Moffat County, Colorado

County in Colorado, United States

Not to be confused with the town of Moffat, Colorado.

County in Colorado

Moffat County

County

Round Bottom Area in Moffat County, Colorado

Location within the U.S. state of Colorado

Colorado's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 40°37′N 108°12′W﻿ / ﻿40.61°N 108.2°W﻿ / 40.61; -108.2
Country|  United States
State|  Colorado
Founded| February 27, 1911
Named after| David H. Moffat
Seat| Craig
Largest city| Craig
Area

• Total

| 4,751 sq mi (12,310 km2)
• Land| 4,743 sq mi (12,280 km2)
• Water| 7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 13,292

• Estimate

(2024)[1]

| 13,142
• Density| 2.8/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| moffatcounty.colorado.gov

Moffat County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,292.[2] The county seat is Craig.[3] With an area of 4,751 square miles, it is the second-largest county by area in Colorado, behind Las Animas County.

Moffat County comprises the Craig, CO, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Steamboat Springs–Craig, CO, Combined Statistical Area.

## History

[edit]

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|

### Displacement of the Native people

[edit]

The first recorded humans in northwestern Colorado were the Ute tribes. The Spanish expedition of Dominguez–Escalante of 1776 reached just south of what would be Moffat County and noted the area and inhabitants, but did not offer detailed information. In the early 1820s, William H. Ashley organized a major expedition of trappers into the Green River area of the county beginning the first use of the area's resources by Europeans.[4] John C. Fremont would lead the first organized exploration of Moffat County on his return from California during his second expedition. His party crossed into the future Moffat County on June 6, 1844.[5]

Freemont's 2nd Expedition return route across eastern Utah into northwestern Colorado

Despite the encroachment by trappers, miners, and explorers, the Ute Treaty of 1868 (a.k.a. The Kit Carson Treaty) and the Brunot Treaty of 1873 identified northwestern Colorado as part of the Ute nation and 'agencies' were established to act as representatives of the U.S. government within the Ute Nation. In 1879, a new agent, Nathan Meeker, was appointed to serve at the White River Agency in northwestern Colorado. Meeker had founded a Christian-based European agricultural colony in 1870 in eastern Colorado and had strong ideas of how a community should be structured. As the "Indian Agent" he felt compelled to change the nomadic lifestyle of the Ute Indians and attempted to "civilize" them by converting them into farmers. His efforts to impose an agricultural lifestyle on the native people created a conflict that ultimately led to the murder of Meeker and all of the staff at the Agency.[6] The U.S. government's reaction to the massacre resulted in the relocation of most of the Ute tribes to Utah by force. After the removal of the Ute tribes, the U.S. government opened up northwestern Colorado for mining, commercial cattle ranching, and homesteading.

### Northwestern Colorado County reorganizations of territory/state

[edit]

In 1861, the Colorado Territory was organized and northwestern Colorado became Summit County. In 1874, Grand County was created out of the northern half of Summit County, and in 1877, Grand County was further subdivided, creating Routt County. It would be another 34 years before Moffat County would be carved out of the western portion of Routt County.[7] The county was named for David H. Moffat, a Colorado tycoon who died in 1911.

### Development and growth

[edit]

David Moffat had been the primary force driving the establishment of a railroad from Denver to Salt Lake City. He established the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway, and attempted to build a route from Denver to Salt Lake City. Construction on the 'Moffat Road' track began in the early 1900s but it faced constant delays and challenges. It finally reached Moffat County in 1913, ending in the town of Craig.[8] The railroad was important for cattle ranchers in Moffat County's early years; however, the track was never extended into Utah. In 1934, another more direct route was established to Salt Lake City, and Moffat County remained a branch line and never part of the main commerce rail artery between Denver and Salt Lake City.[4]

In the 1920s, U.S. 40, a major cross-country highway, began construction. The route selected put Moffat County, and the County Seat of Craig on the 'Victory Highway' and almost exactly halfway between Denver and Salt Lake City. In 1938, the final section over the Rocky Mountains was completed[9] and paved, with the exception of Rabbit Ears Pass in Routt County, which was paved by 1950.[10] This expanded Craig's economy by adding lodging and tourism. Moffat County was excluded from the initial Interstate Highway System plans as I-80 was routed through southern Wyoming and I-70 was planned to end in Denver and not cross the Rocky Mountains. Then Colorado Governor and former Moffat County resident, Edwin C. Johnson lobbied for I-70 to continue through Denver and connect to Salt Lake City. Eventually, the federal highway agency approved I-70 to continue through Colorado but routed it through Grand Junction, Colorado, leaving Moffat County as a secondary highway isolated between the two main east/west Interstate arteries.[citation needed]

