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Adams County, Colorado

Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 519,572.[2] The county seat is Brighton, and the largest city is Thornton.[3] The county is named for Alva Adams, an early Governor of the State of Colorado in 1887–1889.[1] Adams County is part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Adams County
County
Adams County Government Center in Brighton
Adams County Government Center in Brighton
Flag of Adams County
Flag
Map of Colorado highlighting Adams County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°52′N 104°21′W / 39.87°N 104.35°W / 39.87; -104.35
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedApril 15, 1901
Named forAlva Adams[1]
SeatBrighton
Largest cityThornton
Area
 • Total
1,184 sq mi (3,070 km2)
 • Land1,168 sq mi (3,030 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
519,572
 • Estimate 
(2023)
533,365 Increase
 • Density440/sq mi (170/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts4th, 6th, 7th, 8th
Websitewww.adcogov.org
Fifth most populous Colorado county

History

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On May 30, 1854, the Kansas–Nebraska Act created the Territory of Nebraska and Territory of Kansas, divided by the Parallel 40° North (168th Avenue in present-day Adams County). The future Adams County, Colorado, occupied a strip of northern Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory, immediately south of the Nebraska Territory.

In 1859, John D. "Colonel Jack" Henderson built a ranch, trading post, and hotel on Henderson Island in the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. Jack Henderson was the former editor and proprietor of the Leavenworth (Kansas Territory) Journal and an outspoken pro-slavery politician who had been accused of vote fraud in eastern Kansas. Henderson sold meat and provisions to gold seekers on their way up the South Platte River Trail to the gold fields during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Henderson Island was the first permanent settlement in the South Platte River Valley between Fort Saint Vrain in the Nebraska Territory and the Cherry Creek Diggings in the Kansas Territory. Jack Henderson eventually returned to eastern Kansas and fought for the Union in the American Civil War. Henderson Island is today the site of the Adams County Regional Park and Fairgrounds.

The eastern portion of the Kansas Territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas on January 29, 1861, and on February 28, 1861, the remaining western portion of the territory was made part of the new Colorado Territory.[4] The Colorado Territory created Arapahoe County, on November 1, 1861, and Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876.[4]

In 1901, the Colorado General Assembly voted to split Arapahoe County into three parts: a new Adams County, a new consolidated City and County of Denver, and the remainder of the Arapahoe County to be renamed South Arapahoe County. A ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, subsequent legislation, and a referendum delayed the creation of Adams County until November 15, 1902. Governor James Bradley Orman designated Brighton as the temporary Adams County Seat. Adams County originally stretched 160 miles (260 kilometers) from present-day Sheridan Boulevard to the Kansas state border. On May 12, 1903, the eastern 88 miles (142 kilometers) of Adams County was transferred to the new Washington County and the new Yuma County, reducing the length of Adams County to the present 72 miles (116 kilometers). On November 8, 1904, Adams County voters chose Brighton as the permanent county seat.

A 1989 vote transferred 53 square miles (140 square kilometers) of Adams County to the City and County of Denver for the proposed Denver International Airport, leaving the densely populated western portion of the county as two oddly-shaped peninsulas. Adams County lost the tip of its northwest corner when the consolidated City and County of Broomfield was created on November 15, 2001.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,184 square miles (3,070 km2), of which 1,168 square miles (3,030 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.4%) is water.[5]

Adams County surrounds (and surrendered the land for) most of Denver International Airport which are in the City and County of Denver.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected area

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State park

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Historic trail

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Recreational trails

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19108,892—
192014,43062.3%
193020,24540.3%
194022,48111.0%
195040,23479.0%
1960120,296199.0%
1970185,78954.4%
1980245,94432.4%
1990265,0387.8%
2000363,85737.3%
2010441,60321.4%
2020519,57217.7%
2023 (est.)533,365[6]2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 363,857 people, 128,156 households, and 92,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 305 people per square mile (118 people/km2). There were 132,594 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile (43/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.29% White, 2.97% Black or African American, 1.19% Native American, 3.21% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 11.73% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. 28.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 128,156 households, out of which 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.50% had someone who was 65 years of age or older living alone. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 34.00% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,323, and the median income for a family was $52,517. Males had a median income of $36,499 versus $28,053 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,944. About 6.50% of families and 8.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, the largest denominational groups were Catholics (with 60,429 members) and Evangelical Protestants (with 25,552 members).[12] The largest religious bodies were the Catholic Church (with 60,429 adherents) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (with 6,808 adherents).[13]

Government

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Adams County has a Board of Commissioners that operate as a collective governing board. There are five members that form the Board of Commissioners with each elected to represent a district or portion of the county.[14] There are other elected officials that oversee an aspect or department of county operations.

