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Mesa County, Colorado

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Founded
  
February 14, 1883

Largest city
  
Grand Junction

Time zone
  
Mountain: UTC-7/-6

Area
  
8,653 km²

Unemployment rate
  
6.0% (Apr 2015)

Named for
  
mesas in the area

Congressional district
  
3rd

Website
  
www.mesacounty.us

Population
  
147,554 (2013)

County seat
  
Grand Junction

Mesa County, Colorado wwwmesacountyusuploadedImagesMesacountySolid

Destinations
  
Grand Junction, Colorado National Monument

Colleges and Universities
  
Colorado Mesa University, Western Colorado Communi, Intellitec College‑Grand Junction, The Salon Professional Academy

Points of interest
  
Colorado National Monument, Cross Orchards Historic S, James M Robb – Colorado, Kokopelli Trail, Powderhorn Resort

Mesa County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 146,723. The county seat is Grand Junction. The county was named for the many large mesas in the area, including Grand Mesa.

Contents

Map of Mesa County, CO, USA

Mesa County comprises the Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

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. It is the fourth-largest county by area in Colorado.

Adjacent counties

  • Garfield County - north
  • Pitkin County - east
  • Gunnison County - east
  • Delta County - southeast
  • Montrose County - south
  • Grand County, Utah - west
  • State protected areas

  • Highline Lake State Park
  • James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park
  • Vega State Park
  • Trails and byways

  • American Discovery Trail
  • Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway
  • Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway
  • Kokopelli Trail
  • Old Spanish National Historic Trail
  • Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway
  • Colorado Riverfront Trail
  • Demographics

    As of the census of 2010, there were 146,723 people, 58,095 households, and 38,593 families residing in the county. The population density was 44.1 people per square mile (17.23.1/km²). There were 62,644 housing units. Information that follows comes from 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, the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 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.

    Cities

  • Fruita
  • Grand Junction
  • Towns

  • Collbran
  • De Beque
  • Palisade
  • Census-designated places

  • Clifton
  • Fruitvale
  • Loma
  • Orchard Mesa
  • Redlands
  • Other unincorporated places

  • Carpenter
  • Gateway
  • Mack
  • Mesa
  • Molina
  • Plateau City
  • Whitewater
  • Major Highways

  • Interstate 70 runs from Interstate 15 in Cove Fort, Utah to Baltimore, Maryland, connecting Grand Junction to Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Dayton. Via Interstate 15, it connects Grand Junction with Las Vegas, Nevada, and southern California.
  • U.S. Highway 6 serves 14 states, running east-west from Provincetown, Massachusetts, to Bishop, California. In Colorado, it generally runs parallel to Interstate 76 and Interstate 70.
  • U.S. Highway 50 crosses 12 states, linking Ocean City, Maryland, with Sacramento, California. In Colorado, U.S. 50 connects Grand Junction with Montrose, Gunnison, and Pueblo, and to the west, it travels into the state of Utah.
  • SH 340 runs east-west, starting at First Street in downtown Grand Junction, traversing the Redlands and ending at U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 50 in Fruita.
  • Air

  • Grand Junction Regional Airport is located 4.6 miles from downtown Grand Junction.
  • Mack Mesa Airport is located 25 miles from downtown Grand Junction.
  • Pinyon Airport is located 12.6 miles from downtown Grand Junction.
  • Train

  • There is a Amtrak Station located in downtown Grand Junction.
  • Bus

  • There is a Greyhound Bus Station located in Grand Junction.
  • Grand Valley Transit is the public transportation agency that serves the Grand Junction area and currently has 11 fixed routes.
  • References

    Mesa County, Colorado Wikipedia