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Mesa County, Colorado

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Mesa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 155,703.[2] The county seat and most populous municipality is Grand Junction.[3] The county was named for the many large mesas in the area, including the Grand Mesa, which is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world.

Mesa County
County
Old Mesa County Courthouse in Grand Junction
Old Mesa County Courthouse in Grand Junction
Map of Colorado highlighting Mesa County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°01′N 108°28′W / 39.02°N 108.47°W / 39.02; -108.47
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 14, 1883
Named forMesas in the area
SeatGrand Junction
Largest cityGrand Junction
Area
 • Total3,341 sq mi (8,650 km2)
 • Land3,329 sq mi (8,620 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total155,703
 • Estimate 
(2023)[1]
159,681
 • Density47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.mesacounty.us
Highline Lake State Park

Mesa County comprises the Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4][5] In 2020 it ranked as the 271st most populous metropolitan area in the United States.[2] It is the only metropolitan area in Colorado not located on the Front Range.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,341 square miles (8,650 km2), of which 3,329 square miles (8,620 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6] It is the fourth-largest county by area in Colorado.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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State protected areas

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Trails and byways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18904,260—
19009,267117.5%
191022,197139.5%
192022,2810.4%
193025,90816.3%
194033,79130.4%
195038,79414.8%
196050,71530.7%
197054,7347.9%
198081,53049.0%
199093,14514.2%
2000116,25524.8%
2010146,72326.2%
2020155,7036.1%
2023 (est.)159,681[7]2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 146,723 people, 58,095 households, and 38,593 families living in the county. The population density was 44.1 people per square mile (17.0 people/km2). There were 62,644 housing units. According to the 2000 American Factfinder data, the racial makeup of the county was 92.34% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.67% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 10.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 45,823 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, 25.00% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.40% was from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,864, and the median income for a family was $43,009. Males had a median income of $32,316 versus $22,374 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,715. About 7.00% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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Much of Mesa County, namely the communities of Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, and De Beque, is served by Mesa County Valley School District 51. This district serves nearly 21,000 students across 47 schools, making it by far the largest school district in western Colorado. The Plateau Valley School District serves the more remote eastern portion of the county, serving students in the communities of Collbran, Mesa, and Molina.[13]

Colorado Mesa University, a public liberal arts university serving roughly 9,000 students annually, is located in Grand Junction. CMU is western Colorado's largest university, making Mesa County an epicenter of the region's higher education. Grand Junction is also home to IntelliTec College, which offers professional certificates.

Politics

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Unlike most urban counties, Mesa County is strongly Republican. It has voted Democratic only once since 1952, during Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide, and Hubert Humphrey in the following 1968 election is the last Democrat to tally forty percent of the county's vote.

2020-2021 county clerk election tampering

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It was reported in August 2021 that the Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters in May 2021 allowed an unauthorized person into a secure facility during an annual upgrade to the county's election equipment software, compromising the equipment. The security breach meant Mesa County would not be able to use the equipment for its fall 2021 election.[14]

This was not the first time Peters had been a source of election controversy. In February 2020, it was discovered that Peters' office neglected to count 574 ballots cast in a dropbox outside her office. These uncounted ballots were cast in the November 2019 election and remained uncounted in the dropbox for 3 months. They were found only because Peters' office checked the dropbox for ballots cast in the next election - the 2020 presidential primary. This prompted an attempt to recall Peters as county clerk. The effort was unsuccessful.[15]

In March 2022, Peters was indicted by a Mesa County grand jury on seven felony and three misdemeanor counts of election tampering and misconduct related to the alleged May 2021 security breach. Her deputy, Belinda Knisley, was charged on six counts. At the time of indictment, Peters was a candidate for Colorado Secretary of State, a position that would involve supervising the state's elections.[16] In May 2022, a Colorado district judge prohibited Peters and Knisley from overseeing November 2022 Mesa County elections, the second year of such a prohibition.[17]

On August 12, 2024, Peters was convicted on seven of the ten charges against her, including four felonies. A Mesa County jury found Peters guilty on three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, and one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, violation of duty, and failure to comply with the Secretary of State. She was acquitted on the remaining three charges against her, which included identity theft and criminal impersonation.[18]

On October 3, 2024, Peters was sentenced to a total of 9 years in prison, with the first 6 months of her sentence to be served in the Mesa County Detention Facility, and the remaining 8.5 years to be served in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Peters was also fined a total of $3,000.[19]

