CHAPTER 2:
THE POPULATION OF COLORADO
AND SURROUNDING MARKET REGION
This chapter utilizes NSRE and 2000 US Census data to observe the demographic
characteristics of Colorado and adjacent Market Region residents. Region Census figures
include the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Table 2.1: Demographic characteristics of Colorado and the surrounding Market Region in 2000
Census (CO, KS, NE, WY, UT, NM)
CO
Census
Regional
%
Demographic
Stratum
Census %
Gender
Race/ethnicity
Age
Annual family
income
Education
Male
50.2
49.6
Female
49.8
50.4
White, Non-Hispanic
75.9
77.2
Black, Non-Hispanic
2.7
3.2
American Indian, Non-Hispanic
0.6
1.9
Asian or Pacific Islander, Non-Hispanic
0.9
2.1
Hispanic
20.0
15.5
16-24
16.0
17.9
25-34
20.2
18.9
35-44
22.1
18.1
45-54
18.1
18.3
55-64
9.6
12.4
65+
14.1
14.5
<$15,000
7.8
8.4
$15,000-$24,999
12.3
10.5
$25,000-$49,999
36.2
31.0
$50,000-$74,999
21.5
23.9
$75,000-$99,999
10.7
12.7
$100,000-$149,999
7.7
8.8
$150,000+
3.9
4.7
Less than high school
15.7
14.3
Demographic
Place of
Residence
CO
Census
%
24.3
Regional
Census %
26.6
Some college
28.7
31.7
College degree
21.1
18.1
Post-graduate degree
10.2
9.4
Non-metro resident
24.7
26.5
Metro area resident
75.3
73.5
Stratum
High school graduate
Table 2.1 identifies demographic characteristics of Colorado and surrounding market region
residents from 2000 Census data. The region, which consists of the states surrounding and
including Colorado, consists of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico.
According to Census data, residents from the region consist of a slightly higher percentage of
females, while the state of Colorado residents consists of a slightly higher percentage of males.
Regional resident demographics are 50.4% female to 49.6% male while Colorado residents are
49.8% female to 50.2% male.
In area racial and ethnic breakdown, Census data indicate just over 75% of Colorado
residents are White Non-Hispanic, while just over 77% of region residents are White. Hispanic
residents are the second largest group by racial/ethnic demographic and comprise 20% of state,
and just above 15% of the region’s population. Slightly less than 3% of Colorado residents are
Black Non-Hispanic, where slightly more than 3% of region residents are Black. Less than 1%
of Colorado residents and 2.1% of region residents are Asian or Pacific Islander. Just over 0.5%
of Colorado and 1.9% of region residents are American Indian.
When examining the age of Colorado and region residents, individuals age 16-24, 25-34, 3544, 45-54, 55-64 and 65+ are placed in separate groups. Census data identify 16% of Colorado
residents and 17.9% of region residents as 16-24. The second largest group in the state (20.2%)
and the largest group in the region (18.9%) consist of resident’s age 25-34 years. The largest
group of residents in the state consists of 35-44 year olds, at just over 22% and the third largest
group in the region at just over 18%. Approximately 18% of residents in both the state and
region are 45-64 years of age. Approximately 14% of state and 14.5% of region residents are at
least age 65. Individuals less than 16 years old are not identified in Census or NSRE data.
Annual family incomes are similar between Colorado and region residents, with less than a
5% difference in income between the two groups. Approximately 8% of residents report an
overall family income of less than $15,000 annually, while approximately 12% of the state and
10.5% of the region report an overall income of $15,000-$24,999. Just over 36% of Colorado
and 31% of region residents, the largest percentage of income earners, report making $25,000 $49,999 annually. Close to 22% of state and 24% of region residents specify an annual family
income of $50,000-$74,999, making this the second largest group of income earners. Just below
11% of state and just below 13% of region residents report an income between $75,000-$99,999.
Approximately 8% of state residents and 9% of region residents indicate an income of $100,000$149,999 a year.
According to Census data on educational backgrounds, 15.7% of state and 14.3% of region
residents have less than a high school education. Just above 24% of state and just below 27% of
region residents recorded high school graduation as their highest academic achievement.
Approximately 21% of state and 18% of region resident have a college degree. Just above 10%
of state and 9% of region residents have earned a post-graduate degree.
Considering place of residence, approximately 25% of Colorado residents are non-metro
residents, while 75% are metro area residents. This trend is similar in the region with 26.5% of
region residents in non-metro areas, and 73.5% in metro areas.
Table 2.2: Demographics of Colorado residents in the NSRE sample and 2000 Census
CO
CO
Census
NSRE
%
%
Demographic
Stratum
Gender
Male
50.2
50.3
Race/ethnicity
Age
Annual family
income
Education
Female
49.8
49.7
White, Non-Hispanic
75.9
75.7
Black, Non-Hispanic
2.7
3.7
American Indian, Non-Hispanic
0.6
0.7
Asian or Pacific Islander, Non-Hispanic
0.9
2.6
Hispanic
20.0
17.3
16-24
16.0
16.4
25-34
20.2
20.1
35-44
22.1
19.6
45-54
18.1
18.8
55-64
9.6
12.3
65+
14.1
12.9
<$15,000
7.8
6.9
$15,000-$24,999
12.3
8.6
$25,000-$49,999
36.2
27.8
$50,000-$74,999
21.5
24.0
$75,000-$99,999
10.7
14.6
$100,000-$149,999
7.7
11.5
$150,000+
3.9
6.6
Less than high school
15.7
13.1
High school graduate
24.3
23.2
Demographic
Place of
Residence
CO
Census
%
28.7
CO
NSRE
%
31.0
College degree
21.1
21.6
Post-graduate degree
10.2
11.1
Non-metro resident
24.7
14.0
Metro area resident
75.3
86.0
Stratum
Some college
Table 2.2 compares 2000 Census and NSRE demographic data for residents of the state of
Colorado. Overall percentages between the two surveys are strikingly similar, with the widest
gap (family income $25,000-$49,999) at less than 9%.
