Montrose County, Colorado

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2243 sqmi, of which 2241 sqmi is land and 1.9 sqmi (0.08%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Mesa County - north
• Delta County - northeast
• Gunnison County - east
• Ouray County - southeast
• San Miguel County - south
• San Juan County, Utah - west

Major highways

• [[File:US 50.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 50
• [[File:US 550.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 550
• [[File:Colorado 90.svg|20px]] State Highway 90
• [[File:Colorado 92.svg|20px]] State Highway 92
• [[File:Colorado 141.svg|20px]] State Highway 141
• [[File:Colorado 145.svg|20px]] State Highway 145
• [[File:Colorado 348.svg|20px]] State Highway 348

National protected areas

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness
• Curecanti National Recreation Area (part)
• Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (part)
• Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (part)
• Gunnison Gorge Wilderness
• Gunnison National Forest (part)
• Manti-La Sal National Forest (part)
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail
• Uncompahgre National Forest (part)

River

• Dolores River (part)
• Uncompahgre River (part)
• San Miguel River (part)
• Gunnison River (part)

Trails and byways

• Great Parks Bicycle Route
• Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway
• West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
• Western Express Bicycle Route

Historical site

• Hanging Flume
• Uravan, Colorado

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 42,679. Of the residents, 21.3% were under the age of 18 and 24.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males. 57.4% of residents lived in urban areas and 42.6% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 78.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.1% from some other race, and 10.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 21.2% of the population.

There were 17,482 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 18,952 housing units, of which 7.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.1% were owner-occupied and 26.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 41,276 people, 16,484 households, and 11,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 /mi2. There were 18,250 housing units at an average density of 8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 86.70% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 8.70% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 19.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,484 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 28.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

Also from the census of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $46,058, and the median income for a family was $52,152. Males had a median income of $41,301 versus $31,659 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,413. About 7.30% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Montrose is a staunch Republican county. It has not been won by a Democratic presidential nominee since Lyndon Johnson‘s 1964 landslide – indeed since then, no Democrat has managed forty percent of the county's vote. The county has leaned Republican ever since 1920; although before this, it did tend to vote Democratic between 1896 and 1916 except during the landslide loss of Alton B. Parker in 1904.

In other offices, Montrose also is strongly Republican. The last Democratic Senatorial candidate it backed was Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who later shifted to the Republican Party, in the 1992 election. Montrose County did back Constitution Party nominee Tom Tancredo in the 2010 gubernatorial election, and Bill Ritter did win 46 percent in 2006, but Roy Romer in 1990 remains the last Democratic candidate for governor to win Montrose County.

Culture

• Ute Indian Museum

Communities

City

• Montrose

Towns

• Naturita
• Nucla
• Olathe

Census-designated place

• Redvale

Other unincorporated places

• Bedrock
• Cimarron
• Coventry
• Maher
• Mountain View
• Oak Grove
• Paradox
• Pea Green Corner
• Piñon
• Uravan

Notes

References

References

1. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. (December 1, 2009). "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses". [[Office of Management and Budget]].
5. See the [[Colorado census statistical areas]].
6. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
18. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1992&fips=8&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 1992 Senatorial General Election Results – Colorado]
19. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&off=5&elect=0&fips=8&f=0 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results]
20. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2006&off=5&elect=0&fips=8&f=0 2006 Gubernatorial General Election Results]
21. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&off=5&elect=0&fips=8&f=0 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results]