# Delta County, Colorado

Delta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,196. The county seat is Delta.

## History

Delta County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 11, 1883, out of portions of central Gunnison County. The county was named from 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$^2$), of which 1,142 square miles (2,960 km$^2$) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km$^2$) (0.6%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

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

### Major highways

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

### National protected areas

* 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

### State protected areas

* Crawford State Park
* Sweitzer Lake State Park

### Trails and byways

* 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

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/km$^2$). There were 12,374 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 92.29% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.25% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 11.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 11,058 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.80% of households were one person and 12.40% 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% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, 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 versus $19,916 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,152. About 8.50% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### City

* Delta

### Towns

* Cedaredge
* Crawford
* Hotchkiss
* Orchard City
* Paonia

### Census Designated Place

* Lazear

### Unincorporated communities

* Austin
* Cory
* Eckert

## Politics

Delta County votes predominantly Republican in national, state, and local elections. No Democratic presidential candidate has reached forty percent of Delta County's vote since Lyndon Johnson carried the county in 1964, and since 1920 Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 is the only other Democrat to gain a majority, although Roosevelt did win a plurality against Alf Landon in 1936.
Delta County is split between two house districts for the Colorado House of Representatives, House District 58 & House District 54. Prior to the redistricting, which took effect in the November 2022 election, Delta County was split by House District 54 & 61.
United States presidential election results for Delta County, Colorado :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 12,948 | 66.47% | 6,030 | 30.96% | 500 | 2.57% |
| 2020 | 13,081 | 67.53% | 5,887 | 30.39% | 402 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | 11,655 | 69.42% | 4,087 | 24.34% | 1,048 | 6.24% |
| 2012 | 10,915 | 68.54% | 4,622 | 29.02% | 388 | 2.44% |
| 2008 | 10,067 | 65.23% | 5,084 | 32.94% | 283 | 1.83% |
| 2004 | 9,722 | 68.66% | 4,224 | 29.83% | 213 | 1.50% |
| 2000 | 8,372 | 65.99% | 3,264 | 25.73% | 1,050 | 8.28% |
| 1996 | 6,047 | 54.48% | 3,584 | 32.29% | 1,469 | 13.23% |
| 1992 | 4,359 | 41.54% | 3,424 | 32.63% | 2,711 | 25.83% |
| 1988 | 5,449 | 59.59% | 3,521 | 38.51% | 174 | 1.90% |
| 1984 | 6,678 | 69.28% | 2,835 | 29.41% | 126 | 1.31% |
| 1980 | 6,179 | 66.97% | 2,348 | 25.45% | 700 | 7.59% |
| 1976 | 4,980 | 58.82% | 3,232 | 38.17% | 255 | 3.01% |
| 1972 | 4,890 | 67.73% | 1,903 | 26.36% | 427 | 5.91% |
| 1968 | 3,692 | 55.50% | 2,327 | 34.98% | 633 | 9.52% |
| 1964 | 2,883 | 42.24% | 3,927 | 57.53% | 16 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 4,644 | 63.24% | 2,689 | 36.62% | 10 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 4,531 | 64.71% | 2,458 | 35.10% | 13 | 0.19% |
| 1952 | 4,986 | 67.01% | 2,389 | 32.11% | 66 | 0.89% |
| 1948 | 3,158 | 48.82% | 3,171 | 49.02% | 140 | 2.16% |
| 1944 | 3,462 | 59.30% | 2,351 | 40.27% | 25 | 0.43% |
| 1940 | 4,175 | 57.07% | 3,044 | 41.61% | 96 | 1.31% |
| 1936 | 2,661 | 41.14% | 3,230 | 49.94% | 577 | 8.92% |
| 1932 | 2,341 | 37.00% | 3,467 | 54.80% | 519 | 8.20% |
| 1928 | 3,731 | 67.32% | 1,672 | 30.17% | 139 | 2.51% |
| 1924 | 2,752 | 54.36% | 1,345 | 26.57% | 966 | 19.08% |
| 1920 | 2,596 | 56.40% | 1,750 | 38.02% | 257 | 5.58% |
| 1916 | 1,612 | 33.75% | 2,817 | 58.97% | 348 | 7.28% |
| 1912 | 803 | 16.28% | 1,808 | 36.67% | 2,320 | 47.05% |
| 1908 | 1,838 | 42.92% | 2,006 | 46.85% | 438 | 10.23% |
| 1904 | 1,567 | 50.65% | 1,046 | 33.81% | 481 | 15.55% |
| 1900 | 822 | 35.69% | 1,352 | 58.71% | 129 | 5.60% |
| 1896 | 139 | 7.79% | 1,603 | 89.85% | 42 | 2.35% |
| 1892 | 237 | 33.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 480 | 66.95% |
| 1888 | 257 | 44.01% | 239 | 40.92% | 88 | 15.07% |
| 1884 | 230 | 55.96% | 174 | 42.34% | 7 | 1.70% |

## Media

The local papers are the Delta County Independent and the Merchant Herald.

## Education

The county is served by 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)

### Higher Education

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