Editing Kit Carson County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Kit Carson, Colorado}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Kit Carson County
 | state                = Colorado
 | ex image             = Burlington State Armory 01.jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[Burlington State Armory]] in [[Burlington, Colorado|Burlington]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1889
 | founded date         = April 11
 | seat wl              = Burlington
 | largest city wl      = Burlington
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2162
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 2161
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.9
 | area percentage      = 0.04%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 7087 
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 6994 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = kitcarsoncounty.colorado.gov
 | named for            = [[Kit Carson]]
 | district             = 4th
}}

'''Kit Carson County''' is a county located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 7,087.<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kitcarsoncountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Burlington, Colorado|Burlington]].<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> The county was established in 1889 and named for American frontiersman and Indian fighter [[Kit Carson]].<ref>''Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer'', p. 957</ref><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/n175 176]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2162|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2161|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.9|sqmi}} (0.04%) 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===
*[[Yuma County, Colorado|Yuma County]] (north)
*[[Cheyenne County, Kansas]] (northeast/Central Time border)
*[[Sherman County, Kansas]] (east)
*[[Wallace County, Kansas]] (southeast)
*[[Cheyenne County, Colorado|Cheyenne County]] (south)
*[[Lincoln County, Colorado|Lincoln County]] (west)
*[[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]] (northwest)

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-70 (CO).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 70 (Colorado)|Interstate 70]]
*{{jct|state=CO|BS|70|dab1=Vona}}
*{{jct|state=CO|BL|70|dab1=Burlington}}
* [[File:US 24.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 24 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 24]]
* [[File:US 385.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 385 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 385]]
* [[File:Colorado 59.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 59|State Highway 59]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2472
|1900= 1580
|1910= 7483
|1920= 8915
|1930= 9725
|1940= 7512
|1950= 8600
|1960= 6957
|1970= 7530
|1980= 7599
|1990= 7140
|2000= 8011
|2010= 8270
|2020= 7087
|estyear=2023
|estimate=6994
|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/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 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 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" />
}}

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 8,011 people, 2,990 households, and 2,081 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|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.<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 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.

==Politics==
Like all the [[High Plains (United States)|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, Colorado|Elbert County]] and [[Rio Blanco County, Colorado|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.

{{PresHead|place=Kit Carson 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|3,083|556|59|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,144|662|65|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,967|536|199|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,785|838|79|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,455|912|75|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,721|729|52|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,542|809|107|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,068|1,073|291|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,801|925|932|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,262|1,196|54|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,762|778|44|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,622|790|241|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,888|1,647|76|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,316|824|127|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,977|1,026|234|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,316|1,906|11|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,248|1,103|10|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,243|911|7|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,511|998|26|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,873|1,281|27|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,471|937|11|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,481|1,100|31|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,980|1,730|191|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,835|2,289|189|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,486|1,137|67|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,108|720|673|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,872|796|191|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,030|1,571|178|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|569|719|981|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|983|752|82|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|514|219|38|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|384|259|15|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|252|229|12|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|277|0|235|Colorado}}

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<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0|title=1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado}}</ref> – when he carried all but four counties statewide – and by Constitution Party candidate [[Tom Tancredo]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0|title=2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado}}</ref>

==Recreation==
===National historic landmark===
*[[Elitch Gardens Carousel|Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6, National Historic Landmark]]

===Historic trail===
*[[Smoky Hill Trail]]

==Communities==

===City===
*[[Burlington, Colorado|Burlington]]

===Towns===
*[[Bethune, Colorado|Bethune]]
*[[Flagler, Colorado|Flagler]]
*[[Seibert, Colorado|Seibert]]
*[[Stratton, Colorado|Stratton]]
*[[Vona, Colorado|Vona]]
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Government|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
*[[Geography of Colorado]]
*[[History of Colorado]]
**[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Kit Carson County, Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of counties in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kit Carson County, Colorado}}
*{{Official website|https://kitcarsoncounty.colorado.gov/}}
*[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    = Kit Carson County, Colorado
|North     = [[Yuma County, Colorado|Yuma County]]
|Northeast = [[Cheyenne County, Kansas]]
|East      = [[Sherman County, Kansas]]
|Southeast = [[Wallace County, Kansas]]
|South     = [[Cheyenne County, Colorado|Cheyenne County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Lincoln County, Colorado|Lincoln County]]
|Northwest = [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]]
}} 
{{Kit Carson County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|39.31|-102.60|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Kit Carson County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Eastern Plains]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1889]]