# Delta, Colorado

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Not to be confused with [Delta County, Colorado](/source/Delta_County,_Colorado).

**Delta** is a [home rule city](/source/List_of_municipalities_in_Colorado#Home_rule_municipality) that is the [county seat](/source/County_seat) of and the [most populous municipality](/source/List_of_municipalities_in_Colorado) in [Delta County, Colorado](/source/Delta_County,_Colorado), United States.[4][5] The city population was 9,035 at the [2020 United States census](/source/2020_United_States_census).[6] The [United States Forest Service](/source/United_States_Forest_Service) headquarters of the [Grand Mesa](/source/Grand_Mesa_National_Forest), [Gunnison](/source/Gunnison_National_Forest), and [Uncompahgre](/source/Uncompahgre_National_Forest) [National Forests](/source/United_States_National_Forest) are located in Delta.

## History

Delta was built as a trading post for the [Ute people](/source/Ute_people) and early settlers. [Fort Uncompahgre](/source/Fort_Uncompahgre) was built in 1828.[7]

The Delta, Colorado, post office opened on January 5, 1882,[8] and the Town of Delta was incorporated on October 24, 1882.[4] The town was named because of its location on the [delta](/source/River_delta) where the [Uncompahgre River](/source/Uncompahgre_River) flows into the [Gunnison River](/source/Gunnison_River).[9]

## Geography

Delta is located in southwestern Delta County at coordinates [38.7422°N 108.069°W](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=38.7422_-108.0690&title=Delta%2C%20Colorado) and elevation 4,961 feet (1,512 m).[10] The downtown area is situated south of the Gunnison River and east of the Uncompahgre River. The city limits extend north across the Gunnison into the area now known as "North Delta", then west 6 miles (10 km) along [U.S. Route 50](/source/U.S._Route_50) as far as Westwinds Airport.

At the [2020 United States census](/source/2020_United_States_census), the town had a total area of 8,659 acres (35.043 square kilometres) including 164 acres (0.665 square kilometres) of water.[6]

Delta is part of the [Colorado Western Slope](/source/Colorado_Western_Slope) region.

## Demographics

### 2020 census

As of the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census), Delta had a population of 9,035.[11] The median age was 40.6 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.[12]

89.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 10.9% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 3,670 households in Delta, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.3% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 3,931 housing units, of which 6.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.[12]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[11] Race Number Percent White 6,776 75.0% Black or African American 39 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 116 1.3% Asian 155 1.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.0% Some other race 836 9.3% Two or more races 1,111 12.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,182 24.2%

### 2010 census

As of the [2010 census](/source/2010_United_States_census)[14], there were 8,915 people, 3,530 households, and 2,337 families living in the city. The population density was 1,682.1 inhabitants per square mile (649.5 /km2). There were 3,825 housing units at an average density of 721.7 inhabitants per square mile (278.6 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.2% [White](/source/White_(U.S._Census)), 0.2% [African American](/source/African_American_(U.S._Census)), 1.1% [Native American](/source/Native_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.7% [Asian](/source/Asian_(U.S._Census)), 12.5% from [other races](/source/Race_(United_States_census)), and 3.1% from two or more races. [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic_(U.S._Census)) or [Latino](/source/Latino_(U.S._Census)) of any race were 26.1% of the population.

There were 3,530 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were [married couples](/source/Marriage) living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

## Art and culture

[Fort Uncompahgre](/source/Fort_Uncompahgre) was built in 1828, established as a fur trading post by [Antoine Robidoux](/source/Antoine_Robidoux). Tour guides dress in period attire and trap beavers, make [buckskins](/source/Buckskins), knap [arrowheads](/source/Arrowhead), and work the [forge](/source/Forge).[15]

### Tourism

Parks:

- Pow Wow Arbor
- Mountain View Pavilion
- Riley Pavilion / Cleland Park
- Shade Pavilion Island
- Cottonwood Park
- Emerald Hills Park[16]

