Gilpin County, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gilpin County
U.S. county
The Gilpin Combined Court, the county courthouse.
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	November 1, 1861
Named for	William Gilpin
Seat	Central City
Largest city	Central City
Area
• Total	150 sq mi (400 km2)
• Land	150 sq mi (400 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.2%%
Population
• Estimate  (2020)	5,808
• Density	39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd

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

1904 broadside bird's eye view or map of Gilpin County, Colorado, issued by the Gilpin County Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado map publisher George Samuel Clason in 1904

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 150 square miles (390 km²), of which 150 square miles (390 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.2%) is water. It is the second-smallest county by area in Colorado.

Adjacent counties

• Boulder County – north
• Jefferson County – east
• Clear Creek County – south
• Grand County – west

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/km²). There were 2,929 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). 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.

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

Images for kids

• 

  The Old Courthouse in Central City houses much of the county government.