Washington County, Colorado

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For other counties with similar names, see Washington County.

Template:Infobox U.S. county

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

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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

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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

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Major highways

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Trails and byways

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,817. Of the residents, 22.7% were under the age of 18 and 21.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.6 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[4][5][6]

Washington County, Colorado – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[7] Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 4,568 4,306 4,057 92.73% 89.45% 84.22%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2 30 24 0.04% 0.62% 0.50%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 15 7 8 0.30% 0.15% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 5 11 15 0.10% 0.23% 0.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 1 10 0.02% 0.02% 0.21%
Other race alone (NH) 1 2 20 0.02% 0.04% 0.42%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 24 50 167 0.49% 1.04% 3.47%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 310 407 516 6.29% 8.45% 10.71%
Total 4,926 4,814 4,817 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

The racial makeup of the county was 87.8% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.3% from some other race, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.7% of the population.[6]

There were 1,933 households in the county, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[5]

There were 2,276 housing units, of which 15.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.8% were owner-occupied and 26.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.5%.[5]

2000 census

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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.[10] 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

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Politics

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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[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1888 810 59.12% 505 36.86% 55 4.01%
1892 250 62.97% 0 0.00% 147 37.03%
1896 222 53.75% 177 42.86% 14 3.39%
1900 312 59.77% 191 36.59% 19 3.64%
1904 460 66.47% 191 27.60% 41 5.92%
1908 599 57.10% 424 40.42% 26 2.48%
1912 361 18.34% 765 38.87% 842 42.78%
1916 989 34.13% 1,748 60.32% 161 5.56%
1920 2,117 63.44% 1,060 31.77% 160 4.79%
1924 1,851 54.27% 720 21.11% 840 24.63%
1928 2,132 69.99% 851 27.94% 63 2.07%
1932 1,385 35.39% 2,378 60.77% 150 3.83%
1936 1,723 44.34% 2,071 53.29% 92 2.37%
1940 2,390 62.63% 1,403 36.77% 23 0.60%
1944 2,259 67.88% 1,058 31.79% 11 0.33%
1948 1,636 55.31% 1,304 44.08% 18 0.61%
1952 2,398 69.65% 1,009 29.31% 36 1.05%
1956 2,020 65.20% 1,067 34.44% 11 0.36%
1960 1,979 65.49% 1,039 34.38% 4 0.13%
1964 1,434 51.60% 1,341 48.25% 4 0.14%
1968 1,634 60.92% 694 25.88% 354 13.20%
1972 1,837 69.87% 643 24.46% 149 5.67%
1976 1,440 52.63% 1,211 44.26% 85 3.11%
1980 2,007 71.40% 568 20.21% 236 8.40%
1984 2,080 77.50% 568 21.16% 36 1.34%
1988 1,707 62.87% 958 35.29% 50 1.84%
1992 1,266 48.45% 660 25.26% 687 26.29%
1996 1,566 64.18% 649 26.60% 225 9.22%
2000 1,878 76.81% 477 19.51% 90 3.68%
2004 2,050 81.03% 455 17.98% 25 0.99%
2008 1,949 77.56% 529 21.05% 35 1.39%
2012 2,076 80.12% 468 18.06% 47 1.81%
2016 2,299 84.12% 296 10.83% 138 5.05%
2020 2,595 86.27% 369 12.27% 44 1.46%
2024 2,436 86.81% 329 11.72% 41 1.46%
2016 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%


Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:C.O. GovHead Template:C.O. GovRow Template:C.O. GovFoot In other statewide elections, Washington County also leans Republican, although the county was carried by Democrat Roy Romer by a narrow margin in 1990[12] – when he carried all but three counties statewide – by Dick Lamm in 1982[13] and by Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo in 2010.[14]

Education

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There are 5 school districts in Washington County:[15]

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

Akron R-1 includes:[16]

  • Akron High School

Arickaree R-2 includes:[17]

  • Arickaree School (all grades K-12)

Lone Star 101 includes:[18]

  • Lone Star School (all grades K-12)

Otis R-3 includes:[19]

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

See also

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Note

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References

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  1. ↑ "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. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  7. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Washington County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  8. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Washington County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Washington County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ↑ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1960 Presidential General Election Data Graphs – Colorado (and subsequent years)
  12. ↑ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  13. ↑ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1980 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  14. ↑ Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ School, Akron High. "Contacts". Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  17. ↑ School, Arickaree. "Home of the Indians". Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  18. ↑ School, Lone Star. "Lone Star School » About". Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  19. ↑ 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.
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