Editing Morgan County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Morgan County
 | state                = Colorado
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1889
 | founded date         = February 19
 | seat wl              = Fort Morgan
 | largest city wl      = Fort Morgan
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1294
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1280
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 13
 | area percentage      = 1.0%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 29111
 | density_sq_mi        = 23
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = morgancounty.colorado.gov/
 | named for            = Christopher A. Morgan
 | ex image             = Morgan County Justice Center.JPG
 | ex image cap         = The Morgan County Justice Center in Fort Morgan
 | district             = 4th
}}
'''Morgan County''' is a county located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 29,111.<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/morgancountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Fort Morgan, Colorado|Fort Morgan]].<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}}</ref> The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan.

Morgan County comprises the Fort Morgan, CO [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].<ref name=OMB_10-02>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/bulletins/b10-02.pdf|title=OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses|date=December 1, 2009|access-date=April 19, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121004722/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/bulletins/b10-02.pdf|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[Office of Management and Budget]]|archive-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>See the [[Colorado census statistical areas]].</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1294|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1280|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|13|sqmi}} (1.0%) 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===
*[[Logan County, Colorado|Logan County]] - northeast
*[[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]] - east, southeast
*[[Adams County, Colorado|Adams County]] - southwest
*[[Weld County, Colorado|Weld County]] - north, west

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-76 (CO).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 76 (Colorado)|Interstate 76]]
* {{jct|state=CO|BL|76|dab1=Fort Morgan}}
* [[File:US 6.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 6 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 6]]
* [[File:US 34.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 34 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 34]]
* [[File:Colorado 39.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 39|State Highway 39]]
* [[File:Colorado 52.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 52|State Highway 52]]
* [[File:Colorado 71.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 71|State Highway 71]]
* [[File:Colorado 144.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 144|State Highway 144]]

===State protected area===
*[[Jackson Lake State Park (Colorado)|Jackson Lake State Park]]

===Trails and byways===
*[[American Discovery Trail]]
*[[Pawnee Pioneer Trails]]
*[[South Platte Trail]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 1601
|1900= 3268
|1910= 9577
|1920= 16124
|1930= 18284
|1940= 17214
|1950= 18074
|1960= 21192
|1970= 20105
|1980= 22513
|1990= 21939
|2000= 27171
|2010= 28159
|2020= 29111
|estyear=2023
|estimate=29524
|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 27,171 people, 9,539 households, and 6,973 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 10,410 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 79.65% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 16.37% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. 31.18% 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 19,539 households 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 23.00% of households were one person and 10.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.29.

The age distribution was 30.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median household income was $34,568 and the median family income was $39,102. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $21,524 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,492. About 8.50% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Brush, Colorado|Brush]]
*[[Fort Morgan, Colorado|Fort Morgan]]

===Towns===
*[[Hillrose, Colorado|Hillrose]]
*[[Log Lane Village, Colorado|Log Lane Village]]
*[[Wiggins, Colorado|Wiggins]]
[[Image:Northern Morgan County, Colorado.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Countryside in northern Morgan County]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Blue Sky, Colorado|Blue Sky]]
*[[Jackson Lake, Colorado|Jackson Lake]]
*[[Morgan Heights, Colorado|Morgan Heights]]
*[[Orchard, Colorado|Orchard]]
*[[Saddle Ridge, Colorado|Saddle Ridge]]
*[[Snyder, Colorado|Snyder]]
*[[Trail Side, Colorado|Trail Side]]
*[[Weldona, Colorado|Weldona]]
{{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities===
*[[Goodrich, Colorado|Goodrich]]
*[[Hoyt, Colorado|Hoyt]]

==Politics==
Morgan County has long been one of the Republican Party's major strongholds in Colorado. It was one of only three Colorado counties (the others being [[El Paso County, Colorado|El Paso County]] and [[Larimer County, Colorado|Larimer County]]) to vote for the re-election of [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1932, and the only Democrat to obtain an absolute majority in the county since 1920 has been [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1964 – although Roosevelt did win a plurality in 1936.

{{PresHead|place=Morgan 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|9,830|3,291|344|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|9,593|3,876|275|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,145|3,151|664|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,602|3,912|263|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|6,272|3,813|149|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,787|3,039|110|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|5,722|2,885|391|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,557|3,347|803|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,724|2,985|2,221|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,795|3,728|157|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,097|2,331|128|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,209|2,246|879|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,603|3,798|228|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,365|2,081|175|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,598|2,310|604|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,228|4,271|21|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,092|3,151|16|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,325|2,956|17|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,371|2,297|46|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,417|2,912|53|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,166|1,839|21|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,654|2,527|57|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,058|3,146|277|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|3,370|3,181|214|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,197|1,242|76|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,321|757|667|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,114|1,105|201|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,541|2,371|144|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|855|1,005|1,176|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,672|1,208|159|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,136|406|156|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|723|538|46|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|211|602|13|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Populist|208|0|229|Colorado}}

In other statewide elections, the county also leans strongly Republican, although it was carried by Democrat [[Roy Romer]] 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>
{{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 Morgan 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]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

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

==External links==
*[https://morgancounty.colorado.gov/ Morgan 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    = Morgan County, Colorado
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[Logan County, Colorado|Logan County]]
|East      = [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]]
|Southeast = [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]]
|South     = 
|Southwest = [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams County]]
|West      = [[Weld County, Colorado|Weld County]]
|Northwest = 
}} 
{{Morgan County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|40.26|-103.81|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

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