## Education

Delta is part of the [Delta County Joint School District 50-J](/source/Delta_County_Joint_School_District_50-J), which covers all of Delta County,[17] including [Cedaredge](/source/Cedaredge), [Crawford](/source/Crawford,_Colorado), [Hotchkiss](/source/Hotchkiss,_Colorado), and [Paonia](/source/Paonia,_Colorado). The school district serves 4,792 students as of the 2020-2021 academic year.[18]

Delta is also home to Technical College of the Rockies, a small trade school serving roughly 300 students annually.[19]

## Infrastructure

### Transportation

[Montrose Regional Airport](/source/Montrose_Regional_Airport), located 21 miles (34 km) south of Delta, is the closest airport served by scheduled airlines. In [Grand Junction](/source/Grand_Junction,_Colorado), which is 39 miles (63 km) to the north, there are also scheduled airline services, as well as an [Amtrak](/source/Amtrak) train station with a daily *[California Zephyr](/source/California_Zephyr)* departure in each direction. Delta is part of Colorado's [Bustang](/source/Bustang) network. It is on the Durango-Grand Junction Outrider line.[20]

### Major highways

- [U.S. Highway 50](/source/U.S._Route_50_in_Colorado) runs east-west, crossing 12 states and linking [Sacramento, California](/source/Sacramento,_California), with [Ocean City, Maryland](/source/Ocean_City,_Maryland). In [Colorado](/source/Colorado), it passes through Delta as Main Street and connects the city to [Montrose](/source/Montrose,_Colorado), [Grand Junction](/source/Grand_Junction,_Colorado) and [Pueblo](/source/Pueblo,_Colorado).
- [State Highway 65](/source/Colorado_State_Highway_65) is a 61-mile (98-kilometre) stretch that runs north from [State Highway 92](/source/Colorado_State_Highway_92) east of Delta, over the [Grand Mesa](/source/Grand_Mesa), to [Interstate 70](/source/Interstate_70_in_Colorado) near [Palisade](/source/Palisade,_Colorado).
- [State Highway 92](/source/Colorado_State_Highway_92) begins in Delta, at the intersection of Main Street and First Street. It runs 73 miles (117 km) to the east, re-encountering US 50 near [Blue Mesa Reservoir](/source/Blue_Mesa_Reservoir) and [Curecanti National Recreation Area](/source/Curecanti_National_Recreation_Area).

### Health care

[Delta County Memorial Hospital](/source/Delta_County_Memorial_Hospital) serves the city and the surrounding area. In addition to the main hospital, seven specialty clinics are available.[21]

## Media

The principal newspaper is the *Delta County Independent*,[22] which is published weekly on Wednesdays. Local readers also enjoy *The High Country Spotlight & Shopper*, a free paper that distributes over 15,000 copies throughout the county.

## Notable people

- [Chuck Cottier](/source/Chuck_Cottier), baseball player and manager
- [Dale Ishimoto](/source/Dale_Ishimoto), American actor
- [Frank H. Ono](/source/Frank_H._Ono), [Medal of Honor](/source/Medal_of_Honor) recipient
- [Matt Soper](/source/Matt_Soper), Colorado Representative, House District 54
- [Felix L. Sparks](/source/Felix_L._Sparks), [Colorado Supreme Court](/source/Colorado_Supreme_Court) justice, [U.S. Army](/source/U.S._Army) colonel

## See also

- [List of county seats in Colorado](/source/List_of_county_seats_in_Colorado)
- [List of municipalities in Colorado](/source/List_of_municipalities_in_Colorado)
- [List of populated places in Colorado](/source/List_of_populated_places_in_Colorado)
- [List of post offices in Colorado](/source/List_of_post_offices_in_Colorado)

## References

1. ["Colorado Counties"](https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf). [Colorado Department of Local Affairs](/source/Colorado_Department_of_Local_Affairs). Retrieved October 4, 2025.

