Marriage-Divorce Rates
Date Posted: 04/09/2009
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Marriage is measured by counting the number of marriage licenses issued each year by the Larimer County Clerk & Recorder's office. Divorce is the number of dissolutions of marriage and legal separations granted by the District Court. Both rates are calculated using a population count of persons 18 years or older.
What this chart shows: Marriage and Divorce Rates (per 1,000 Adults) in Larimer County, 2000-2008
Data Sources:
- County Population Data - Colorado Division of Local Affairs*
- Eighth Judicial District Court Clerk
- Larimer County Clerk & Recorder
*The population count used to determine the rates for marriage are forecasts provided by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
What these data tell us:
From 2000 to 2008, there were more marriages than divorces in Larimer County. The marriage rate has been relatively steady, ranging from 10.6 to 12.2 per 1,000 adults in Larimer County. In 2001, marriages in Larimer County peaked at 2,403, a rate of 12.2 per 1,000 adults. During this same time period, the divorce rate fluctuated between a high of 7.6 per 1,000 adults in 2005 and a low of 5.9 per 1,000 adults in 2008 (1,370 divorces).Divorce has long been connected to bankruptcy, and bankruptcy to divorce. An article by staff of the Executive Office for United States Trustees states: "One theory was that divorces cause bankruptcy because the dissolution of the household produces financial distress. The second theory was that divorce and bankruptcy are both examples of breaking promises and that an increase in promise breaking 'across the board' has produced the increases in both divorces and bankruptcy filings." (Source: United States Department of Justice, Library of Bankruptcy Articles)
In 2005, both bankruptcy and divorce rates hit a six-year high in Larimer County. While the increase in bankruptcies in 2005 has been tied to filers' awareness that bankruptcy laws would become more restrictive in 2006, it is open to interpretation as to whether the increase in divorces during the same period is directly related to an anticipation of change in bankruptcy laws. Based on the theories referenced above however, a general correlation between bankruptcy and divorce rates appears to exist. See Bankruptcy & Foreclosure for more bankruptcy information. There were also changes in the Colorado Divorce laws in 2005 which hoped to reduce the negative impact of adversarial litigation. See Colorado Law of Civil Procedure 16.2 for more information.
What this chart shows: Marital Status of Population over Age 15, Larimer County (2007 American Community Survey)
Data Source: 2007 American Community Survey
What this chart shows: Marital Status by City/Town, Larimer County, 2000 Census
Data Source: 2000 United States Census
What these data tell us:
Over half of Larimer County residents (aged 18+) were married in 2000. Of the individual communities, Fort Collins had the highest percentage of single people, while Red Feather Lakes (see data table for smaller communities) had the highest percentage of married and widowed residents. Caution must be used when considering percentages for communities with small populations. For example, the total population of Timnath residents over age 17 was 150 in 2000; small changes in any marital status group would result in a large change in the percentage.Additional Information:
On Compass -
- Bankruptcy and Foreclosure
- Children in Families- Single and Two Parents
- Domestic Violence
- Household Types and Age of Residents
- Median Family Income
- Self-Sufficient Wages
Outside Compass -
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment -
- Frequently Asked Questions' about marriage and divorce
- Vital Statistics
- Colorado Revised Statutes (select Title 14 - Domestic Matters)
Standards or Targets: N/A
Data Tables:
Marriages and Divorces in Larimer County, 2000 - 2008
|
Marriages |
Divorces |
Adult Population (over 18) |
Marriage Rate per 1,000 Adults |
Divorce Rate per 1,000 Adults |
|
|
2000 |
2,276 |
1,415 |
193,090 |
11.79 |
7.33 |
|
2001 |
2,430 |
1,371 |
199,658 |
12.17 |
6.87 |
|
2002 |
2,411 |
1,490 |
204,412 |
11.79 |
7.29 |
|
2003 |
2,424 |
1,367 |
206,890 |
11.72 |
6.61 |
|
2004 |
2,432 |
1,289 |
211,400 |
11.50 |
6.10 |
|
2005 |
2,483 |
1,636 |
214,399 |
11.58 |
7.63 |
|
2006 |
2,516 |
1,400 |
219,367 |
11.47 |
6.38 |
|
2007 |
2,608 |
1,413 |
224,839 |
11.60 |
6.28 |
|
2008 |
2,451 |
1,370 |
230,312 |
10.64 |
5.95 |
Marital Status Percentage - American Community Survey 2007
|
Current Marital Status |
Adult (15+) Population |
Never Married |
Married |
Separated |
Widowed |
Divorced |
|
United States |
240,724,018 |
30.1% |
51.3% |
2.2% |
6.2% |
10.3% |
|
Colorado |
3,867,717 |
28.9% |
52.8% |
1.7% |
4.5% |
12.0% |
|
Larimer County |
237,103 |
32.8% |
50.4% |
0.7% |
4.9% |
11.1% |
Marital Status Numbers - Census 2000
|
Current Marital Status |
Adult (18+) Population |
Never Married |
Married |
Separated |
Widowed |
Divorced |
|
United States |
209,279,149 |
48,286,485 |
113,016,650 |
4,753,157 |
14,665,585 |
21,550,530 |
|
Colorado |
3,204,471 |
735,567 |
1,778,140 |
54,398 |
160,116 |
373,498 |
|
Larimer County |
192,078 |
51,014 |
107,834 |
1,971 |
8,455 |
19,349 |
|
Fort Collins |
93,194 |
35,202 |
42,510 |
889 |
3,757 |
8,620 |
|
Loveland |
37,060 |
5,884 |
23,866 |
428 |
2,359 |
4,162 |
|
Estes Park |
4,375 |
760 |
2,611 |
52 |
268 |
603 |
|
Berthoud |
3,455 |
581 |
2,311 |
41 |
164 |
349 |
|
Wellington |
1,827 |
332 |
1,131 |
20 |
69 |
245 |
|
Timnath |
150 |
14 |
100 |
2 |
8 |
26 |
|
Campion |
1,290 |
171 |
950 |
7 |
59 |
103 |
|
Red Feather Lakes |
413 |
38 |
291 |
0 |
44 |
31 |
See chart - Larimer County Communities