Today the Census Bureau released more detailed 2010 Census population totals and demographic characteristics for Colorado. These data provide the first look at population counts for small areas with race, Hispanic origin, voting age and housing unit data released from the 2010 Census.
These counts for Colorado show Colorado’s most populous counties are El Paso County (622,263), Denver (600,158), Arapahoe (572,003) and Jefferson (534,543). El Paso moved up from the third most populous county in 2000 and Jefferson slipped to fourth most populous from second in 2000.
The counties with the largest increase in population were Douglas County gaining 109,699 people and El Paso County gaining 105,334. Other counties with large increases in population include Arapahoe (83,107), Adams (77,746), and Weld (71,889). Seventeen of Colorado’s 64 counties (26 percent) showed population declines. The largest declines were in Prowers (-1,932), Otero (-1,480) and Huerfano (-1,151).
The counties that show the fastest growth in percentage terms are a little more diverse. Douglas was again the fastest growing county in Colorado growing at 62.4 percent compared to the state as a whole growing by 16.92 percent. Other fast growing counties include Weld (39.7 percent), Garfield (28.7 percent), Mesa (26.2 percent) and Eagle (25.3 percent).
The three largest cities remain Denver (600,158) followed by Colorado Springs (416,427), and Aurora (325,078) with Fort Collins (143,986) and Lakewood (142,980) rounding out the top 5. The five municipalities to gain the most population were Colorado Springs (55,537), Aurora (48,685), Denver (45,522), Thornton (36,388) and Castle Rock (28,007). The Denver metro cities of Wheat Ridge, Englewood, and Lakewood recorded population declines.
Fourteen municipalities doubled their size or more over the decade. Several municipalities in Northern Colorado were in the group of the fastest growing in the state: Firestone (431 percent), Severance (430 percent), Frederick (251 percent), Erie (188 percent) and Timnath (180 percent).
Colorado continues to become more ethnically and racially diverse. Colorado’s Hispanic population (largest minority group) increased by over 300,000 or 41 percent during the decade compared to the total population which grew by 16 percent. Blacks or African Americans grew by 19 percent, Asians by 45 percent, and White non-Hispanic by 9.9 percent. The increase in diversity occurred throughout the state, not just in the metro areas. The largest increases in the minority population were in Arapahoe, Adams and El Paso. However, large increases were also seen in the Eastern Plains counties of Yuma, Kit Carson, and Morgan and the Western Slope counties of Moffat, Garfield, Eagle and Mesa.
The official 2010 Census Redistricting Data Summary File can be used to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts under Public Law 94-171. The census data are used by state officials to realign congressional and state legislative districts in their states, taking into account population shifts since the 2000 Census. To access the detailed data from the Census Bureau, visit their website at:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/ or through the American Factfinder at:
http://factfinder2.census.gov/main.html
The State Demography Office has also published the Census 2010 counts and comparisons from Census 2000 for counties and municipalities on its website.
http://dola.colorado.gov/dlg/demog/2010censusdata.html If you need help accessing the data from the Census website or from the State Demography Office website please contact us at: 303-866-3190 or 303-866-3096.