1. ["Colorado Municipal Incorporations"](https://archive.today/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html). [State of Colorado](/source/Colorado), Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Archived from [the original](http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2007.

1. ["ZIP Code Lookup"](https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate). [United States Postal Service](/source/United_States_Postal_Service). Retrieved October 4, 2025.

1. ["Active Colorado Municipalities"](https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf). [Colorado Department of Local Affairs](/source/Colorado_Department_of_Local_Affairs). Retrieved October 4, 2025.

1. ["Find a County"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx). National Association of Counties. Archived from [the original](http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx) on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.

1. ["Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data"](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau), [United States Department of Commerce](/source/United_States_Department_of_Commerce). August 12, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.

1. ["A History & Heritage Hotbed"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120702112422/http://www.deltacountycolorado.com/about/history.aspx). Delta County Colorado Tourism. Archived from [the original](http://www.deltacountycolorado.com/about/history.aspx) on July 2, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.

1. Bauer, William H.; Ozment, James L.; Willard, John H. (1990). *Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989*. [Golden, Colorado](/source/Golden,_Colorado): [Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation](/source/Colorado_Railroad_Museum). ISBN 0-918654-42-4.

1. Dawson, John Frank (1954). [*Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin*](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=23). Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 17.

1. 185516. Retrieved October 4, 2025.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A19850&in=state%3A08). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A19850&in=state%3A08). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A19850&in=state%3A08). *United States Census Bureau*. 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026.

1. ["U.S. Census website"](https://www.census.gov). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Retrieved January 31, 2008.

1. ["Step back in time…"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221016062015/http://www.deltaco.org/museum.html). About Delta Colorado. Archived from [the original](http://www.deltaco.org/museum.html) on October 16, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2012.

1. ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104840/http://www.delta-co.gov/recreation_aquatics.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.delta-co.gov/recreation_aquatics.html) on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.

1. Geography Division (December 17, 2020). [*2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Delta County, CO*](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08029_delta/DC20SD_C08029.pdf). [U.S. Census Bureau](/source/U.S._Census_Bureau). Retrieved 2025-08-04. - [Text list](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08029_delta/DC20SD_C08029_SD2MS.txt)

1. ["Home - Delta County Joint District No. 50"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200627001256/http://www.deltaschools.com/index.php). *Delta County School District*. Archived from [the original](http://www.deltaschools.com/index.php) on June 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

1. ["Home - Technical College of the Rockies"](https://tcr.edu/). *tcr.edu*

1. ["Bustang Schedule"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041049/http://ridebustang.com/schedules/). *RideBustang*. CDOT. Archived from [the original](https://ridebustang.com/schedules/) on September 15, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.

1. ["Our history"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130629085826/http://www.deltahospital.org/getpage.php?name=history&sub=About%20Us). *Delta County Memorial Hospital*. 2020. Archived from [the original](http://www.deltahospital.org/getpage.php?name=history&sub=About%20Us) on June 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2020.

1. [Delta County Independent.](https://www.deltacountyindependent.com/)

## Further reading

- Borowsky, Larry and Cleary, Brooke, "Delta's King of Kings: The Egyptian Theatre and the Bank Night Craze". *Colorado Heritage* Summer 2002: pp. 2–15
- Ferguson, Olivia Spalding, "A Sketch of Delta County History". *The Colorado Magazine* 5 (October 1928): pp. 161–164
- Weber, William & Wittmann, Ronald (2012). *Colorado flora [electronic resource], Western slope : a field guide to the vascular plants / William A. Weber, Ronald C. Wittmann*. Boulder, Colorado: Boulder, Colo. : University Press of Colorado 2012. p. 532. ISBN 9781607321439.

## External links

- [State of Colorado](https://www.colorado.gov/) - [History Colorado](https://www.historycolorado.org/)
- [City of Delta website](https://cityofdelta.net/)
- [Delta Area Chamber of Commerce](http://www.deltacolorado.org/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Delta, Colorado](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta%2C_Colorado) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta%2C_Colorado?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.