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Index: Demographics / Subcategory: Demographics

Population Size & Growth

Date posted: 07/11/2010

The population data are based on United States Census (American Factfinder) information from 1990 and 2000, and on estimates from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), and the Larimer County Planning Department.

What this chart shows: Total Population of Larimer County, Census 2000 - 2009

Total Population of Larimer County, Census 2000 - 2009

Data Source:

See data table

What this chart shows: Estimated Population Growth in Larimer County, 2010 - 2019

Estimated Population Growth in Larimer County, 2010 - 2019

Data Source: Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)

See data table

What these data tell us:

Larimer County's population grew by approximately 17% between 2000 and 2009. This increase can be attributed to domestic migration (25,624 more residents having arrived than left between 2000 and 2009), natural change (17,456 more births than deaths between 2000 and 2009) and international migration (5,008 more residents having arrived than left between 2000 and 2009) [U.S. Census Bureau*]. Colorado's Department of Local Affairs Demography Office estimates that the annual population will increase each year by approximately 2% through 2019.

*U.S. Census Bureau population estimates are different from DOLA population estimates due to different estimates methodologies. U.S. Census Bureau's 2009 population estimate for Larimer County was 298,382 compared to a DOLA population estimate of 294,970.

What this chart shows: Percentage Change in Population for Colorado, Larimer County & Communities - 1990 to 2000

Percentage Change in Population for Colorado, Larimer County & Communities - 1990 to 2000

Data Source: United States Census - American Factfinder

See data table

What this chart shows: Population in Larimer County's Largest Cities & Unincorporated Area - 1990, 2000-2009

Population in Larimer County's Largest Cities & Unincorporated Area - 1990, 2000-2009

Data Source:

See data table

What this chart shows: Population in Larimer County's Smaller Cities & Towns - 1990, 2000-2009

Population in Larimer County's Smaller Cities & Towns - 1990, 2000-2009

*Larimer County portion only. Windsor did not include land in Larimer County until the mid 1990s.

Data Source:

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 1990 to 2000, Larimer County's population grew at a faster rate (35.1%) than that of Colorado (30.6%). Relative to the other nine most populated Colorado counties, the increase was most similar to Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, El Paso and Weld counties. Denver, Jefferson, and Pueblo counties had much smaller increases than Larimer County (15% to 20%). Larimer County continued to rank as the seventh most populous county in Colorado, according to the 2000 Census. See the data table for more information on population growth in Colorado's largest counties.

From 1990 to 2000, both Fort Collins and Loveland experienced an approximate 35% increase in population. The two other largest Colorado cities with a similar increase were Westminster and Longmont. See the data table for more information on population increases in Colorado's largest cities.

Following the 2000 Census, population growth in Fort Collins (15.9%) and Larimer County (17.3%) was slightly lower than Colorado's 18.2% increase between 2000 and 2009. The largest population increases for the same period occurred in Loveland (29.3%), Timnath (173.1%), Wellington (113.4%), and the Larimer County part of Windsor (846.5%).

Note: Percentage increases can be misleading when applied to smaller populations. In looking at Larimer County's smaller cities and towns, small increases in numbers of residents may translate into large gains in percentage of population increases.

Additional Information:

On Compass -

Outside Compass -

Standards or Targets: N/A

Data Tables:

Population of Larimer County, 1990-2009

1990 Census

186,136

1991

193,542

1992

199,666

1993

206,844

1994

214,936

1995

221,622

1996

227,248

1997

232,796

1998

239,080

1999

246,156

2000 Census

251,494

2001

261,208

2002

266,789

2003

269,061

2004

273,883

2005

276,755

2006

282,052

2007

288,244

2008

291,906

2009

294,970

See chart

Estimated Population of Larimer County, 2010- 2019

2010

300,804

2011

304,799

2012

309,520

2013

314,936

2014

320,832

2015

327,242

2016

334,150

2017

341,064

2018

348,001

2019

354,927

See chart

Population Counts & Percentage Change in Colorado, Larimer County - 1990, 2000-2009

1990 Census

2000 Census

% Change 1990 - 2000

2009

% Change 2000 - 2009

COLORADO

3,294,394

4,301,261

30.6%

5,083,249

18.2%

Larimer County

186,136

251,494

35.1%

294,970

17.3%

Berthoud

2,990

4,839

61.8%

5,281

9.1%

Estes Park

3,184

5,413

70.0%

6,404

18.3%

Fort Collins

87,758

118,652

35.2%

137,503

15.9%

Loveland

37,352

50,608

35.5%

65,442

29.3%

Timnath

190

223

17.4%

609

173.1%

Wellington

1,340

2,672

99.4%

5,703

113.4%

Windsor (Larimer)

N/A

284

N/A

2,688

846.5%

Unincorporated Larimer County

53,322 68,819 29.1% 70,939 3.1%

See chart - Percentage Change

See chart - Largest Cities & Unincorporated

See chart - Smaller Cities & Towns

Population Increase in Larimer County & Ten Largest Other Colorado Counties

Population Rank

Geographic Area

Population

Population Increase
1990 to 2000

1990

2000

1990

2000

Number Increase

Percent Increase

Colorado

3,294,394

4,301,261

1,006,867

31%

1

1

Denver County

467,610 554,636 87,026

19%

2

2

Jefferson County

438,430 527,056 88,626

20%

3

3

El Paso County

397,014 516,929 119,915

30%

4

4

Arapahoe County

391,511 487,967 96,456

25%

5

5

Adams County

265,038 363,857 98,819

37%

6

6

Boulder County

225,339 291,288 65,949

29%

7

7

Larimer County

186,136 251,494 65,358

35%

8

8

Weld County

131,821 180,936 49,115

37%

11

9

Douglas County

60,391 175,766 115,375

191%

9

10

Pueblo County

123,051 141,472 18,421

15%

10

11

Mesa County

93,145 116,255 23,110

25%

Back to 'What these data tell us'

Population Increase in Colorado's Largest Cities

Population Rank

City

Population

Population Increase, 1990 to 2000

1990

2000

1990

2000

Number Increase

Percent Increase

1 1

Denver

467,610 554,636 87,026 19%
2 2

Colorado Springs

281,140 360,890 79,750 28%
3 3

Aurora

222,103 276,393 54,290 24%
4 4

Lakewood

126,481 144,126 17,645 14%
7 5

Fort Collins

87,758 118,652 30,894 35%
6 6

Arvada

89,235 102,153 12,918 15%
5 7

Pueblo

98,640 102,121 3,481 4%
9 8

Westminster

74,625 100,940 26,315 35%
8 9

Boulder

83,312 94,673 11,361 14%
11 10

Thornton

55,031 82,384 27,353 50%
10 11

Greeley

60,536 76,930 16,394 27%
12 12

Longmont

51,555 71,093 19,538 38%
13 13

Loveland

37,352 50,608 13,256 35%
17 14

Grand Junction

29,034 41,986 12,952 45%
14 15

Littleton

33,685 40,340 6,655 20%

Back to 'What these data tell us'