JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

'Jefferson County' (IPA: //) is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 526,994 in 2006. Annual County Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CO-EST2006-alldata) The county seat is Golden and the most populous city is Lakewood. Jefferson County is part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area. The center of population of the State of Colorado is located in Jefferson County. State Population Centers
Located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, northeast Jefferson County is part of the Denver metropolitan area. The major expressway Interstate 70 traverses Jefferson County from east-to-west, passing just south of the county seat of Golden. Jefferson County is a quite long county from north to south, following the Front Range.
A major employer in Jefferson County is the large Coors Brewing Company in Golden. Also, the state-supported Colorado School of Mines is located in Jefferson County, offering programs in mining and engineering.
Jefferson County is often nicknamed Jeffco. The name Jeffco is incorporated in the official name of the North Jeffco Park and Recreation District, the Jeffco School District, the Jeffco Business Center Metropolitan District No. 1, and several businesses located in Jefferson County. Jeffco is also incorporated in the unofficial monikers of many Jefferson County agencies. The Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport operated by Jefferson County was previously known as the Jeffco Airport.

Contents

History

Geography

Adjacent Counties

Recreational Areas

Demographics

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated Census Designated Places

Education

State parks

National forests and wilderness

National wildlife refuge

Historic trail

Recreational trails

Scenic byway

See also

External links

References

History

Jefferson County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Territory of Colorado on 1861-11-01. Jefferson County took the name of predecessor Jefferson County of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson. Robert Williamson Steele, Governor of the Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson from 1859 to 1861, built his home in the county at Mount Vernon and later at Apex. Jefferson County and the Jefferson Territory were named for Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States.
In 1908, the southern tip of Jefferson County was transferred to Park County, reducing Jefferson County to its present length of 54 miles (87 kilometers). Several annexations by the City and County of Denver and the 2001 consolidation of the City and County of Broomfield removed eastern portions of the county. The Columbine High School massacre occurred on 1999-04-20, in the Columbine Area of Jefferson County.

Geography

Jefferson County spans 4 to 18 miles (6 to 30 kilometers) west to east and 54 miles (87 kilometers) north to south. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,015 km² (778 mi²). 2,000 km² (772 mi²) of it is land and 15 km² (6 mi²) of it (0.77%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

★ Boulder County, Colorado - north

★ City and County of Broomfield, Colorado - northeast

★ Adams County, Colorado - east

★ City and County of Denver, Colorado - east

★ Arapahoe County, Colorado - east

★ Douglas County, Colorado - east

★ Teller County, Colorado - south

★ Park County, Colorado - southwest

★ Clear Creek County, Colorado - west

★ Gilpin County, Colorado - northwest

Recreational Areas

★ Alderfer/Three Sisters Park

★ Apex Park

★ Centennial Cone Park

★ Clear Creek Canyon Park

★ Coal Creek Canyon

★ Crown Hill Park

★ Deer Creek Canyon Park

★ Elk Meadow Park

★ Fairmount Trail

★ Flying J Ranch Park

★ Hildebrand Ranch Park

★ Hiwan Homestead Museum

★ Lair o' the Bear Park

★ Lookout Mountain Nature Center

★ Matthews/Winters Park

★ Meyer Ranch Park

★ Mount Falcon Park

★ Mount Galbraith Park

★ Mount Glennon

★ Mount Lindo

★ North Table Mountain Park

★ Pine Valley Ranch Park

★ Ranson/Edwards Homestead Ranch

★ Reynolds Park

★ South Table Mountain Park

★ South Valley

★ Van Bibber Park

★ Welchester Tree Grant Park

★ White Ranch Park

★ Windy Saddle Park

★ Urban Trails

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 527,056 people, 206,067 households, and 140,537 families residing in the county. The population density was 264/km² (683/mi²). There were 212,488 housing units at an average density of 106/km² (275/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.59% White, 0.89% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.23% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 9.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 206,067 households out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $57,339, and the median income for a family was $67,310. Males had a median income of $45,306 versus $32,372 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,066. About 3.40% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.80% of those under age 18 and 5.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

★ Arvada (mostly)

★ Edgewater

★ Golden

★ Lakewood

★ Littleton (partially)

★ Westminster (partially)

★ Wheat Ridge

Towns

★ Bow Mar

★ Lakeside

★ Morrison

★ Mountain View

★ Superior (partially)

Unincorporated Census Designated Places

★ Applewood

★ Aspen Park

★ Columbine

★ Conifer

★ East Pleasant View

★ Evergreen

★ Genesee

★ Indian Hills

★ Ken Caryl

★ Kittredge

★ West Pleasant View

Education

Most areas in Jefferson County are zoned to Jefferson County Public Schools.

State parks

★ Chatfield State Park

★ Golden Gate Canyon State Park

National forests and wilderness

★ Pike National Forest

★ Roosevelt National Forest

★ Lost Creek Wilderness

National wildlife refuge

★ Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge

Historic trail

★ South Platte Trail

Recreational trails

★ American Discovery Trail

★ Apex National Recreation Trail

★ Big Dry Creek National Recreation Trail

★ Colorado Trail

★ Platte River Greenway National Recreation Trail

★ Two Ponds National Recreation Trail

Scenic byway

★ Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway

See also

★ Colorado census statistical areas

★ Colorado counties

★ Colorado metropolitan areas

★ Colorado municipalities

★ Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area

★ Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area

★ Front Range Urban Corridor

External links

★ Jefferson County Government website

References