Census and NSRE results both recognize a slightly higher percentage of male Colorado
residents to female. Census data suggests 0.4% more men in the state, while the NSRE suggests
0.6% higher. Both surveys agree the largest racial/ethnic group consists of White residents,
making up about 75% (75.9% Census, 75.7% NSRE) of the state population. Hispanic residents
consist of the second largest population group, at 20.0% according to the Census and 17.3% from
the NSRE. Black residents make up about 3.2% of the state population. Asian/Pacific Islanders
make up about 1.7% (0.9% Census, 2.6% NSRE) of the population, while American Indians
consist of only 0.7% of Colorado residents.
Both surveys recognize that residents age 16-24 make up just over 16% of Colorado
residents. Slightly more than 20% of residents are 25-34, while residents age 35-44 make up
approximately 21% of state residents. This data suggests that over 40% of Colorado’s
population is age 25-44. Between 18% (Census) and 19% (NSRE) of residents are 45-54, while
almost 11% are 55-64. Residents over the age of 65 make up between 12.9% (NSRE) and 14.1%
(Census) of Colorado residents.
Variation is recognized between some NSRE and Census family income data. Both surveys
recognize roughly 7% of state residents report an income of less than $15,000. Census results
indicate 12.3% of Colorado’s annual family income is $15,000-$24,999 annually where NSRE
data suggests closer to 8.6%. Residents with an income of $25,000-$49,000 make up between
27.8% (NSRE) and 36.2% (Census) of Colorado residents. Both surveys agree families in this
income range consist of the largest percentage of Colorado residents. Residents with an income
of $50,000-$74,999 make up between 21.5% (Census) and 24.0% (NSRE) of Colorado residents.
Approximately 12% of Colorado resident report an income of $75,000-$99,999. With minor
variation, Census (7.7%) and NSRE (11.5%) results agree families making $100,000-$149,000
annually make up around 10% of the population. Between 3.9% (Census) and 6.6% (NSRE) of
families report an income over $150,000 annually.
Between 13.1% (NSRE) and 15.7% (Census) of Colorado residents indicate having less than
a high school education. Just below a quarter of residents (24%) put high school as the highest
level achieved, while a fifth of state residents achieved a college degree. About 10% of residents
have a post-graduate degree.
Again there some degree of variation between sample results when observing residency data.
Census data suggest 75% of Colorado residents live in a metro area, while 25% are non-metro
residents. NSRE data suggest 86% are metro residents while 14% are non-metro residents.
Summary
Demographic characteristics for Colorado state and regional residents are examined and
compared in Chapter 2. The market region, referred to as the region, is composed of the states
surrounding Colorado (KS, NE, WY, UT, NM and CO). Regional information can help support
state level decisions.
The first table uses census data to examine region and state population characteristics, while
the second table compares region census to state NSRE data; however, NSRE data is not used in
this report for regional population estimates.
According to census information, Colorado and the surrounding region are almost evenly
divided among male and female residents, though Colorado contains a slightly larger percentage
of males while the region contains a slightly larger percentage of females. Region and state data
suggest White residents are the largest group, followed by Hispanic, Black, Asian and Indian
residents. The largest group by age in the region is 25-34 while in the state it is ages 35 - 44; the
smallest group is the ages 55-64. Annual family incomes increase to $49,999 before beginning
to decrease. A sixth of residents have less than a high school diploma, while almost a third have
a college or post-graduate degree. Although there is some variation between region and state
residency, almost one-fourth of residents do not live in metro areas.
State census and state NSRE comparisons are very similar, with the largest difference (5.2%)
identifying incomes between $25,000 and $49,999 annually (table 2). Most comparisons among
the surveys involve less than 2% variation.
Implications
•
Even though the data does not identify long term demographic trends, an increase in
racial diversity in the population has occurred, and the trend is expected to continue. Of
late, the Hispanic population became the largest minority in the United States. Land
managers should consider updating their mission statement to address the ever changing
population.
•
Three-fourths of Colorado residents are White. Managers should attempt to provide
resources for the other 25% of the population to ensure a non-biased facility.
Opportunities should be created for all segments of the population to ensure that educated
decisions can be made during the voting process. Therefore, it is especially important to
address segments of the population that do not fully understand the value and importance
of natural and historic areas. Since the Hispanic population makes up a fifth of state
residents, management plans could focus on bi-lingual signage and interpretation.
•
Without some investment, future citizens and elected officials may not recognize the
importance of maintaining and supporting unfamiliar or unvisited public sites and areas.
•
Just over 23% of Colorado residents are over the age of 55, and 41% of residents are over
the age of 45. The older population is remaining active for longer periods, and therefore,
still contributes to the use of natural areas. Additional opportunities could be
implemented with a focus on this age group. Facilities should accommodate and appeal
to all anticipated user groups.