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| Mesa County, Colorado | |
 Mesa County Courthouse
| |
 Location in the state of Colorado | |
 Colorado's location in the U.S. | |
| Founded | February 14, 1883 |
|---|---|
| Named for | Mesas in the area |
| Seat | Grand Junction |
| Largest city | Grand Junction |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
3,341 sq mi (8,653 km²) 3,329 sq mi (8,622 km²) 12 sq mi (31 km²), 0.4% |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
155,703 47/sq mi (18/km²) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC-7/-6 |
| Website | www.mesacounty.us |
Mesa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 155,703.[1] The county seat is Grand Junction.[2] The county was named for the many large mesas in the area, including Grand Mesa.
Mesa County comprises the Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.[3][4] In 2020 it ranked as the 271st most populous metropolitan area in the United States.[1] It is the only metropolitan area in Colorado not located on the Front Range of Colorado.
Geography[]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,341 square miles (8,650 km2), of which 3,329 square miles (8,620 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5] It is the fourth-largest county by area in Colorado.
Adjacent counties[]
- Garfield County – north
- Pitkin County – east
- Gunnison County – east
- Delta County – southeast
- Montrose County – south
- Grand County, Utah – west
Major highways[]
Interstate 70- I-70 Bus.
- I-70 Bus.
- U.S. Highway 6
- U.S. Highway 50
- State Highway 65
- State Highway 139
- State Highway 141
- State Highway 330
- State Highway 340
- 45 1/2 Rd
National protected areas[]
- Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness
- Colorado National Monument
- Dominguez Canyon Wilderness
- Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (part)
- Grand Mesa National Forest
- Manti-La Sal National Forest
- McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (part)
- Uncompahgre National Forest
- White River National Forest
State protected areas[]
- Highline Lake State Park
- James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park
- Vega State Park
Trails and byways[]
- American Discovery Trail
- Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway
- Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway
- Kokopelli Trail
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail
- Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway
- Colorado Riverfront Trail
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 4,260 | ||
| 1900 | 9,267 | 117.5% | |
| 1910 | 22,197 | 139.5% | |
| 1920 | 22,281 | 0.4% | |
| 1930 | 25,908 | 16.3% | |
| 1940 | 33,791 | 30.4% | |
| 1950 | 38,794 | 14.8% | |
| 1960 | 50,715 | 30.7% | |
| 1970 | 54,734 | 7.9% | |
| 1980 | 81,530 | 49.0% | |
| 1990 | 93,145 | 14.2% | |
| 2000 | 116,255 | 24.8% | |
| 2010 | 146,723 | 26.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 146,723 people, 58,095 households, and 38,593 families living in the county. The population density was 44.1 people per square mile (17.23.1/km2). There were 62,644 housing units. Information that follows comes from the 2000 American Factfinder data: The racial makeup of the county was 92.34% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.67% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 10.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 45,823 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% 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 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,864, and the median income for a family was $43,009. Males had a median income of $32,316 versus $22,374 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,715. About 7.00% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
Politics[]
Unlike most urban counties, Mesa County is powerfully Republican. It has voted Democratic only once since 1952, during Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 landslide, and Hubert Humphrey in the following 1968 election is the last Democrat to tally forty percent of the county’s vote.
It was reported in August 2021 that the Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters allowed an unauthorized person into a secure facility during an annual upgrade to the county's election equipment software, compromising the equipment. The security breach means Mesa County will not be able to use the equipment for its fall 2021 election.[11]
This was not the first time Ms. Peters has been a source of election controversy. In February 2020, it was discovered that Peters' office neglected to count 574 ballots cast in a dropbox outside her office. These uncounted ballots were cast in the November 2019 election and remained uncounted in the dropbox for 3 months. They were found only because Peters' office checked the dropbox for ballots cast in the next election - the 2020 presidential primary. This prompted an attempt to recall Tina Peters as county clerk. The effort was unsuccessful. [12]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 56,894 | 62.78% | 31,536 | 34.80% | 2,193 | 2.42% |
