Washington County, Colorado

County in Colorado, United States

For other counties with similar names, see Washington County.

County in Colorado

Washington County

County

The old Washington County Courthouse in Akron

Location within the U.S. state of Colorado

Colorado's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 39°59′N 103°12′W﻿ / ﻿39.98°N 103.20°W﻿ / 39.98; -103.20
Country|  United States
State|  Colorado
Founded| February 9, 1887
Named after| George Washington
Seat| Akron
Largest town| Akron
Area

• Total

| 2,524 sq mi (6,540 km2)
• Land| 2,518 sq mi (6,520 km2)
• Water| 5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 4,817

• Estimate

(2024)

| 4,771
• Density| 1.9/sq mi (0.74/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| washingtoncounty.colorado.gov

Washington County is a county located in the eastern side of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,817, making it the least populous "Washington County" in the United States.[1][failed verification] The county seat is Akron.[2] The county was named in honor of the United States President George Washington.

## History

[edit]

Colorado State Legislature made Washington County out of larger Weld County in 1887. In 1889, Washington County's eastern half formed Yuma County. In 1903, Arapahoe County ceded its eastern portion to Washington County to create its present form.

Like many Counties in Eastern Colorado, The Great Depression affected Washington County, bringing its population down significantly. Recently growth has been stagnant.

Washington County's Eastern Colorado Roundup is home to Colorado's first home-owned carnival held on every July annually. There are activities such as rodeos, various rides, and animals to see.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,524 square miles (6,540 km2), of which 2,518 square miles (6,520 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.2%) is water.[3]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Logan County \- northeast
* Yuma County \- east
* Kit Carson County \- southeast
* Lincoln County \- southwest
* Adams County \- west
* Arapahoe County \- west
* Morgan County \- northwest

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 76
* I-76 BS
* U.S. Highway 34
* U.S. Highway 36
* State Highway 59
* State Highway 61
* State Highway 63
* State Highway 71

### Trails and byways

[edit]

* American Discovery Trail
* South Platte Trail

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 2,301| | —
1900| 1,241| | −46.1%
1910| 6,002| | 383.6%
1920| 11,208| | 86.7%
1930| 9,591| | −14.4%
1940| 8,336| | −13.1%
1950| 7,520| | −9.8%
1960| 6,625| | −11.9%
1970| 5,550| | −16.2%
1980| 5,304| | −4.4%
1990| 4,812| | −9.3%
2000| 4,926| | 2.4%
2010| 4,814| | −2.3%
2020| 4,817| | 0.1%
2024 (est.)| 4,771| [4]| −1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[1]

At the 2000 census there were 4,926 people in 1,989 households, including 1,408 families, in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 2,307 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.39% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 6.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9] Of the 1,989 households 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.20% of households were one person and 11.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.10 males.

The median household income was $32,431 and the median family income was $37,287. Males had a median income of $26,225 versus $21,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,788. About 8.60% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Towns

[edit]

* Akron
* Otis

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Cope

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Anton
* Last Chance
* Lindon
* Platner
* Rago
* Thurman
* Woodrow

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Messex
* Pinneo

## Politics

[edit]

Like all of the High Plains, Washington is a powerfully Republican county in Presidential elections. Among Colorado counties only Washington, Elbert and Hinsdale were carried by Barry Goldwater in 1964, and no Democratic presidential nominee has carried Washington County since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936. The last five Republican presidential candidates have all obtained over 75 percent of Washington County's vote.

