Colorado

Mesa

155,703
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Mesa

Mesa, Colorado, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 4,260. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 155,703.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Grinnell Site Massacre, Grand River Ute Engagement, Battle at Grand Junction Approach, and 35 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020155,703
2010146,723
2000116,255
199093,145
198081,530
197054,374
196050,715
195038,974
194033,791
193025,908
192022,281
191022,197
19009,267
18904,260
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Mesa

Military engagements that took place in Mesa, Colorado.

Grinnell Site Massacre
1150
Grand River Ute Engagement
1879
Battle at Grand Junction Approach
1880
Colorado Ute Removal — Grand River Standoff (August 1881)
1881
Battle of Grand River
1881

Historic places in Mesa

National Register of Historic Places listings in Mesa, Colorado.

Land's End Observatory
Whitewater
Devils Kitchen Picnic Shelter
Grand Junction
Coates Creek Schoolhouse
Glade Park
Clifton Community Center and Church
Clifton
Handy Chapel
Grand Junction
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Depot
Grand Junction
Serpents Trail
Grand Junction
IOOF Hall
De Beque
Saddlehorn Caretaker's House and Garage
Grand Junction
Fruita Museum
Fruita
Cross Land and Fruit Company Orchards and Ranch
Grand Junction
Grand Valley Diversion Dam
Palisade
Saddlehorn Comfort Station
Grand Junction
Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic District
Grand Junction
Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex
Fruita
Browse all Coloradohistoric sites ›

Other counties in Colorado

Explore census history and historic records for more Colorado counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Mesa County, Colorado

This page charts the census history of Mesa County, Colorado. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Coloradohistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Colorado›

Frequently asked about Mesa

When does Mesa first appear in the US census?
Mesa, Colorado first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 4,260.
What is the population of Mesa?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Mesa had a recorded population of 155,703.
Were any battles fought in Mesa?
5 documented military engagements took place in Mesa, including Grinnell Site Massacre, Grand River Ute Engagement, Battle at Grand Junction Approach.
How many historic places are in Mesa?
35 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Mesa, Colorado.
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