Clear Creek County, Colorado

Clear Creek County
County
Alpine Hose, historic firehouse in Georgetown.
Alpine Hose, historic firehouse in Georgetown.
Motto: 
Where The Old West Meets New Adventures
Map of Colorado highlighting Clear Creek County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°41′N 105°38′W / 39.69°N 105.64°W / 39.69; -105.64
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
Named forClear Creek
SeatGeorgetown
Largest cityIdaho Springs
Area
 • Total
396 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Land395 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
9,397[1]
 • Density24/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.clearcreekcounty.us

Clear Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,397.[1] The county seat is Georgetown.[2]

History

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Clear Creek, ca. 1870
Crystalline gold specimen from the Dixie mine, Lamartine District, SW of Idaho Springs, Colorado. Size: 1.8 x 0.9 x 0.2 cm.[3]

Clear Creek County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Colorado legislature on November 1, 1861, and is one of only two counties (along with Gilpin) to have persisted with its original boundaries unchanged. It was named after Clear Creek, which runs down from the continental divide through the county. Idaho Springs was originally designated the county seat, but the county government was moved to Georgetown in 1867.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 396 square miles (1,030 km2), of which 395 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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Scenic trails and byways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18701,596—
18807,823390.2%
18907,184−8.2%
19007,082−1.4%
19105,001−29.4%
19202,891−42.2%
19302,155−25.5%
19403,78475.6%
19503,289−13.1%
19602,793−15.1%
19704,81972.5%
19807,30851.6%
19907,6194.3%
20009,32222.4%
20109,088−2.5%
20209,3973.4%
2023 (est.)9,147[5]−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

At the 2000 census there were 9,322 people, 4,019 households, and 2,608 families living in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 5,128 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.37% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 3.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] Of the 4,019 households 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 27.20% of households were one person and 4.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was 22.60% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 32.20% from 45 to 64, and 7.10% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.20 males.

The median household income was $50,997 and the median family income was $61,400. Males had a median income of $41,667 versus $30,757 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,160. About 3.00% of families and 5.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.80% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over

Communities

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City

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Ghost towns

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Politics

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Throughout its history, Clear Creek County tended to be somewhat divided between Republicans and Democrats, but has reliably voted Democratic in recent elections, with George W. Bush having been the most recent Republican to win the county, in 2000, while his father, George H. W. Bush, was the last Republican to win the narrow majority of the county's votes, in 1988. During the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton became the first Democrat since her husband in 1996 to not win the majority of the county's vote, while still winning the county by a plurality.

United States presidential election results for Clear Creek County, Colorado[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,452 40.19% 3,464 56.78% 185 3.03%
2020 2,754 42.06% 3,604 55.04% 190 2.90%
2016 2,575 43.90% 2,729 46.52% 562 9.58%
2012 2,430 42.31% 3,119 54.31% 194 3.38%
2008 2,300 39.88% 3,332 57.78% 135 2.34%
2004 2,522 44.93% 2,989 53.25% 102 1.82%
2000 2,247 45.63% 2,188 44.44% 489 9.93%
1996 1,746 41.97% 1,863 44.78% 551 13.25%
1992 1,356 30.40% 1,744 39.10% 1,360 30.49%
1988 1,820 50.11% 1,698 46.75% 114 3.14%
1984 2,151 65.34% 1,089 33.08% 52 1.58%
1980 1,784 56.22% 837 26.38% 552 17.40%
1976 1,477 55.36% 1,069 40.07% 122 4.57%
1972 1,557 62.23% 815 32.57% 130 5.20%
1968 1,011 52.71% 719 37.49% 188 9.80%
1964 676 38.26% 1,086 61.46% 5 0.28%
1960 964 58.35% 688 41.65% 0 0.00%
1956 973 64.87% 520 34.67% 7 0.47%
1952 1,145 67.71% 540 31.93% 6 0.35%
1948 810 48.68% 836 50.24% 18 1.08%
1944 795 55.29% 636 44.23% 7 0.49%
1940 1,018 44.15% 1,281 55.55% 7 0.30%
1936 720 34.68% 1,340 64.55% 16 0.77%
1932 597 38.17% 939 60.04% 28 1.79%
1928 790 61.05% 481 37.17% 23 1.78%
1924 722 61.87% 284 24.34% 161 13.80%
1920 765 58.31% 518 39.48% 29 2.21%
1916 474 26.35% 1,289 71.65% 36 2.00%
1912 469 23.83% 1,166 59.25% 333 16.92%
1908 872 33.44% 1,702 65.26% 34 1.30%
1904 1,691 56.22% 1,252 41.62% 65 2.16%
1900 761 24.38% 2,309 73.96% 52 1.67%
1896 101 2.92% 3,345 96.84% 8 0.23%
1892 494 22.10% 0 0.00% 1,741 77.90%
1888 1,244 60.62% 696 33.92% 112 5.46%
1884 1,399 59.36% 915 38.82% 43 1.82%
1880 1,567 60.02% 961 36.81% 83 3.18%

Education

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The county is served by Clear Creek School District RE-1.

Elementary Schools

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  • Carlson Elementary School (Idaho Springs)
  • King-Murphy Mountain School (Evergreen)

Middle School

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  • Clear Creek Middle School (Idaho Springs)

High School

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  • Clear Creek High School (Evergreen)

Charter School

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  • Georgetown Community School (Georgetown)

Historic areas

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Ski areas

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Lamartine Mining District at Mindat.org
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clear Creek County, Colorado.

39°41′N 105°38′W / 39.69°N 105.64°W / 39.69; -105.64

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