Delta County is a county in the state of Colorado. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 31,196. The county seat is located in Delta.

History

Delta County was formed by the Colorado legislature on February 11, 1883, from parts of central Gunnison County. The county was named after a delta of arable land at the mouth of the Uncompahgre River, where it flows into the Gunnison River.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,149 square miles (2,980 km), of which 1,142 square miles (2,960 km) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km) (0.6%) is water.

• Mesa County – northwest
• Gunnison County – east
• Montrose County – south

• U.S. Highway 50
• State Highway 65
• State Highway 92
• State Highway 133
• State Highway 348

• Dominguez Canyon Wilderness
• Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (part)
• Grand Mesa National Forest
• Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (part)
• Gunnison Gorge Wilderness
• Gunnison National Forest

• Crawford State Park
• Sweitzer Lake State Park

• American Discovery Trail
• Crag Crest National Recreation Trail
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail
• Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway
• West Elk Loop Scenic Byway

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 31,196 people. Nineteen point nine percent of residents were under the age of 18, and 27.5 percent were 65 years or older. The median age was 48.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 99.7 males. Twenty-six point three percent of residents lived in urban areas, and 73.7 percent lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.7 percent White, 0.5 percent Black or African American, 0.9 percent American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8 percent Asian, 0.0 percent Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.6 percent from some other race, and 8.4 percent from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 13.9 percent of the population.

There were 13,075 households in the county. Twenty-three point eight percent of households had children under 18 living with them, and 24.7 percent had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.8 percent of all households included only one person, and 17.2 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years or older.

There were 14,780 housing units, of which 11.5 percent were vacant. Among occupied units, 75.6 percent were owned by residents, and 24.4 percent were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9 percent, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4 percent.

At the 2000 census, there were 27,834 people, 11,058 households, and 7,939 families living in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people per square kilometer). There were 12,374 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 92.29 percent White, 0.52 percent Black or African American, 0.76 percent Native American, 0.32 percent Asian, 0.03 percent Pacific Islander, 4.25 percent from other races, and 1.83 percent from two or more races. Eleven point thirty-nine percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 11,058 households, 29.00 percent had children under 18 living with them, 60.30 percent were married couples living together, 7.90 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20 percent were non-families. Twenty-four point eighty percent of households were one person, and 12.40 percent were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 24.00 percent under 18, 6.30 percent aged 18 to 24, 23.60 percent aged 25 to 44, 26.50 percent aged 45 to 64, and 19.70 percent aged 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 98.60 males.

The median household income was $32,785, and the median family income was $37,748. Males had a median income of $31,348, while females had a median income of $19,916. The per capita income was $17,152. About 8.50 percent of families and 12.10 percent of the population lived below the poverty line, including 15.00 percent of those under 18 and 9.60 percent of those aged 65 or older.

Communities

• Delta
• Cedaredge
• Crawford
• Hotchkiss
• Orchard City
• Paonia

• Lazear

• Austin
• Bowie
• Cory
• Eckert

Politics

Delta County mostly votes for the Republican party in national, state, and local elections. Since 1964, no Democratic presidential candidate has received more than 40% of the votes in Delta County. The only other time a Democratic candidate won a majority of votes in Delta County was in 1932, when Franklin D. Roosevelt won. In 1936, Roosevelt received more votes than Alf Landon, but not a majority.

Delta County is divided into two districts for the Colorado House of Representatives: House District 58 and House District 54. Before the redistricting changes that started in the November 2022 election, Delta County was divided between House District 54 and House District 61.

Education

There is one school district in the county: Delta County Joint School District 50-J.

Elementary Schools:
• Cedaredge Elementary School
• Garnet Mesa Elementary School (Delta)
• Hotchkiss K-8 School
• Lincoln Elementary School (Delta)
• Paonia K-8 School

Middle Schools:
• Cedaredge Middle School
• Delta Middle School
• Hotchkiss K-8 School
• Paonia K-8 School

High Schools:
• Cedaredge High School
• Delta High School
• North Fork High School (Hotchkiss)

Technical College of the Rockies, a trade school offering technical training and professional certificates, is located in the city of Delta.