Morgan County, Colorado

Coordinates: 40°16′N 103°49′W / 40.26°N 103.81°W / 40.26; -103.81
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Morgan County
The Morgan County Justice Center in Fort Morgan
The Morgan County Justice Center in Fort Morgan
Map of Colorado highlighting Morgan County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°16′N 103°49′W / 40.26°N 103.81°W / 40.26; -103.81
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 19, 1889
Named forChristopher A. Morgan
SeatFort Morgan
Largest cityFort Morgan
Area
 • Total1,294 sq mi (3,350 km2)
 • Land1,280 sq mi (3,300 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total29,111
 • Density23/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitemorgancounty.colorado.gov

Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,111.[1] The county seat is Fort Morgan.[2] The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan.

Morgan County comprises the Fort Morgan, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.[3][4]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,294 square miles (3,350 km2), of which 1,280 square miles (3,300 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.0%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Major highways[edit]

State protected area[edit]

Trails and byways[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18901,601
19003,268104.1%
19109,577193.1%
192016,12468.4%
193018,28413.4%
194017,214−5.9%
195018,0745.0%
196021,19217.3%
197020,105−5.1%
198022,51312.0%
199021,939−2.5%
200027,17123.8%
201028,1593.6%
202029,1113.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

At the 2000 census there were 27,171 people, 9,539 households, and 6,973 families living in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8.1 people/km2). There were 10,410 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.65% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 16.37% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. 31.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] Of the 19,539 households 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 23.00% of households were one person and 10.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.29.

The age distribution was 30.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median household income was $34,568 and the median family income was $39,102. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $21,524 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,492. About 8.50% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Towns[edit]

Countryside in northern Morgan County

Census-designated places[edit]

Other unincorporated communities[edit]

Politics[edit]

Morgan County has long been one of the Republican Party's major strongholds in Colorado. It was one of only three Colorado counties (the others being El Paso County and Larimer County) to vote for the re-election of Herbert Hoover in 1932, and the only Democrat to obtain an absolute majority in the county since 1920 has been Lyndon Johnson in 1964 – although Roosevelt did win a plurality in 1936.

United States presidential election results for Morgan County, Colorado[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,593 69.80% 3,876 28.20% 275 2.00%
2016 8,145 68.10% 3,151 26.35% 664 5.55%
2012 6,602 61.26% 3,912 36.30% 263 2.44%
2008 6,272 61.29% 3,813 37.26% 149 1.46%
2004 6,787 68.31% 3,039 30.59% 110 1.11%
2000 5,722 63.59% 2,885 32.06% 391 4.35%
1996 4,557 52.34% 3,347 38.44% 803 9.22%
1992 3,724 41.70% 2,985 33.43% 2,221 24.87%
1988 4,795 55.24% 3,728 42.95% 157 1.81%
1984 6,097 71.26% 2,331 27.24% 128 1.50%
1980 5,209 62.50% 2,246 26.95% 879 10.55%
1976 4,603 53.34% 3,798 44.01% 228 2.64%
1972 5,365 70.40% 2,081 27.31% 175 2.30%
1968 4,598 61.21% 2,310 30.75% 604 8.04%
1964 3,228 42.93% 4,271 56.80% 21 0.28%
1960 5,092 61.65% 3,151 38.15% 16 0.19%
1956 5,325 64.17% 2,956 35.62% 17 0.20%
1952 5,371 69.63% 2,297 29.78% 46 0.60%
1948 3,417 53.54% 2,912 45.63% 53 0.83%
1944 4,166 69.13% 1,839 30.52% 21 0.35%
1940 4,654 64.30% 2,527 34.91% 57 0.79%
1936 3,058 47.18% 3,146 48.54% 277 4.27%
1932 3,370 49.82% 3,181 47.02% 214 3.16%
1928 4,197 76.10% 1,242 22.52% 76 1.38%
1924 3,321 69.99% 757 15.95% 667 14.06%
1920 3,114 70.45% 1,105 25.00% 201 4.55%
1916 1,541 37.99% 2,371 58.46% 144 3.55%
1912 855 28.16% 1,005 33.10% 1,176 38.74%

In other statewide elections, the county also leans strongly Republican, although it was carried by Democrat Roy Romer in 1990[12] – when he carried all but four counties statewide – by Dick Lamm in 1982[13] and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.[14]

See also[edit]

Notes[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. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. December 1, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2012 – via National Archives.
  4. ^ See the Colorado census statistical areas.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  13. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1982 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  14. ^ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado

External links[edit]

40°16′N 103°49′W / 40.26°N 103.81°W / 40.26; -103.81