United States presidential election results for Mesa County, Colorado[20][21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 56,894 62.78% 31,536 34.80% 2,193 2.42%
2016 49,779 64.10% 21,729 27.98% 6,146 7.91%
2012 47,472 65.08% 23,846 32.69% 1,629 2.23%
2008 44,578 64.02% 24,008 34.48% 1,045 1.50%
2004 41,539 67.12% 19,564 31.61% 782 1.26%
2000 32,396 63.45% 15,465 30.29% 3,193 6.25%
1996 24,761 53.12% 17,114 36.72% 4,737 10.16%
1992 18,169 41.23% 15,162 34.41% 10,736 24.36%
1988 22,150 59.62% 14,372 38.68% 633 1.70%
1984 23,736 69.66% 9,938 29.17% 400 1.17%
1980 22,686 68.92% 7,549 22.93% 2,681 8.14%
1976 17,924 65.44% 8,807 32.15% 659 2.41%
1972 15,527 68.66% 6,358 28.12% 728 3.22%
1968 10,745 49.58% 8,775 40.49% 2,151 9.93%
1964 8,317 39.45% 12,716 60.32% 49 0.23%
1960 13,015 58.81% 9,072 40.99% 45 0.20%
1956 12,869 62.79% 7,567 36.92% 60 0.29%
1952 11,883 63.06% 6,883 36.52% 79 0.42%
1948 6,586 43.37% 8,401 55.32% 198 1.30%
1944 6,653 48.93% 6,870 50.52% 75 0.55%
1940 7,049 47.27% 7,694 51.60% 169 1.13%
1936 3,654 29.47% 7,824 63.10% 921 7.43%
1932 4,388 37.16% 6,682 56.59% 737 6.24%
1928 6,446 65.76% 3,223 32.88% 133 1.36%
1924 4,053 45.53% 2,388 26.83% 2,461 27.65%
1920 3,621 49.80% 3,138 43.16% 512 7.04%
1916 2,223 30.06% 4,394 59.42% 778 10.52%
1912 976 12.47% 2,733 34.93% 4,115 52.59%
1908 3,049 44.87% 2,824 41.56% 922 13.57%
1904 2,783 58.45% 1,555 32.66% 423 8.88%
1900 1,317 37.27% 1,968 55.69% 249 7.05%
1896 469 15.81% 2,374 80.04% 123 4.15%
1892 529 42.76% 0 0.00% 708 57.24%
1888 440 49.49% 388 43.64% 61 6.86%
1884 353 51.38% 329 47.89% 5 0.73%

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated places

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Transportation

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Road

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Air

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Downtown Grand Junction is 4.8 miles from Grand Junction Regional Airport, 25 miles from Mack Mesa Airport, and 12.6 miles from Pinyon Airport.

Train

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An Amtrak station is in downtown Grand Junction. The California Zephyr makes daily stops on its way between San Francisco and Chicago.

Bus

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A regional Bustang bus stop is in Grand Junction. Grand Valley Transit serves the area's eleven fixed routes.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. December 1, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2012 – via National Archives.
  5. ^ See the Colorado census statistical areas.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  13. ^ "2024 Best School Districts in Mesa County".
  14. ^ Birkeland, Bente After Data Is Posted On Conspiracy Website, Colo. County's Voting Machines Are Banned National Public Radio, August 12, 2021.
  15. ^ Verlee, Megan 'We Got Lucky' That Missing Mesa Ballot Situation Wasn't Worse, Elections Chief Says Colorado Public Radio, February 27, 2020.
  16. ^ Birkeland, Bente (March 8, 2022). "Colorado clerk indicted on 13 counts of election tampering and misconduct". National Public Radio.
  17. ^ Hindi, Saja (May 10, 2022). "Election-denying clerk Tina Peters, deputy Belinda Knisley barred from overseeing 2022 elections in Mesa County". The Denver Post.
  18. ^ Slevin, Colleen (August 12, 2024). "Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, one-time hero to election deniers, convicted in computer breach". Associated Press.
  19. ^ McRae, Jennifer (October 3, 2024). "Tina Peters, former Colorado clerk, sentenced to 9 years behind bars in election interference case". CBS Colorado.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  21. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20051118120032/http://geoelections.free.fr/. Archived from the original on November 18, 2005. Retrieved January 13, 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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39°01′N 108°28′W / 39.02°N 108.47°W / 39.02; -108.47

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