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Pitkin County, Colorado

Coordinates: 39°13′N 106°55′W / 39.22°N 106.92°W / 39.22; -106.92
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Not to be confused with Pitkin, Colorado.

Pitkin County
County
Pitkin County Courthouse
Pitkin County Courthouse
Map of Colorado highlighting Pitkin County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°13′N 106°55′W / 39.22°N 106.92°W / 39.22; -106.92
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 23, 1881
Named forFrederick Walker Pitkin
SeatAspen
Largest cityAspen
Area
 • Total973 sq mi (2,520 km2)
 • Land971 sq mi (2,510 km2)
 • Water2.5 sq mi (6 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,358
 • Density18/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.pitkincounty.com

Pitkin County is a county in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,358.[1] The county seat and largest city is Aspen.[2] The county is named for Colorado Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin.

Pitkin County is included in the Glenwood Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Edwards-Glenwood Springs Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 973 square miles (2,520 km2), of which 971 sq mi (2,510 km2) is land and 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2) (0.3%) is water.[3] The county's highest point is Castle Peak, a fourteener with a height of 14,265 feet (4,348 m). It is 20 miles (32 km) south of Aspen on the Gunnison County border.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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Trails and byways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18908,929—
19007,020−21.4%
19104,566−35.0%
19202,707−40.7%
19301,770−34.6%
19401,8363.7%
19501,643−10.5%
19602,38144.9%
19706,185159.8%
198010,33867.1%
199012,66122.5%
200014,87217.5%
201017,14815.3%
202017,3581.2%
2023 (est.)16,640[4]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 14,872 people, 6,807 households, and 3,185 families living in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 10,096 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.33% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.37% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Of the population, 6.54% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,807 households, out of which 21.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.70% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.20% were non-families. Of all households, 35.80% were made up of individuals, and 3.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 16.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 38.30% from 25 to 44, 30.50% from 45 to 64, and 6.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $59,375, and the median income for a family was $75,048. Males had a median income of $40,672 versus $33,896 for females. The per capita income for the county was $40,811. About 3.00% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.40% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.

Life expectancy

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According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, residents of Pitkin County had a 2014 life expectancy of 86.52 years, the second-longest in the nation.[11] Both men and women live longer in Pitkin County than nearly every other county in the United States. The life expectancy at birth is 85.2 years for men and 88.0 years for women.[12] Two contiguous counties, Summit and Eagle counties, rank first and third in the nation respectively in life expectancy.

Factors contributing to the high life expectancy in Pitkin County are "high education, high income, high access to medical care, the people are physically active, obesity is lower than anywhere else—so you're doing it right", said Ali Mokdad, one of the study's co-authors.[13]

In June 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked the county with the nation's fourth-best life expectancy, at 93.4 years.[14]

Communities

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City

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Politics

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Pitkin County favored the Republican nominee in the 1884 and 1888 presidential elections, but in 1892 supported the Populist nominee, James B. Weaver, when Democratic nominee Grover Cleveland wasn't on the ballot in Colorado. Pitkin County favored the Democratic nominees from 1896 to 1916, voting for them in every election in that period, and being one of the few Western counties to support Alton B. Parker in 1904. From 1920, Pitkin County followed national trends until being narrowly carried by losing candidate Thomas E. Dewey in 1944. Pitkin was largely Republican-leaning until the growing ski resort community drew its residents to the liberal George McGovern – rejected by a majority of the electorates of all but 129 other counties – in 1972. Like many ski destination counties, since 1988 Pitkin has turned heavily Democratic. The last Republican to carry the county was Ronald Reagan in 1984. George H. W. Bush was the last Republican to gain even a third of Pitkin County's vote since then.

In this modern era, Pitkin has also frequently been one of the leading counties for third-party candidates, being the fourth-best county in the nation for Eugene McCarthy in 1976[15] and the third-best for John B. Anderson in 1980.[16]

United States presidential election results for Pitkin County, Colorado[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,780 23.25% 8,989 75.18% 188 1.57%
2016 2,550 24.23% 7,333 69.69% 640 6.08%
2012 3,024 30.01% 6,849 67.98% 202 2.00%
2008 2,484 24.92% 7,349 73.74% 133 1.33%
2004 2,784 30.08% 6,335 68.44% 137 1.48%
2000 2,565 32.88% 4,137 53.04% 1,098 14.08%
1996 1,969 28.19% 3,949 56.54% 1,067 15.28%
1992 1,686 22.57% 3,820 51.14% 1,963 26.28%
1988 2,801 44.28% 3,420 54.06% 105 1.66%
1984 3,117 56.39% 2,293 41.48% 118 2.13%
1980 2,153 39.75% 1,760 32.49% 1,504 27.76%
1976 2,955 53.61% 2,194 39.80% 363 6.59%
1972 2,064 44.16% 2,531 54.15% 79 1.69%
1968 1,135 56.16% 728 36.02% 158 7.82%
1964 540 35.90% 958 63.70% 6 0.40%
1960 679 58.18% 488 41.82% 0 0.00%
1956 550 62.15% 334 37.74% 1 0.11%
1952 556 64.13% 309 35.64% 2 0.23%
1948 319 42.48% 409 54.46% 23 3.06%
1944 368 50.83% 355 49.03% 1 0.14%
1940 484 48.50% 503 50.40% 11 1.10%
1936 305 29.99% 659 64.80% 53 5.21%
1932 239 23.62% 727 71.84% 46 4.55%
1928 485 50.95% 454 47.69% 13 1.37%
1924 442 47.27% 204 21.82% 289 30.91%
1920 478 49.38% 417 43.08% 73 7.54%
1916 263 20.50% 915 71.32% 105 8.18%
1912 208 15.53% 770 57.51% 361 26.96%
1908 531 27.74% 1,262 65.94% 121 6.32%
1904 922 40.21% 1,120 48.84% 251 10.95%
1900 458 16.43% 2,305 82.71% 24 0.86%
1896 27 0.71% 3,763 98.97% 12 0.32%
1892 445 13.69% 0 0.00% 2,805 86.31%
1888 1,524 54.82% 1,217 43.78% 39 1.40%
1884 605 55.81% 479 44.19% 0 0.00%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "QuickFacts: Colorado, United States". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "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 10, 2014.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Dwyer-Lindgren, Laura (May 8, 2017). "Inequalities in Life Expectancy Among US Counties, 1980 to 2014". JAMA Internal Medicine. 177 (7): 1003–1011. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.0918. PMC 5543324. PMID 28492829.
  12. ^ "County Profile: Pitkin County Colorado" (PDF). Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  13. ^ Achenbach, Joel, "U.S. life expectancy varies more than 20 years from county to county," Washington Post, May 8, 2017
  14. ^ Cirruzzo, Chelsea (June 30, 2021). "The 25 Counties With the Longest Life Expectancy". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  15. ^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1976 Presidential Election Statistics
  16. ^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1980 Presidential Election Statistics
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
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39°13′N 106°55′W / 39.22°N 106.92°W / 39.22; -106.92

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