Arapahoe County, Colorado facts for kids

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Arapahoe County

U.S. county

Little Dry Creek in Englewood

Flag

Location within the U.S. state of Colorado

Colorado's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Colorado

Founded

November 1, 1861

The Arapaho Nation

Largest city

Area

• Total

805 sq mi (2,080 km²)

• Land

798 sq mi (2,070 km²)

• Water

7.3 sq mi (19 km²) 0.9%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

655,070 (3rd)

• Density

821/sq mi (317/km²)

Time zone

UTC−7 (Mountain)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−6 (MDT)

Congressional districts

1st, 4th, 6th

Arapahoe County (/əˈræpəhoʊ/ Ə-rap-Ə-hoh) is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, its population was 655,070, making it the third-most populous county in Colorado. The county seat is Littleton, and the most populous city is Aurora. The county was named for the Arapaho Native American tribe, who once lived in the region.

Arapahoe County is part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan statistical area. Arapahoe County calls itself "Colorado's First County", since its origins antedate the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.

History
Geography
Demographics
Education
- K-12 Education
- Higher Education
Communities
See also

History

On August 25, 1855, the Kansas Territorial Legislature created a huge Arapahoe County to govern the entire western portion of the Territory of Kansas. The county was named for the Arapaho Nation, who lived in the region.

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County (in present-day Englewood). This discovery precipitated the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Many residents of the mining region felt disconnected from the remote territorial governments of Kansas and Nebraska, so they voted to form their own Territory of Jefferson on October 24, 1859. The following month, the Jefferson Territorial Legislature organized 12 counties for the new territory, including a smaller Arapahoe County. Denver City served as the county seat of Arapahoe County.

The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, and when the State of Kansas was admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861, the mining regions temporarily reverted to unorganized territory. On February 28, 1861, Congress passed an act organizing the Territory of Colorado, using present-day borders. On November 1, 1861, the Colorado Territorial Assembly organized the 17 original counties of Colorado, including a new Arapahoe County. Arapahoe County originally stretched from the line of present-day Sheridan Boulevard 160 miles (260 km) east to the Kansas border, and from the line of present-day County Line Road 30 miles (48 km) north to the 40th parallel north (168th Avenue). Denver City served as the county seat of Arapahoe County until 1902.

In 1901, the Colorado General Assembly voted to split Arapahoe County into three parts - a new consolidated City and County of Denver, a new Adams County, and the remainder of the Arapahoe County to be renamed South Arapahoe County. A ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, subsequent legislation, and a referendum delayed the reorganization until November 15, 1902. Governor James Bradley Orman designated Littleton as the temporary county seat of South Arapahoe County. On April 11, 1903, the Colorado General Assembly changed the name of South Arapahoe County back to Arapahoe County. On November 8, 1904, Arapahoe County voters chose Littleton over Englewood by a vote of 1310 to 829 to be the permanent county seat.

Geography

The contemporary Arapahoe County Courthouse is in Dove Valley.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 805 square miles (2,080 km²), of which 798 square miles (2,070 km²) are land and 7.3 square miles (19 km²) (0.9%) are covered by water. The county measures 72 mi (116 km) east-west and 4 to 12 mi (6.4 to 19.3 km) north-south.

Two exclaves of Arapahoe County are entirely surrounded by the City and County of Denver, the City of Glendale, and the Holly Hills neighborhood, a census-designated place.

Adjacent counties

City and County of Denver – northwest and exclaves
Adams County – north
Washington County – east
Lincoln County – southeast
Elbert County – south
Douglas County – southwest
Jefferson County – west

Major highways

Interstate 25
Interstate 70
Interstate 225
I-70 Bus.
I-70 Bus.
I-70 Bus.
I-70 Bus.
U.S. Highway 85
U.S. Highway 285
State Highway 30
State Highway 36
State Highway 40
State Highway 75
State Highway 79
State Highway 83
State Highway 88
State Highway 177
State Highway 470
E-470 (tollway)

State park

Cherry Creek State Park

Historic trails

Smoky Hill Trail
South Platte Trail

Recreation trails

Highline Canal National Recreation Trail
Platte River Greenway National Recreation Trail

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	6,829	—
1880	38,644	465.9%
1890	132,135	241.9%
1900	153,017	15.8%
1910	10,263	−93.3%
1920	13,766	34.1%
1930	22,647	64.5%
1940	32,150	42.0%
1950	52,125	62.1%
1960	113,426	117.6%
1970	162,142	42.9%
1980	293,621	81.1%
1990	391,511	33.3%
2000	487,967	24.6%
2010	572,003	17.2%
2020	655,070	14.5%
2023 (est.)	656,061	14.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, 487,967 people, 190,909 households, and 125,809 families were residing in the county. The population density was 608 people/sq mi (235 people/km²). The 196,835 housing units averaged 245 per square mile (95/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.93% White, 7.67% African American, 0.66% Native American, 3.95% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.51% from other races, and 3.16% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 11.81% of the population.

Of the 190,909 households, 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.20% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were not families. About 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53, and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the age distribution was 26.70% under 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 33.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household was $53,570, and for a family was $63,875. Males had a median income of $41,601 versus $31,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,147. About 4.20% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.00% of those under age 18 and 5.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

K-12 Education

Arapahoe County is home to nine public school districts: Aurora, Bennett, Byers, Cherry Creek, Deer Trail, Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, and Strasburg. In the 2023-2024 school year, Cherry Creek and Littleton were ranked the #5 and #6 school districts in Colorado, respectively. In addition, Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village was ranked the #2 public high school in Colorado, while Grandview High School in Aurora was ranked #6.

There are also several private schools throughout the county, including St. Mary's Academy in Cherry Hills Village, Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, and Kent Denver School in Englewood, the latter of which was ranked Colorado's #1 high school.

Higher Education

Arapahoe County is home to two large community colleges: Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, and the Community College of Aurora. The county is also home to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Denver South campus of Colorado Technical University, both located in Aurora.

Communities

Former census-designated places

Castlewood (now part of Centennial)
Southglenn (now part of Centennial)