

===Bicycle routes===
*[[Great Parks Bicycle Route]]
*[[TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route]]

===Scenic byway===
*[[Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway]]

==Communities==

===Town===
*[[Walden, Colorado|Walden]]

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Coalmont, Colorado|Coalmont]]
*[[Cowdrey, Colorado|Cowdrey]]
*[[Gould, Colorado|Gould]]
*[[Pearl, Colorado|Pearl]]
*[[Rand, Colorado|Rand]]

===Former towns===
*[[Bockman Lumber Camp, Colorado|Bockman Lumber Camp]]
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Government|History|Mountains|United States|Colorado}}
*[[List of counties in Colorado]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Jackson County, Colorado]]
*[[North County, Jefferson Territory]]
{{clear}}

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

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
*[http://jacksoncountycogov.com/ Jackson County Government Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205102713/http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
*[http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Jackson County, Colorado
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[Albany County, Wyoming]]
|East      = [[Larimer County, Colorado|Larimer County]]
|Southeast = [[Grand County, Colorado|Grand County]]
|South     = 
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]]
|Northwest = [[Carbon County, Wyoming]]
}}
{{Jackson County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|40.66|-106.34|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Jackson County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1909]]