Weld County, Colorado
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Weld County, Colorado | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Colorado |
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 Colorado's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | November 1, 1861 |
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| Seat | Greeley |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
10,416 km² (4,022 mi²) 10,340 km² (3,992 mi²) 75 km² (29 mi²), 0.72% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
180,936 18/km² |
| Website: www.co.weld.co.us | |
Weld County is a county located in the northern portion of the State of Colorado. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 228,943 in 2005, a 26.53% increase since 2000.[1] The county seat is Greeley.
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[edit] History
On May 30, 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act created the Nebraska Territory and Kansas Territory, divided by the Parallel 40° North (Baseline Road or County Line Road or Weld County Road 2 in the future Weld County). Present-day Weld County, Colorado, lay in the southwestern portion of Nebraska Territory, bordering Kansas Territory.
Colorado Territory came into existence in 1861, comprising areas formerly part of Nebraska Territory, Kansas Territory, Utah Territory, and New Mexico Territory. Weld County was organized as one of the seventeen original Colorado counties by the First Territorial Legislature on November 1, 1861. Until February 9, 1887, its boundaries included the area now comprising Weld County, Washington County, Logan County, Morgan County, Yuma County, Phillips County, and Sedgwick County.
Weld County is named for Lewis Ledyard Weld, a lawyer and territorial secretary. He died while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War.[1]
In northeastern Weld County, there is an unmanned Minuteman III missile site which was the target of symbolic vandalism by Catholic peace activists in 2002.[2][3]
[edit] Geography
Weld County lies within the relatively flat eastern half of Colorado; the northeastern portions of the county contain the extensive Pawnee National Grassland and the Pawnee Buttes, which jut 250 feet above the surrounding terrain. Along the western border some low hills betray the presence of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains further west.
The county is served by two interstate highways: I-25 (US 87) runs through the southwestern corner and I-76 from the south central edge northeastward to the Morgan county border. Other major roads include US 85 and US 34, which intersect near Greeley, and Colorado State Highway 14, which runs through Ault.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 10,416 km² (4,022 mi²). 10,340 km² (3,992 mi²) of it is land and 75 km² (29 mi²) of it (0.72%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Kimball County, Nebraska - northeast
- Logan County, Colorado - east
- Morgan County, Colorado - east
- Adams County, Colorado - south
- City and County of Broomfield, Colorado - southwest
- Boulder County, Colorado - west
- Larimer County, Colorado - west
- Laramie County, Wyoming - northwest
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 16,808 |
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| 1910 | 39,177 | 133.1% | |
| 1920 | 54,059 | 38.0% | |
| 1930 | 65,097 | 20.4% | |
| 1940 | 63,747 | -2.1% | |
| 1950 | 67,504 | 5.9% | |
| 1960 | 72,344 | 7.2% | |
| 1970 | 89,297 | 23.4% | |
| 1980 | 123,438 | 38.2% | |
| 1990 | 131,821 | 6.8% | |
| 2000 | 180,936 | 37.3% | |
As of the census² of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 18/km² (45/mi²). There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (17/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.71% White, 0.56% Black or African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 13.29% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. 27.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 63,247 households out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 13.20% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,321, and the median income for a family was $49,569. Males had a median income of $35,037 versus $25,757 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,957. About 8.00% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
Weld County is Colorado's leading producer of cattle, grain and sugar beets, and is the richest agricultural county in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It is also becoming more important as a milk producing county, with close to half of the state's cattle.[4][5]
[edit] Cities and towns
- Aristocrat Ranchettes
- Ault
- Dacono
- Eaton
- Erie
- Evans
- Firestone
- Fort Lupton
- Frederick
- Garden City
- Gilcrest
- Greeley
- Grover
- Hudson
- Johnstown
- Keenesburg
- Kersey
- La Salle
- Lochbuie
- Mead
- Milliken
- Nunn
- Pierce
- Platteville
- Raymer/New Raymer
- Severance
- Windsor
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Population Estimates by County: Colorado (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (March 15, 2006). Retrieved on November 24, 2006.