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Colorado[10] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 2,436  | 86.81% | 329  | 11.72%  | 41  | 1.46%
2020 | 2,595  | 86.27% | 369  | 12.27%  | 44  | 1.46%
2016 | 2,299  | 84.12% | 296  | 10.83%  | 138  | 5.05%
2012 | 2,076  | 80.12% | 468  | 18.06%  | 47  | 1.81%
2008 | 1,949  | 77.56% | 529  | 21.05%  | 35  | 1.39%
2004 | 2,050  | 81.03% | 455  | 17.98%  | 25  | 0.99%
2000 | 1,878  | 76.81% | 477  | 19.51%  | 90  | 3.68%
1996 | 1,566  | 64.18% | 649  | 26.60%  | 225  | 9.22%
1992 | 1,266  | 48.45% | 660  | 25.26%  | 687  | 26.29%
1988 | 1,707  | 62.87% | 958  | 35.29%  | 50  | 1.84%
1984 | 2,080  | 77.50% | 568  | 21.16%  | 36  | 1.34%
1980 | 2,007  | 71.40% | 568  | 20.21%  | 236  | 8.40%
1976 | 1,440  | 52.63% | 1,211  | 44.26%  | 85  | 3.11%
1972 | 1,837  | 69.87% | 643  | 24.46%  | 149  | 5.67%
1968 | 1,634  | 60.92% | 694  | 25.88%  | 354  | 13.20%
1964 | 1,434  | 51.60% | 1,341  | 48.25%  | 4  | 0.14%
1960 | 1,979  | 65.49% | 1,039  | 34.38%  | 4  | 0.13%
1956 | 2,020  | 65.20% | 1,067  | 34.44%  | 11  | 0.36%
1952 | 2,398  | 69.65% | 1,009  | 29.31%  | 36  | 1.05%
1948 | 1,636  | 55.31% | 1,304  | 44.08%  | 18  | 0.61%
1944 | 2,259  | 67.88% | 1,058  | 31.79%  | 11  | 0.33%
1940 | 2,390  | 62.63% | 1,403  | 36.77%  | 23  | 0.60%
1936 | 1,723  | 44.34%  | 2,071  | 53.29% | 92  | 2.37%
1932 | 1,385  | 35.39%  | 2,378  | 60.77% | 150  | 3.83%
1928 | 2,132  | 69.99% | 851  | 27.94%  | 63  | 2.07%
1924 | 1,851  | 54.27% | 720  | 21.11%  | 840  | 24.63%
1920 | 2,117  | 63.44% | 1,060  | 31.77%  | 160  | 4.79%
1916 | 989  | 34.13%  | 1,748  | 60.32% | 161  | 5.56%
1912 | 361  | 18.34%  | 765  | 38.87% | 842  | 42.78%
1908 | 599  | 57.10% | 424  | 40.42%  | 26  | 2.48%
1904 | 460  | 66.47% | 191  | 27.60%  | 41  | 5.92%
1900 | 312  | 59.77% | 191  | 36.59%  | 19  | 3.64%
1896 | 222  | 53.75% | 177  | 42.86%  | 14  | 3.39%
1892 | 250  | 62.97% | 0  | 0.00%  | 147  | 37.03%
1888 | 810  | 59.12% | 505  | 36.86%  | 55  | 4.01%

In other statewide elections, Washington County also leans Republican, although the county was carried by Democrat Roy Romer by a narrow margin in 1990[11] – when he carried all but three counties statewide – by Dick Lamm in 1982[12] and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.[13]

## Education

[edit]

There are 5 school districts in Washington County:[14]

* Akron R-1
* Arickaree R-2
* Lone Star 101
* Otis R-3
* Woodlin R-104.

Akron R-1 includes:[15]

* Akron High School

Arickaree R-2 includes:[16]

* Arickaree School (all grades K-12)

Lone Star 101 includes:[17]

* Lone Star School (all grades K-12)

Otis R-3 includes:[18]

* Otis Elementary School
* Otis Jr.-Sr. High School

## See also

[edit]

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

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

## Note

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
8. ^ "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 11, 2014.
9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
10. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1960 Presidential General Election Data Graphs – Colorado (and subsequent years)
11. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
12. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1980 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
13. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
14. ^ Education, Colorado Department of (2008–2009). "2008-2009 Colorado Education & Library Directory" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2003. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
15. ^ School, Akron High. "Contacts". Retrieved May 26, 2009.
16. ^ School, Arickaree. "Home of the Indians". Retrieved May 26, 2009.
17. ^ School, Lone Star. "Lone Star School » About". Retrieved May 26, 2009.
18. ^ School District R-3, Otis (September 2004). "Otis School District R-3 - Schools". Archived from the original on October 1, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2009.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Washington County, Colorado.

* State of Colorado
* History Colorado
* Official website
* Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Colorado, United States

County seat: Akron

Towns|

* Akron
* Otis

Map of Colorado highlighting Washington County

CDP|

* Cope

Unincorporated
communities|

* Anton
* Last Chance
* Lindon
* Messex
* Platner
* Rago
* Thurman
* Woodrow

Ghost towns|

* Abbott
* Calhoun
* Elba
* Harrisburg
* Hyde
* Lone Star
* Pinneo
* Midway
* Xenia

* Colorado portal
* United States portal

Places adjacent to Washington County, Colorado

|  |  | Logan County

|
|

|  |
Adams County, Arapahoe County, and Morgan County |

Washington County, Colorado

| Yuma County
|  |
Lincoln County |  | Kit Carson County

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