Garfield County, Colorado facts for kids

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Garfield County

U.S. county

Garfield County Courthouse in Glenwood Springs

Flag

Motto(s):

"New Energy in the Wild West"

Location within the U.S. state of Colorado

Colorado's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Colorado

Founded

February 10, 1883

Largest city

Area

• Total

2,956 sq mi (7,660 km²)

• Land

2,948 sq mi (7,640 km²)

• Water

8.3 sq mi (21 km²) 0.3%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

61,685

• Estimate

(2025)

63,474

• Density

20.868/sq mi (8.0571/km²)

Time zone

UTC−7 (Mountain)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−6 (MDT)

Congressional district

3rd

Garfield County is a special area called a county in the state of Colorado, United States. In 2020, about 61,685 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Glenwood Springs. The biggest community is Rifle. The county is named after U.S. President James A. Garfield.

Garfield County is part of a larger area that includes Pitkin County. This region is home to almost 80,000 people.

A Look Back in Time: History

Early Inhabitants and Settlement

For a long time, this land was home to the Ute people. Treaties protected their land. However, in the early 1880s, after a conflict known as the Meeker Incident, the Ute people moved to reservations. This opened the area for new settlers.

Founding and Early Days

Garfield County was officially created on February 10, 1883. It was named in memory of President James A. Garfield, who passed away tragically in September 1881. At first, the town of Carbonate was the county seat. But its remote location and harsh winters made it hard to reach. So, after only a few months, Glenwood Springs became the new county seat. Carbonate was completely abandoned by 1890.

Growth and Key Events

In 1887, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad arrived in Glenwood Springs. This helped the area grow and brought more trade. That same year, work began on the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. The famous Old West figure, Doc Holliday, also passed away in Glenwood Springs in 1887. Today, you can visit a walking trail to his grave.

In 1896, a tragic accident happened at the Vulcan Mine. A gas explosion near New Castle caused many miners to lose their lives. It also started a coal fire that still burns today. Another explosion in 1913 led to more miners losing their lives. Because of these underground fires, part of the Grand Hogback is called "Burning Mountain."

In 1904, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt visited Garfield County for a three-week bear hunt. His adventure was written about in a magazine. In 1905, the outlaw Kid Curry and his friends robbed a train near the town of Grand Valley (now called Parachute).

Garfield County was one of the first places in the U.S. to have electric lights. Some of the first lights were installed inside the Fairy Caves. These caves are now part of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The county also had Colorado's first hydroelectric plant. It was built at Rifle Falls State Park in 1910.

Modern Times and Challenges

In 1965, voters approved the creation of Colorado Mountain College. This college now serves many students across western Colorado. Campuses opened in Spring Valley and Rifle. Today, it's one of the largest community college systems in the state.

In 1969, special tests called Project Rulison took place near Rulison. Scientists explored if underground explosions could help get natural gas out of the ground more easily. While the tests showed it was possible, this method was never used for commercial purposes due to public concerns.

On May 2, 1982, ExxonMobil suddenly closed its oil shale operations. This day became known as "Black Sunday." It was a difficult economic time when many people lost their jobs. Thousands of people left the area looking for work.

On July 6, 1994, a very sad event occurred during the South Canyon Fire. Fourteen brave firefighters lost their lives battling the blaze on Storm King Mountain. A memorial trail now honors their sacrifice. This fire remains the deadliest wildfire in Colorado's history.

In May 2024, a report said that Garfield County was one of the hardest places in America to buy a house. This is because of high costs and many buyers. The county's population has grown a lot since 2000.

Exploring the Land: Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Garfield County covers about 2,956 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

Neighboring Areas

Garfield County shares borders with these other counties:

Rio Blanco County - north
Routt County - northeast
Eagle County - east
Pitkin County - southeast
Mesa County - south
Grand County, Utah - southwest
Uintah County, Utah - northwest

Important Roads

Major highways that run through Garfield County include:

I-70
US 6
SH 13
SH 82
SH 133
SH 139
SH 325

Nature's Beauty: Parks and Forests

The county is home to several beautiful protected areas:

Flat Tops Wilderness
Grand Mesa National Forest
Harvey Gap State Park
Rifle Falls State Park
Rifle Gap State Park
Routt National Forest
White River National Forest

Scenic Drives

You can enjoy beautiful views on these scenic byways:

Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway
Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway
West Elk Loop Scenic Byway

People and Community: Demographics

Garfield County has seen a lot of growth over the years. In 1890, there were about 4,478 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 61,685. The median age in 2020 was 36.8 years. About 25.2% of residents were under 18, and 13.8% were 65 or older. The county is a diverse place, with people from many different backgrounds.

Learning and Growing: Education

Local Schools

Garfield County has three public school districts:

Roaring Fork School District RE-1 (serving Glenwood Springs and Carbondale)
Garfield County School District RE-2 (serving Rifle, New Castle, and Silt)
Garfield County School District 16 (serving Parachute and Battlement Mesa)

These districts operate many elementary and middle schools. There are also five high schools:

Coal Ridge High School (New Castle)
Glenwood Springs High School (Glenwood Springs)
Grand Valley High School (Parachute)
Rifle High School (Rifle)
Roaring Fork High School (Carbondale)

Private schools in the county include Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale.

College Opportunities

Colorado Mountain College has several campuses in Garfield County. Its main residential campus is in Spring Valley. Other campuses are located in Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Carbondale.

Working in Garfield County: Economy

Main Job Providers

Many people work for these top employers in Garfield County:

#	Employer	Employee range
1	Valley View Hospital	1,000 - 1,250
2	Roaring Fork School District RE-1	500 - 999
3	Garfield County School District RE-2	500 - 999
4	Grand River Hospital	500 - 999
5	City Market	500 - 999
6	Garfield County	250 - 499
7	Colorado Mountain College	250 - 499
8	Walmart	250 - 499
9	City of Glenwood Springs	200 - 499
10	Alpine Bank	100 - 249

How the County is Run: Government

County Leadership

Garfield County is managed by a board of three county commissioners. They make decisions about money, roads, public health, and economic growth.

Public Safety and Services

Many county offices are in Glenwood Springs, the county seat. This includes the courthouse, sheriff's office, and jail. The county also has offices and services in Rifle.

Garfield County has several emergency service agencies to keep people safe:

Law Enforcement: Police departments in towns like Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and others. The Garfield County Sheriff's Office also serves the area.
Fire Departments: Fire protection districts like Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District and Glenwood Springs Fire Department.

Getting Around: Transportation

Public transportation is provided by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA). RFTA runs buses across a large area, from Rifle to Aspen.

Bustang, Colorado's inter-city bus service, stops in Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Parachute. Amtrak trains also stop in Glenwood Springs.

The county has two airports: Rifle Garfield County Airport and KGWS Sumers Airpark.

Correctional Facility

The Rifle Correctional Center is a minimum security prison. It is located in an unincorporated part of Garfield County.

Who Lives Here: Communities

Cities and Towns

Other Places to Live

Some other communities in Garfield County include:

Abandoned Towns

Garfield County also has some interesting ghost towns, like:

Anvil Points
Atchee
Carbonera
Carbonate