Grand County, Colorado

County in Colorado, United States

For the county in Utah, see Grand County, Utah.

County in Colorado

Grand County

County

The Grand County Judicial Center in Hot Sulphur Springs, July 2016

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Colorado

Colorado's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 40°06′N 106°07′W﻿ / ﻿40.10°N 106.12°W﻿ / 40.10; -106.12
Country|  United States
State|  Colorado
Founded| February 2, 1874
Named after| Grand Lake and Grand River
Seat| Hot Sulphur Springs
Largest town| Granby
Area

• Total

| 1,870 sq mi (4,800 km2)
• Land| 1,846 sq mi (4,780 km2)
• Water| 23 sq mi (60 km2)  1.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 15,717
• Density| 8.5/sq mi (3.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| co.grand.co.us
Whiteley Peak along U.S. Highway 40 north of Kremmling

Grand County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,717.[1] The county seat is Hot Sulphur Springs, and the largest community is Granby.[2]

## History

[edit]

When Grand County was created on February 2, 1874, it was carved out of Summit County and contained land to the western and northern borders of the state, which is in present-day Moffat County and Routt County. It was named after Grand Lake and the Grand River,[3] an old name for the upper Colorado River, which has its headwaters in the county. On January 29, 1877, Routt County was created and Grand County shrank down to its current western boundary. When valuable minerals were found in North Park, Grand County claimed the area as part of its county, a claim Larimer County also held. It took a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court in 1886 to declare North Park part of Larimer County, setting Grand County's northern boundary.

In 2004, Marvin John Heemeyer, a local businessman from Granby, used a modified bulldozer to destroy parts of the town of Granby. This was after Heemeyer lawsuit against the town alleging the government ruined his business was dismissed. His attack ended when one of the bulldozer tracks became inoperable and he committed suicide.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,870 square miles (4,800 km2), of which 1,846 square miles (4,780 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (1.2%) is water.[5]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Larimer County \- northeast
* Gilpin County \- east
* Boulder County \- east
* Clear Creek County \- southeast
* Summit County \- south
* Eagle County \- southwest
* Jackson County \- north
* Routt County \- west

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 34
* U.S. Highway 40
* State Highway 9
* State Highway 125
* State Highway 134

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Arapaho National Forest
* Arapaho National Recreation Area
* Byers Peak Wilderness
* Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
* Indian Peaks Wilderness
* Never Summer Wilderness
* Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness
* Rocky Mountain National Park
* Routt National Forest
* Sarvis Creek Wilderness
* Vasquez Peak Wilderness

### Bicycle routes

[edit]

* Great Parks Bicycle Route
* TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route

### Scenic byways

[edit]

* Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway
* Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 417| | —
1890| 604| | 44.8%
1900| 741| | 22.7%
1910| 1,862| | 151.3%
1920| 2,659| | 42.8%
1930| 2,108| | −20.7%
1940| 3,587| | 70.2%
1950| 3,963| | 10.5%
1960| 3,557| | −10.2%
1970| 4,107| | 15.5%
1980| 7,475| | 82.0%
1990| 7,966| | 6.6%
2000| 12,442| | 56.2%
2010| 14,843| | 19.3%
2020| 15,717| | 5.9%
2024 (est.)| 16,154| [6]| 2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

## Demographics

[edit]

At the 2000 census, there were 12,442 people in 5,075 households, including 3,217 families, in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 10,894 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.15% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 4.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.8% were of German, 12.6% Irish, 10.0% English and 7.3% American ancestry.[11] Of the 5,075 households 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 5.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.60% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 4.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85.

The age distribution was 21.80% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 34.70% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 112.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.70 males.

The median household income was $47,759 and the median family income was $55,217. Males had a median income of $34,861 versus $26,445 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,198. About 5.40% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

[edit]

Unlike many counties dominated by a ski town, Grand County leans Republican, having not voted Democratic at the presidential level since Lyndon Johnson won it in 1964. The town of Winter Park, where the Winter Park Ski Resort is located, in the southeast part of the county, is solidly Democratic, while other areas like Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs and most of the rest of the county lean Republican.[12] The Republican lean has been narrowing in recent elections, with Donald Trump only winning pluralities in 2020 and 2024. In the latter, Kamala Harris lost by only 79 votes, the closest she came to flipping any county in the election.

