# Gilpin County, Colorado

Gilpin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado, smallest in land area behind only the City and County of Broomfield. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,808. The county seat is Central City. The county was formed in 1861, while Colorado was still a territory, and was named after Colonel William Gilpin, the first territorial governor. Gilpin County is part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 150 square miles (390 km$^2$), of which 150 square miles (390 km$^2$) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water. It is the second-smallest county by area in Colorado.

### Adjacent counties

* Boulder – north
* Jefferson – east
* Clear Creek – south
* Grand – west

### Major highways

* State Highway 46
* State Highway 72
* State Highway 119
* Central City Parkway

### National protected areas

* Arapaho National Forest
* James Peak Wilderness
* Roosevelt National Forest

### State protected area

* Golden Gate Canyon State Park

### Scenic trail and byway

* Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
* Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway

## Demographics

At the 2000 census there were 4,757 people, 2,043 households, and 1,264 families in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km$^2$). There were 2,929 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 94.37% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 4.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,043 households 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.10% were non-families. 26.80% of households were one person and 3.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.81.
The age distribution was 21.10% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 37.40% from 25 to 44, 30.00% from 45 to 64, and 5.70% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 112.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.10 males.
The median household income was $51,942 and the median family income was $61,859. Males had a median income of $38,560 versus $30,820 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,148. About 1.00% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.40% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Gilpin County, Colorado :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 1,729 | 41.86% | 2,254 | 54.58% | 147 | 3.56% |
| 2020 | 1,833 | 43.79% | 2,223 | 53.11% | 130 | 3.11% |
| 2016 | 1,566 | 43.79% | 1,634 | 45.69% | 376 | 10.51% |
| 2012 | 1,346 | 40.32% | 1,892 | 56.68% | 100 | 3.00% |
| 2008 | 1,283 | 38.08% | 1,990 | 59.07% | 96 | 2.85% |
| 2004 | 1,329 | 41.58% | 1,807 | 56.54% | 60 | 1.88% |
| 2000 | 1,006 | 40.81% | 1,099 | 44.58% | 360 | 14.60% |
| 1996 | 682 | 38.12% | 799 | 44.66% | 308 | 17.22% |
| 1992 | 462 | 26.26% | 726 | 41.27% | 571 | 32.46% |
| 1988 | 728 | 45.79% | 804 | 50.57% | 58 | 3.65% |
| 1984 | 896 | 57.03% | 634 | 40.36% | 41 | 2.61% |
| 1980 | 694 | 50.04% | 441 | 31.80% | 252 | 18.17% |
| 1976 | 451 | 41.19% | 563 | 51.42% | 81 | 7.40% |
| 1972 | 516 | 57.02% | 362 | 40.00% | 27 | 2.98% |
| 1968 | 358 | 52.57% | 218 | 32.01% | 105 | 15.42% |
| 1964 | 233 | 38.83% | 363 | 60.50% | 4 | 0.67% |
| 1960 | 315 | 58.55% | 223 | 41.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 394 | 61.66% | 244 | 38.18% | 1 | 0.16% |
| 1952 | 357 | 60.41% | 228 | 38.58% | 6 | 1.02% |
| 1948 | 302 | 49.43% | 296 | 48.45% | 13 | 2.13% |
| 1944 | 272 | 55.85% | 213 | 43.74% | 2 | 0.41% |
| 1940 | 413 | 48.65% | 431 | 50.77% | 5 | 0.59% |
| 1936 | 321 | 29.81% | 736 | 68.34% | 20 | 1.86% |
| 1932 | 271 | 32.46% | 539 | 64.55% | 25 | 2.99% |
| 1928 | 299 | 55.17% | 236 | 43.54% | 7 | 1.29% |
| 1924 | 361 | 54.78% | 161 | 24.43% | 137 | 20.79% |
| 1920 | 416 | 66.99% | 189 | 30.43% | 16 | 2.58% |
| 1916 | 407 | 34.17% | 763 | 64.06% | 21 | 1.76% |
| 1912 | 443 | 26.65% | 931 | 56.02% | 288 | 17.33% |
| 1908 | 843 | 39.52% | 1,185 | 55.56% | 105 | 4.92% |
| 1904 | 1,311 | 49.01% | 1,260 | 47.10% | 104 | 3.89% |
| 1900 | 1,371 | 45.72% | 1,498 | 49.95% | 130 | 4.33% |
| 1896 | 266 | 9.43% | 2,532 | 89.76% | 23 | 0.82% |
| 1892 | 431 | 32.53% | 0 | 0.00% | 894 | 67.47% |
| 1888 | 953 | 53.09% | 688 | 38.33% | 154 | 8.58% |
| 1884 | 1,129 | 61.43% | 614 | 33.41% | 95 | 5.17% |
| 1880 | 1,236 | 59.74% | 805 | 38.91% | 28 | 1.35% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Black Hawk
* Central City

### Census-designated places

* Coal Creek (also in Boulder and Jefferson counties)
* Rollinsville

### Other

* Nevadaville
* Russell Gulch

## Historic district

* Central City/Black Hawk Historic District