Morgan County is deeply rooted in a strong spirit of pioneerism. Resilience, independence, self-reliance, hard work… The traits that enabled a diverse group of settlers to push westward for a brighter future are still the backbone of our communities.
Fort Morgan, which served as the seat of Northeastern Colorado’s Morgan County, was originally established as an army camp and military fort in 1864 to aid and protect miners and pioneers traveling along the Overland Trail. The town was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan, who achieved distinction with the Union Army during the Civil War and was known as having “a high sense of honor, unswerving morals, honor, gallantry, and the brightest and purest character.”
When the Union Pacific and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads steamed into Fort Morgan in 1882, the wide open spaces and natural charm began attracting settlers from as far away as the East Coast to Canada. By the early 1900s, Fort Morgan boasted nine churches, irrigation canals, a Masonic Lodge, public schools, a city park, a reservoir known as Jackson Lake, an opera house, a courthouse, and a Carnegie Library. This is when the seeds of agriculture were planted, too; multiple family farms began operating, and the Great Western Sugar Company started processing sugar beets, one of many crops still harvested today.
As of 2026 the population of Morgan County, CO is 30,276. The population is expected to grow to 31,044 by 2031 - a growth rate of 0.50%.
The median age of Morgan County, CO residents is 37.
The diversity index of Morgan County, CO is 77.8, meaning that there is a 78% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Morgan County, CO is $88,729 and projected to be $96,132 in 2031. Per capita income is $32,410, projected to be $35,133 in 2031. 2.14% of households – 649 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $898,642 and the average disposable income is $68,673.
There are 12,074 housing units in Morgan County, CO; 7,435 are owner-occupied, 3,546 are rented, and 1,093 are vacant. The average home value is $392,314, with 1,320 homes built in 2010 or later, and 2,313 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 1,282 businesses in Morgan County, CO, employing 13,226 workers and pulling from a labor force of 13,469 age 16 and above. 1,978 workers commute into Morgan County, CO from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
11,429 residents both live and work in/around Morgan County, CO. The average travel time is 23.3 minutes. 7.99% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 5.2% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 10,054 drive alone, 1,464 carpool, and 0 take public transportation. 787 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 1,155 residents work from home.
6,436 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 2,365 have associates degrees, 2,560 have bachelor’s degrees, and 1,458 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
Enjoy peaceful surroundings, a slower pace, and a lower cost of living - plus we're just a short drive to major metro areas when you need it.
Did you know that the legendary Glenn Miller grew up in Fort Morgan? In 1920, he formed his first swing band as a student attending Fort Morgan High.
