Fremont County, Colorado Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Fremont County

U.S. county

Cañon City Municipal Building

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

Largest city

Cañon City

Area

• Total

1,534 sq mi (3,970 km²)

• Land

1,533 sq mi (3,970 km²)

• Water

0.9 sq mi (2 km²) 0.06%%

Population

• Estimate

(2020)

48,939

• Density

32/sq mi (12/km²)

Time zone

UTC−7 (Mountain)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−6 (MDT)

Congressional district

5th

Fremont County is one of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,939. The county seat is Cañon City. The county is named for 19th-century explorer and presidential candidate John C. Frémont.

Fremont County comprises the Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Pueblo-Cañon City, CO Combined Statistical Area.

Rural Fremont County is the location of 15 prisons; most of these are operated by the state. ADX Florence, the only federal Supermax prison in the United States, is in an unincorporated area in Fremont County, south of Florence, and is part of the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence. As of March 2015, Fremont County leads the nation among all counties as the one with the largest proportion of persons incarcerated. Prisoners are counted as part of the county population in the census, and 20% of residents are held in the prisons in the county.

History
Geography
Demographics
Sister cities
Communities
See also

History

Fremont County was founded in 1861. It is named for John C. Frémont.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,534 square miles (3,970 km²), of which 1,533 square miles (3,970 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (0.06%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Teller County - north
El Paso County - northeast
Pueblo County - southeast
Custer County - south
Saguache County - southwest
Chaffee County - northwest
Park County - northwest

National protected areas

Pike National Forest
San Isabel National Forest
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

State protected area

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

National scenic byway

Gold Belt Tour National Scenic and Historic Byway

Bicycle routes

American Discovery Trail
TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route
Western Express Bicycle Route

Major highways

U.S. Highway 50
State Highway 9
State Highway 67
State Highway 115
State Highway 120

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	1,064	—
1880	4,735	345.0%
1890	9,156	93.4%
1900	15,636	70.8%
1910	18,181	16.3%
1920	17,883	−1.6%
1930	18,896	5.7%
1940	19,742	4.5%
1950	18,366	−7.0%
1960	20,196	10.0%
1970	21,942	8.6%
1980	28,676	30.7%
1990	32,273	12.5%
2000	46,145	43.0%
2010	46,824	1.5%
2020	48,939	4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 46,145 people, 15,232 households, and 10,494 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 17,145 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.52% White, 5.34% Black or African American, 1.53% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 10.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,232 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 133.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 143.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,150, and the median income for a family was $42,303. Males had a median income of $30,428 versus $23,112 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,420. About 8.30% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.