Population Size & Growth

Date Updated: 08/16/2011

The population data are based on United States Census information from 1990, 2000 and 2010, and on estimates from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), and the Larimer County Planning Department.

Population estimates for Larimer County are available from the United States Census Bureau and the Colorado State Demography Office. The estimates vary, with the state's estimates being slightly higher than the Census Bureau's estimates. Information on methodologies is available from the United States Census Bureau [pdf] and the Colorado State Demography Office [pdf].

What this chart shows: Population of Larimer County, 2000 - 2010

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

See data table

What this chart shows: Estimated Population Growth in Larimer County, 2011 - 2020

Data Source: Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Larimer County's population grew approximately 19% between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census.

Colorado's State Demography Office estimates the annual population will increase each year by 1.5% to 2.0% through 2020.

What this table shows: Total Estimated Population in Larimer County Communities, 2001-2010

Total Estimated Population in Larimer County Communities
	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Berthoud*	5,100	5,076	4,999	4,999	4,988	5,085	5,186	5,249	5,281	5,320
Estes Park	5,599	5,632	5,651	5,808	5,821	6,021	6,165	6,282	6,404	6,458
Fort Collins	122,986	125,793	127,155	129,151	129,951	131,711	134,169	135,843	137,503	139,587
Johnstown*	64	64	65	65	65	81	89	292	401	523
Loveland	54,242	56,159	57,355	59,198	60,407	52,114	64,166	64,858	65,442	65,614
Timnath	231	232	229	229	227	228	231	451	609	718
Wellington	2,906	3,243	3,365	3,784	4,478	5,126	5,445	5,617	5,703	5,737
Windsor*	665	1,056	1,183	1,446	1,968	2,360	2,373	2,593	2,688	2,741

*Larimer County portion only

Data Source: Larimer County Planning Department (data not available online)

What the above data tell us:

The smaller communities of Johnston, Timnath, Wellington and Windsor saw the largest percentage increases in population between 2001 and 2010. In comparison, growth in Berthoud, Estes Park, and Fort Collins was smaller than for Larimer County as a whole.

In 2010, Larimer County became the sixth most populous county in the state. See the data table for more information on population growth in Colorado's largest counties since 1990.

According to the 2010 Census, Fort Collins is now the fourth largest city in Colorado. See the data table for more information on population increases in Colorado's largest cities since 1990.

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.

What this chart shows: Components of Population Change in Larimer County, 1970 - 2034

Data Source: Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Net migration (difference between residents moving into and out of the county) has accounted for at least 50% of the population increase in Larimer County since 1970.

The Colorado State Demography Office estimates that beginning in 2015, nearly three-quarters of the county's population will be the result of net migration and not due to births.

Additional Information:

Related Information on COMPASS -

• Crime & Safety
• Demographics
• Economy - Business
• Enrollment by Ethnicity - Public Schools
• Enrollment - Preschool
• Enrollment by School District
• Growth
• Housing
• Transportation

Other Resources -

• Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) - the population section contains population estimates, forecasts through 2035 at the county level, and forecasts and estimates by age groupings, among other data sets.
• Larimer County Planning Department
• United States Census - in addition to numerous Census data sets, population estimates through the local level can be found here.

Standards or Targets: N/A

Data Tables:

Estimated Population of Larimer County

2001	260,541
2002	265,372
2003	268,448
2004	271,510
2005	275,116
2006	280,713
2007	286,112
2008	291,650
2009	296,696
2010	299,630

See chart

Estimated Population of Larimer County

2011	306,614
2012	311,339
2013	316,771
2014	322,685
2015	329,105
2016	336,025
2017	342,951
2018	349,887
2019	356,827
2020	364,028

See chart

Population Increase in Colorado's Largest Counties

Population Rank			County	Population			Population Increase
1990	2000	2010		1990 Census	2000 Census	2010 Census	Increase 1990 to 2000	Increase 2000 to 2010
3	3	1	El Paso	397,014	516,929	622,263	30%	20%
1	1	2	Denver	467,610	554,636	600,158	19%	8%
4	4	3	Arapahoe	391,511	487,967	572,003	25%	17%
2	2	4	Jefferson	438,430	527,056	534,543	20%	1%
5	5	5	Adams	265,038	363,857	441,603	37%	21%
7	7	6	Larimer	186,136	251,494	299,630	35%	19%
6	6	7	Boulder	225,339	291,288	294,567	29%	1%
11	9	8	Douglas	60,391	175,766	285,465	191%	62%
8	8	9	Weld	131,821	180,936	252,825	37%	40%
9	10	10	Pueblo	123,051	141,472	159,063	15%	12%

Back to 'What the above data tell us'

Population Increase in Colorado's Largest Cities

Population Rank			City	Population			Population Increase
1990	2000	2010		1990 Census	2000 Census	2010 Census	Increase 1990 to 2000	Increase 2000 to 2010
1	1	1	Denver	467,610	554,636	600,158	19%	8%
2	2	2	Colorado Springs	281,140	360,890	416,427	28%	15%
3	3	3	Aurora	222,103	276,393	325,078	24%	18%
7	5	4	Fort Collins	87,758	118,652	143,986	35%	21%
4	4	5	Lakewood	126,481	144,126	142,980	14%	-1%
11	10	6	Thornton	55,031	82,384	118,772	50%	44%
5	7	7	Pueblo	98,640	102,121	106,595	4%	4%
6	6	8	Arvada	89,235	102,153	106,433	15%	4%
9	8	9	Westminster	74,625	100,940	106,114	35%	5%
---	---	10	Centennial	---	---	100,377	---	---
8	9	11	Boulder	83,312	94,673	97,385	14%	3%
---	13	12	Highlands Ranch	10,181	70,931	96,713	597%	36%
10	11	13	Greeley	60,536	76,930	92,889	27%	21%
12	12	14	Longmont	51,555	71,093	86,270	38%	21%
13	14	15	Loveland	37,352	50,608	66,859	35%	32%

Back to 'What the above data tell us'

Components of Population Change in Larimer County

	Natural Increase		Net Migration
	#	%	#	%
1970-74	4,386	12.8%	29,817	87.2%
1975-79	5,385	21.0%	20,243	79.0%
1980-84	8,344	39.8%	12,625	60.2%
1985-89	8,635	50.5%	8,463	49.5%
1990-94	8,069	26.9%	21,932	73.1%
1995-99	7,646	24.5%	23,582	75.5%
2000-04	9,134	32.8%	18,728	67.2%
2005-09	9,384	37.1%	15,880	62.9%
2010-14	10,362	44.3%	13,039	55.7%
2015-19	10,464	30.6%	23,678	69.4%
2020-24	10,366	28.1%	26,580	71.9%
2025-29	9,903	27.9%	25,621	72.1%
2030-34	9,052	27.2%	24,244	72.8%
2035-39	7,798	24.4%	24,151	75.6%

See chart

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