United States presidential election results for Grand County, Colorado[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 4,822  | 48.79% | 4,743  | 47.99%  | 319  | 3.23%
2020 | 4,883  | 49.47% | 4,710  | 47.72%  | 277  | 2.81%
2016 | 4,494  | 52.33% | 3,358  | 39.10%  | 736  | 8.57%
2012 | 4,253  | 51.95% | 3,684  | 45.00%  | 250  | 3.05%
2008 | 4,128  | 49.68% | 4,037  | 48.59%  | 144  | 1.73%
2004 | 4,260  | 55.99% | 3,243  | 42.62%  | 106  | 1.39%
2000 | 3,570  | 56.19% | 2,308  | 36.33%  | 475  | 7.48%
1996 | 2,264  | 46.30% | 2,012  | 41.15%  | 614  | 12.56%
1992 | 1,763  | 35.85% | 1,678  | 34.12%  | 1,477  | 30.03%
1988 | 2,306  | 60.08% | 1,451  | 37.81%  | 81  | 2.11%
1984 | 2,865  | 72.72% | 1,017  | 25.81%  | 58  | 1.47%
1980 | 2,133  | 61.28% | 820  | 23.56%  | 528  | 15.17%
1976 | 1,703  | 61.77% | 910  | 33.01%  | 144  | 5.22%
1972 | 1,721  | 69.93% | 685  | 27.83%  | 55  | 2.23%
1968 | 1,167  | 67.38% | 433  | 25.00%  | 132  | 7.62%
1964 | 814  | 47.22%  | 902  | 52.32% | 8  | 0.46%
1960 | 1,104  | 62.62% | 657  | 37.27%  | 2  | 0.11%
1956 | 1,239  | 71.33% | 496  | 28.55%  | 2  | 0.12%
1952 | 1,333  | 70.34% | 554  | 29.23%  | 8  | 0.42%
1948 | 777  | 49.74% | 763  | 48.85%  | 22  | 1.41%
1944 | 968  | 63.52% | 554  | 36.35%  | 2  | 0.13%
1940 | 1,074  | 55.19% | 863  | 44.35%  | 9  | 0.46%
1936 | 714  | 45.54%  | 846  | 53.95% | 8  | 0.51%
1932 | 598  | 42.87%  | 771  | 55.27% | 26  | 1.86%
1928 | 770  | 62.15% | 451  | 36.40%  | 18  | 1.45%
1924 | 681  | 54.31% | 308  | 24.56%  | 265  | 21.13%
1920 | 649  | 52.51% | 553  | 44.74%  | 34  | 2.75%
1916 | 378  | 37.17%  | 624  | 61.36% | 15  | 1.47%
1912 | 248  | 25.78%  | 507  | 52.70% | 207  | 21.52%
1908 | 529  | 51.31% | 487  | 47.24%  | 15  | 1.45%
1904 | 475  | 63.16% | 266  | 35.37%  | 11  | 1.46%
1900 | 171  | 48.17%  | 182  | 51.27% | 2  | 0.56%
1896 | 12  | 4.53%  | 251  | 94.72% | 2  | 0.75%
1892 | 104  | 43.70%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 134  | 56.30%
1888 | 162  | 64.80% | 83  | 33.20%  | 5  | 2.00%
1884 | 249  | 58.18% | 174  | 40.65%  | 5  | 1.17%
1880 | 121  | 57.08% | 87  | 41.04%  | 4  | 1.89%

## Communities

[edit]

The Fraser Valley in eastern Grand County is a key tourist area.

### Towns

[edit]

* Fraser
* Granby
* Grand Lake
* Hot Sulphur Springs
* Kremmling
* Winter Park

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Parshall
* Tabernash

### Other

[edit]

* Radium

## See also

[edit]

* Government portal
* History portal
* Mountains portal
* United States portal
* Colorado portal

* Bibliography of Colorado
* Geography of Colorado
* History of Colorado
* Saratoga County, Jefferson Territory
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Grand County, Colorado
* Index of Colorado-related articles
* List of Colorado-related lists
* List of counties in Colorado
* Outline of Colorado

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 141.
4. ^ "Marvin Heemeyer Wanted Revenge — So He Built A 'Killdozer'". February 8, 2022.
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. ^ Park, Alice; Smart, Charlie; Taylor, Rumsey; Watkins, Miles (February 2, 2021). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election". The New York Times.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grand County, Colorado.

* State of Colorado
* History Colorado
* Official website
* Arapaho National Recreation Area website
* Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
* Grand County Library District website
* Grand County News website
* Grand County Tourism Board website Archived May 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
* Town of Hot Sulphur Springs website
* Rocky Mountain National Park website
* Winter Park and Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce website
* Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce homepage
* WorkInGrand Portal

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Grand County, Colorado, United States

County seat: Hot Sulphur Springs

Towns|

* Fraser
* Granby
* Grand Lake
* Hot Sulphur Springs
* Kremmling
* Winter Park

Map of Colorado highlighting Grand County

CDPs|

* Parshall
* Tabernash

Unincorporated
communities|

* Radium
* Troublesome

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* Dutchtown
* Lulu City

* Colorado portal
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Places adjacent to Grand County, Colorado

| Jackson County and Routt County |  | Larimer County

|
|

|  |

Grand County, Colorado

| Gilpin County and Boulder County
|  |
Eagle County | Summit County | Clear Creek County

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