The population in Moffat County stabilized at just over 5,000 people by the first census in 1920; however, it remained stagnant until the 1970s when construction of three coal-fired electrical power plants began. Those three plants are now scheduled to be closed in 2025, 2028, and 2030, respectively, creating a severe impact on the county's economy.[11] Beyond the energy industries, Moffat County's ranching, agricultural, and tourism industries round out its primary economy. The 2020 census data showed the population at 13,292 people, which is almost the same as the county's post-power plant boom in the 1980s.[12]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,751 square miles (12,310 km2), of which 4,743 square miles (12,280 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (0.2%) is water.[13] It is the second-largest county by area in Colorado.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Routt County – east
* Rio Blanco County – south
* Uintah County, Utah – west
* Daggett County, Utah – west
* Sweetwater County, Wyoming – north
* Carbon County, Wyoming – north

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 40
* State Highway 13
* State Highway 317
* State Highway 318
* State Highway 394
* Wyoming Highway 70

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge
* Dinosaur National Monument
* Routt National Forest
* White River National Forest
* Yampa River State Park

### Scenic byway

[edit]

* Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway

### Summit

[edit]

* Cold Spring Mountain

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1920| 5,129| | —
1930| 4,861| | −5.2%
1940| 5,086| | 4.6%
1950| 5,946| | 16.9%
1960| 7,061| | 18.8%
1970| 6,525| | −7.6%
1980| 13,133| | 101.3%
1990| 11,357| | −13.5%
2000| 13,184| | 16.1%
2010| 13,795| | 4.6%
2020| 13,292| | −3.6%
2024 (est.)| 13,142| [14]| −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[2]

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 13,184 people, 4,983 households, and 3,577 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 5,635 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.61% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.17% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races; 9.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,983 households, out of which 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,528, and the median income for a family was $45,511. Males had a median income of $37,288 versus $22,080 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,540. About 6.90% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

Fortification Rocks in Moffat County are a volcanic uplifts just to the west of Colorado State Highway 13.

### City

[edit]

* Craig

### Town

[edit]

* Dinosaur

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Maybell

### Other unincorporated places

[edit]

* Blue Mountain
* Elk Springs
* Greystone
* Hamilton
* Lay
* Loyd
* Massadona
* Slater
* Sunbeam

## Politics

[edit]

Moffat is a Republican county in presidential elections. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Moffat County since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide, and indeed no Democrat post-1964 has obtained even 40 percent of the county's vote. Moffat was one of 15 counties (two in Colorado) to give a plurality to Ross Perot in the 1992 election, but every other Republican candidate since 1968 has obtained an absolute majority in Moffat County.