Adams County Commissioners[15]
District Commissioner Party
District 1 Eva J. Henry Democratic
District 2 Charles "Chaz" Tedesco Democratic
District 3 Emma Pinter Democratic
District 4 Steve O'Dorisio Democratic
District 5 Lynn Baca Democratic
Adams County Elected Officials[15]
Title Official Party
Assessor Ken Musso Democratic
Clerk and Recorder Josh Zygielbaum Democratic
Coroner Monica Broncucia-Jordan Democratic
District Attorney Brian Mason Democratic
Sheriff Gene Claps Democratic
Surveyor Bryan Douglass N/A
Treasurer and Public Trustee Alex Villagran Democratic

Politics

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Adams County is predominately Democratic, not having voted Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the county without a majority, becoming the first Democrat to do so since her husband Bill Clinton in 1992. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden easily won the county with a majority of the vote, a percentage similar to Barack Obama in 2012 and 2008 but with a much larger vote count.

United States presidential election results for Adams County, Colorado[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 95,657 40.41% 134,202 56.69% 6,881 2.91%
2016 80,082 41.35% 96,558 49.86% 17,037 8.80%
2012 70,972 40.12% 100,649 56.90% 5,272 2.98%
2008 63,976 39.86% 93,445 58.22% 3,080 1.92%
2004 65,912 48.22% 69,122 50.57% 1,643 1.20%
2000 47,561 44.10% 54,132 50.19% 6,159 5.71%
1996 36,666 38.92% 48,314 51.28% 9,234 9.80%
1992 30,856 29.93% 45,357 44.00% 26,864 26.06%
1988 43,163 45.87% 49,464 52.57% 1,467 1.56%
1984 55,092 60.20% 35,285 38.56% 1,134 1.24%
1980 42,916 50.50% 31,357 36.90% 10,702 12.59%
1976 35,392 45.30% 40,551 51.90% 2,184 2.80%
1972 40,372 60.79% 24,170 36.39% 1,870 2.82%
1968 24,343 43.87% 25,111 45.25% 6,039 10.88%
1964 15,652 30.42% 35,498 68.99% 304 0.59%
1960 18,452 46.36% 21,168 53.19% 178 0.45%
1956 12,778 52.23% 11,470 46.89% 215 0.88%
1952 8,995 54.89% 7,321 44.68% 71 0.43%
1948 6,240 57.83% 4,419 40.95% 132 1.22%
1944 4,933 54.43% 4,101 45.25% 29 0.32%
1940 4,767 50.16% 4,674 49.18% 62 0.65%
1936 3,124 38.33% 4,865 59.69% 162 1.99%
1932 2,812 36.69% 4,554 59.41% 299 3.90%
1928 4,031 63.10% 2,265 35.46% 92 1.44%
1924 2,931 56.33% 1,209 23.24% 1,063 20.43%
1920 2,510 57.57% 1,633 37.45% 217 4.98%
1916 1,165 33.93% 2,120 61.74% 149 4.34%
1912 398 14.10% 1,312 46.48% 1,113 39.43%
1908 1,301 49.06% 1,232 46.46% 119 4.49%
1904 1,115 50.89% 1,041 47.51% 35 1.60%

Education

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Main article: List of schools in Adams County, Colorado

The school districts serving Adams County are:[17]

The county is also home to the Westminster campus of Front Range Community College, the largest community college by enrollment in Colorado.

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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License plate code

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Up until 1999 when Colorado ceased coding license plates by county, Adams County used the following codes on license plates issued to passenger vehicles: TE-UF, GA-GG, SAA-SEW, and SEY-TZZ.[18]

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Adams County was featured as the fictional rival of South Park's peewee hockey team in the South Park episode "Stanley's Cup".

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 23.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "State Government History". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. April 18, 2001. Archived from the original on November 30, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2006.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  13. ^ "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  14. ^ "Board of County Commissioners | Adams County Government". adcogov.org. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Elected Officials | Adams County Government". adcogov.org. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Adams County, CO" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 19, 2022. - Text list
  18. ^ "Colorado County Codes". www.15q.net. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
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39°52′N 104°21′W / 39.87°N 104.35°W / 39.87; -104.35

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