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Prowers County, Colorado facts for kids

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Prowers County
U.S. county
Prowers County Courthouse in Lamar
Prowers County Courthouse in Lamar
Map of Colorado highlighting Prowers County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Colorado
Founded April 11, 1889
Named for John Wesley Prowers
Seat Lamar
Largest city Lamar
Area
 • Total 1,644 sq mi (4,260 km2)
 • Land 1,638 sq mi (4,240 km2)
 • Water 5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.4%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,999
 • Density 7.3/sq mi (2.8/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 4th

Prowers County is a county in the state of Colorado, USA. In 2020, about 11,999 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Lamar. The county got its name from John Wesley Prowers. He was an important pioneer in the Arkansas River area.

Exploring Prowers County Geography

Prowers County covers a total area of about 1,644 square miles (4,258 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 5.9 square miles (15 square kilometers), is water.

Neighboring Counties

Prowers County shares its borders with several other counties. These include:

Main Roads and Highways

Several important roads pass through Prowers County. These highways help people travel and transport goods. They include:

  • US 50.svg U.S. Highway 50
  • US 287.svg U.S. Highway 287
  • US 385.svg U.S. Highway 385
  • US 400.svg U.S. Highway 400
  • Colorado 89.svg State Highway 89
  • Colorado 196.svg State Highway 196

Famous Trails and Scenic Routes

The county is also home to historic trails and scenic routes. These paths offer a glimpse into the past and beautiful views.

  • American Discovery Trail
  • Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway

The Unique Antipode of Prowers County

Prowers County has a very special geographic feature. It is home to the antipode of Île Amsterdam. This is an island in the Indian Ocean. An antipode is the exact opposite point on Earth.

This means if you dug a straight tunnel through the center of the Earth from Prowers County, you would come out on Île Amsterdam. This makes Prowers County one of the few places in the United States with an antipode that is not in the ocean. The exact spot is about 10 miles southeast of Lamar.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890 1,969 —
1900 3,766 91.3%
1910 9,520 152.8%
1920 13,845 45.4%
1930 14,762 6.6%
1940 12,304 −16.7%
1950 14,836 20.6%
1960 13,296 −10.4%
1970 13,258 −0.3%
1980 13,070 −1.4%
1990 13,347 2.1%
2000 14,483 8.5%
2010 12,551 −13.3%
2020 11,999 −4.4%
2023 (est.) 11,751 −6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

The population of Prowers County has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 12,551 people living in the county. The population density was about 7.6 people per square mile.

About 27.1% of the people were under 18 years old. Around 14.6% were 65 years or older. The average age in the county was 36.7 years.

Education in Prowers County

Prowers County has several public school districts. These districts help educate the children and teens in the area. The school districts are:

  • Granada School District No. RE-1
  • Lamar School District No. RE-2
  • Holly School District No. RE-3
  • Wiley School District

The county is also home to Lamar Community College. This college helps about 700 students each year. It provides higher education opportunities for young adults.

Communities in Prowers County

Prowers County has different types of communities. These include one city, several towns, and some smaller unincorporated areas.

City

Towns

Unincorporated Community

Historic Places to Visit

Prowers County has many important historic sites. These places tell stories about the past. They include:

Images for kids

  • ATSF locomotive, Lamar, CO IMG 5749

    A former Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad locomotive on display in Lamar.

  • Horses grazing east of Holly, CO IMG 5804

    Horses grazing east of Holly in Prowers County.

  • Cornfields in Prowers County, CO IMG 5771

    Cornfields growing after a heavy rain in Prowers County, August 1, 2010.

  • Map of states and counties affected by the Dust Bowl, sourced from US federal government dept. (NRCS SSRA-RAD)

    A map showing the area affected by the 1930s Dust Bowl.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Prowers para niños

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