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Arapahoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of 2000, the population was 487,967. The county seat is Littleton; the largest city is Aurora.
History
Arapahoe County was one of the original 17 counties designated on November 1, 1861, shortly after the creation of the Colorado Territory. It extended further west and north than its present boundaries, including land that now forms Adams County and southern Washington and Yuma counties. Adams was created out of Arapahoe County's northern portions in 1901 and its eastern portions were transferred to Washington and Yuma counties in 1903.
Although Denver was Arapahoe County's original county seat, when the City and County of Denver were created in 1902, Arapahoe County's capital moved to its present location in Littleton. Two exclaves of Arapahoe County remain entirely surrounded by Denver; one of them constitutes the City of Glendale.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,086 km² (805 mi²). 2,080 km² (803 mi²) of it is land and 6 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.28%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 487,967 people, 190,909 households, and 125,809 families residing in the county. The population density was 235/km² (608/mi²). There were 196,835 housing units at an average density of 95/km² (245/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.93% White, 7.67% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 3.95% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.51% from other races, and 3.16% from two or more races. 11.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 190,909 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.20% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 33.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $53,570, and the median income for a family was $63,875. Males had a median income of $41,601 versus $31,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,147. About 4.20% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.00% of those under age 18 and 5.10% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Aurora
- Bennett
- Bow Mar
- Centennial (created mostly from Southglenn and Castlewood CDPs)
- Cherry Hills Village
- Columbine Valley
- Deer Trail
- Englewood
- Foxfield
- Glendale
- Greenwood Village
- Littleton
- Sheridan
- Watkins
Dissolved Unincorporated Census Designated Places
- Castlewood (now part of Centennial)
- Southglenn (now part of Centennial)
"Arapahoe County, Colorado"