United States presidential election results for Moffat County, Colorado[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 5,358  | 80.32% | 1,167  | 17.49%  | 146  | 2.19%
2020 | 5,670  | 80.70% | 1,203  | 17.12%  | 153  | 2.18%
2016 | 5,305  | 81.30% | 874  | 13.39%  | 346  | 5.30%
2012 | 4,695  | 76.12% | 1,330  | 21.56%  | 143  | 2.32%
2008 | 4,135  | 70.43% | 1,582  | 26.95%  | 154  | 2.62%
2004 | 4,247  | 74.18% | 1,355  | 23.67%  | 123  | 2.15%
2000 | 3,840  | 71.95% | 1,223  | 22.92%  | 274  | 5.13%
1996 | 2,466  | 50.99% | 1,635  | 33.81%  | 735  | 15.20%
1992 | 1,809  | 35.51%  | 1,386  | 27.20%  | 1,900  | 37.29%
1988 | 2,757  | 61.01% | 1,634  | 36.16%  | 128  | 2.83%
1984 | 3,630  | 72.88% | 1,228  | 24.65%  | 123  | 2.47%
1980 | 3,344  | 67.90% | 1,079  | 21.91%  | 502  | 10.19%
1976 | 2,099  | 55.68% | 1,451  | 38.49%  | 220  | 5.84%
1972 | 1,928  | 67.70% | 591  | 20.75%  | 329  | 11.55%
1968 | 1,785  | 62.09% | 765  | 26.61%  | 325  | 11.30%
1964 | 1,438  | 46.34%  | 1,657  | 53.40% | 8  | 0.26%
1960 | 1,754  | 59.32% | 1,200  | 40.58%  | 3  | 0.10%
1956 | 1,762  | 68.80% | 797  | 31.12%  | 2  | 0.08%
1952 | 1,922  | 70.12% | 808  | 29.48%  | 11  | 0.40%
1948 | 1,261  | 52.74% | 1,101  | 46.05%  | 29  | 1.21%
1944 | 1,445  | 60.87% | 923  | 38.88%  | 6  | 0.25%
1940 | 1,556  | 59.23% | 1,056  | 40.20%  | 15  | 0.57%
1936 | 954  | 42.14%  | 1,090  | 48.14% | 220  | 9.72%
1932 | 880  | 36.56%  | 1,388  | 57.67% | 139  | 5.77%
1928 | 1,346  | 64.56% | 710  | 34.05%  | 29  | 1.39%
1924 | 1,009  | 50.70% | 647  | 32.51%  | 334  | 16.78%
1920 | 1,294  | 65.42% | 589  | 29.78%  | 95  | 4.80%
1916 | 512  | 39.72%  | 740  | 57.41% | 37  | 2.87%
1912 | 294  | 31.34%  | 409  | 43.60% | 235  | 25.05%

In gubernatorial elections, Moffat County has also generally been Republican, but was nonetheless carried by Democrat Roy Romer by a narrow margin in 1990[21] – when he carried all but four counties statewide – by Dick Lamm in 1982[22] and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.[23] In senatorial elections, the Republican candidate has consistently garnered over 60 percent of Moffat County voters since future party-switcher Ben Nighthorse Campbell won the county for the Democratic Party in 1992.[24]

## See also

[edit]

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

* Bibliography of Colorado
* Geography of Colorado
* History of Colorado
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Moffat 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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ a b "Supplemental Information 3: An excerpt from Data Downloads page, where users can download original datasets". doi:10.7717/peerj.9467/supp-3. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
5. ^ Baugh, Alexander (September 3, 2022). "John C. Frémont's 1843–44 Western Expedition and Its Influence on Mormon Settlement in Utah".
6. ^ yongli (January 15, 2020). "Ute Treaty of 1868". coloradoencyclopedia.org. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
7. ^ "History and Facts of Colorado Counties". My Counties. February 16, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
8. ^ yongli (May 25, 2016). "Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway Hill Route (Moffat Road)". coloradoencyclopedia.org. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
9. ^ "Historic Timeline". Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
10. ^ "Colorado US 40". www.mesalek.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
11. ^ "Colorado coal town grapples with future as plant shuts down". The Denver Post. January 19, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
12. ^ U.S. Census Bureau (September 3, 2022). "Quick Facts - Moffat County, Colorado".
13. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
14. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
17. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
18. ^ "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.
19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
21. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
22. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1982 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
23. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
24. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1992 Senatorial General Election Results – Colorado

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moffat County, Colorado.

* Official website
* Dinosaur National Monument
* Colorado County Evolution, by Don Stanwyck
* Colorado Historical Society

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Moffat County, Colorado

|  | Sweetwater County, Wyoming and Carbon County, Wyoming |

|
|

|  |
Uintah County, Utah and Daggett County, Utah |

Moffat County, Colorado

| Routt County
|  |
| Rio Blanco County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Moffat County, Colorado, United States

County seat: Craig

City|

* Craig

Map of Colorado highlighting Moffat County

Town|

* Dinosaur

CDP|

* Maybell

Unincorporated
communities|

* Blue Mountain
* Elk Springs
* Hamilton
* Loyd
* Massadona
* Skull Creek
* Slater
* Sunbeam

Ghost towns|

* Axial
* Cross Mountain

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40°37′N 108°12′W﻿ / ﻿40.61°N 108.20°W﻿ / 40.61; -108.20
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