Pitkin County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pitkin County
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Pitkin County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
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 Colorado's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Founded | February 23, 1881 |
| Named for | Frederick Walker Pitkin |
| Seat | Aspen |
| Largest city | Aspen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 973 sq mi (2,520 km2) |
| • Land | 971 sq mi (2,510 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) 0.3%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,358 |
| • Density | 18/sq mi (7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Pitkin County is a county in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,358. The county seat and largest city is Aspen. The county is named for Colorado Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin.
Pitkin County is included in the Glenwood Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Edwards-Glenwood Springs Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 973 square miles (2,520 km2), of which 971 sq mi (2,510 km2) is land and 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2) (0.3%) is water. The county's highest point is Castle Peak, a fourteener with a height of 14,265 feet (4,348 m). It is 20 miles (32 km) south of Aspen on the Gunnison County border.
Adjacent counties
- Eagle County – northeast
- Lake County – east
- Chaffee County – southeast
- Gunnison County – south
- Mesa County – west
- Garfield County – northwest
Major highways
State Highway 82
State Highway 133
National protected areas
- White River National Forest
- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
- Holy Cross Wilderness
- Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
- Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
Trails and byways
- American Discovery Trail
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
- West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 8,929 | — | |
| 1900 | 7,020 | −21.4% | |
| 1910 | 4,566 | −35.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,707 | −40.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,770 | −34.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,836 | 3.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,643 | −10.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,381 | 44.9% | |
| 1970 | 6,185 | 159.8% | |
| 1980 | 10,338 | 67.1% | |
| 1990 | 12,661 | 22.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,872 | 17.5% | |
| 2010 | 17,148 | 15.3% | |
| 2020 | 17,358 | 1.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,640 | −3.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 14,872 people, 6,807 households, and 3,185 families living in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 10,096 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.33% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.37% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Of the population, 6.54% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,807 households, out of which 21.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.70% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.20% were non-families. Of all households, 35.80% were made up of individuals, and 3.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 16.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 38.30% from 25 to 44, 30.50% from 45 to 64, and 6.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $59,375, and the median income for a family was $75,048. Males had a median income of $40,672 versus $33,896 for females. The per capita income for the county was $40,811. About 3.00% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.40% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.
Life expectancy
According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, residents of Pitkin County had a 2014 life expectancy of 86.52 years, the second-longest in the nation. Both men and women live longer in Pitkin County than nearly every other county in the United States. The life expectancy at birth is 85.2 years for men and 88.0 years for women. Two contiguous counties, Summit and Eagle counties, rank first and third in the nation respectively in life expectancy.
Factors contributing to the high life expectancy in Pitkin County are "high education, high income, high access to medical care, the people are physically active, obesity is lower than anywhere else—so you're doing it right", said Ali Mokdad, one of the study's co-authors.
In June 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked the county with the nation's fourth-best life expectancy, at 93.4 years.
Communities
City
Towns
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pitkin para niños