| 2016 | 49,779 | 64.10% | 21,729 | 27.98% | 6,146 | 7.91% |
| 2012 | 47,472 | 65.08% | 23,846 | 32.69% | 1,629 | 2.23% |
| 2008 | 44,578 | 64.02% | 24,008 | 34.48% | 1,045 | 1.50% |
| 2004 | 41,539 | 67.12% | 19,564 | 31.61% | 782 | 1.26% |
| 2000 | 32,396 | 63.45% | 15,465 | 30.29% | 3,193 | 6.25% |
| 1996 | 24,761 | 53.12% | 17,114 | 36.72% | 4,737 | 10.16% |
| 1992 | 18,169 | 41.23% | 15,162 | 34.41% | 10,736 | 24.36% |
| 1988 | 22,150 | 59.62% | 14,372 | 38.68% | 633 | 1.70% |
| 1984 | 23,736 | 69.66% | 9,938 | 29.17% | 400 | 1.17% |
| 1980 | 22,686 | 68.92% | 7,549 | 22.93% | 2,681 | 8.14% |
| 1976 | 17,924 | 65.44% | 8,807 | 32.15% | 659 | 2.41% |
| 1972 | 15,527 | 68.66% | 6,358 | 28.12% | 728 | 3.22% |
| 1968 | 10,745 | 49.58% | 8,775 | 40.49% | 2,151 | 9.93% |
| 1964 | 8,317 | 39.45% | 12,716 | 60.32% | 49 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 13,015 | 58.81% | 9,072 | 40.99% | 45 | 0.20% |
| 1956 | 12,869 | 62.79% | 7,567 | 36.92% | 60 | 0.29% |
| 1952 | 11,883 | 63.06% | 6,883 | 36.52% | 79 | 0.42% |
| 1948 | 6,586 | 43.37% | 8,401 | 55.32% | 198 | 1.30% |
| 1944 | 6,653 | 48.93% | 6,870 | 50.52% | 75 | 0.55% |
| 1940 | 7,049 | 47.27% | 7,694 | 51.60% | 169 | 1.13% |
| 1936 | 3,654 | 29.47% | 7,824 | 63.10% | 921 | 7.43% |
| 1932 | 4,388 | 37.16% | 6,682 | 56.59% | 737 | 6.24% |
| 1928 | 6,446 | 65.76% | 3,223 | 32.88% | 133 | 1.36% |
| 1924 | 4,053 | 45.53% | 2,388 | 26.83% | 2,461 | 27.65% |
| 1920 | 3,621 | 49.80% | 3,138 | 43.16% | 512 | 7.04% |
| 1916 | 2,223 | 30.06% | 4,394 | 59.42% | 778 | 10.52% |
| 1912 | 976 | 12.47% | 2,733 | 34.93% | 4,115 | 52.59% |
| 1908 | 3,049 | 44.87% | 2,824 | 41.56% | 922 | 13.57% |
| 1904 | 2,783 | 58.45% | 1,555 | 32.66% | 423 | 8.88% |
| 1900 | 1,317 | 37.27% | 1,968 | 55.69% | 249 | 7.05% |
| 1896 | 469 | 15.81% | 2,374 | 80.04% | 123 | 4.15% |
| 1892 | 529 | 42.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 708 | 57.24% |
| 1888 | 440 | 49.49% | 388 | 43.64% | 61 | 6.86% |
| 1884 | 353 | 51.38% | 329 | 47.89% | 5 | 0.73% |
Communities[]
Cities[]
- Fruita
- Grand Junction
Towns[]
- Collbran
- De Beque
- Palisade
Census-designated places[]
- Clifton
- Fruitvale
- Loma
- Orchard Mesa
- Redlands
Other unincorporated places[]
- Carpenter
- Gateway
- Mack
- Mesa
- Molina
- Plateau City
- Whitewater
Transportation[]
Major Highways[]
- Interstate 70 runs from Interstate 15 in Cove Fort, Utah to Baltimore, Maryland, connecting Grand Junction to Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Columbus. Via Interstate 15, it connects Grand Junction with Las Vegas, Nevada, and southern California.
- U.S. Highway 6 serves 14 states, running east–west from Provincetown, Massachusetts, to Bishop, California. In Colorado, it generally runs parallel to Interstate 76 and Interstate 70.
- U.S. Highway 50 crosses 12 states, linking Ocean City, Maryland, with Sacramento, California. In Colorado, U.S. 50 connects Grand Junction with Montrose, Gunnison, and Pueblo, and to the west, it travels into the state of Utah.
- SH 340 runs east–west, starting at First Street in downtown Grand Junction, traversing the Redlands and ending at U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 50 in Fruita.
Air[]
- Grand Junction Regional Airport is located 4.6 miles from downtown Grand Junction.
- Mack Mesa Airport is located 25 miles from downtown Grand Junction.
- Pinyon Airport is located 12.6 miles from downtown Grand Junction.
Train[]
- There is an Amtrak Station located in downtown Grand Junction. The California Zephyr makes daily stops at the station on its way between San Francisco and Chicago.
Bus[]
- There is a Greyhound Bus Station located in Grand Junction.
- Grand Valley Transit is the public transportation agency that serves the Grand Junction area and currently has 11 fixed routes.
See also[]
- Outline of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Grand Valley AVA
- Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Mesa County, Colorado
- Mesa County Public Library District
References[]
- ^ a b c "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mesacountycolorado/PST045219.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses". Office of Management and Budget. December 1, 2009. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/bulletins/b10-02.pdf.
- ^ See the Colorado census statistical areas.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". https://www.census.gov.
- ^ Birkeland, Bente After Data Is Posted On Conspiracy Website, Colo. County's Voting Machines Are Banned National Public Radio, August 12, 2021.
- ^ Verlee, Megan ‘We Got Lucky’ That Missing Mesa Ballot Situation Wasn’t Worse, Elections Chief Says Colorado Public Radio, February 27, 2020.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/.
External links[]
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Garfield County |
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| Grand County, Utah | 
|
Pitkin County and Gunnison County | ||
   Mesa County, Colorado | ||||
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| Montrose County | Delta County |
Template:Mesa County, Colorado
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