Census Data for Sterling
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Sterling a population of 14,518 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Sterling a population of 14,777 people.
The city of Sterling is located in Logan County. The 2010 Census gave Logan County; a population of 22,750 people. This means that Sterling had 65% of the county's total population, making it Logan's most populous community.
At the same time, Colorado had a population of 5,029,196 people, meaning that Sterling had 0.29% of the total population of Colorado - making it the state's 35th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Sterling has a total area of 7.61 square miles [19.7 km²].
Logan County has a land area of 1,838 square miles [4,761.8 km²]. At 7.61 square miles [19.7 km²], Sterling has 0.41% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Sterling, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Sterling reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Sterling might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 40° 37' 14" (or 40.62°)
- Lon: -103° 11' 30" (or -103.19°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Sterling had 5,404 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 14,777 people, this averages 2.73 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Sterling had a land area of 7.61 square miles [19.7 km²]. This translates to 710 Housing Units per square mile [274.2 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Sterling had 5,171 Housing Units, a population of 11,360 people and a land area of 6.87 square miles [17.8 km²]. This gives a density of 2.2 people per Housing Unit and 752 Housing Units per square mile [290.5 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Sterling and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Logan County ...
The community of Sterling is located in Logan County<4> and is the County Seat for Logan County.
The county had a population of 22,750 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 14,777 people, Sterling represented 65% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Sterling has a population density of 1,941 people per square mile [749 people/km²], Logan County averages 12.37 people per square mile [4.78 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Logan County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Sterling, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Sterling. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Sterling or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Sterling, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Sterling.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 40.620705° (or 40°37'14" N)
- Lon: -103.191867° (or -103°11'30" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 40.625430° (or 40°37'31" N)
- Lon: -103.211783° (or -103°12'42" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 5,774 feet to the east<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2411978) to Sterling. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Sterling. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 40.622568° (or 40°37'21" N)
- Lon: -103.194550° (or -103°11'40" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,006 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Sterling. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Sterling.
Miscellaneous Information for Sterling ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Logan County or the city of Sterling:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 08 (Colorado)
- County Code: 075 (Logan County)
- Place Code: 73935 (Sterling)
- State & County Code: 08/075 (Colorado / Logan County)
- State & Place Code: 08/73935 (Colorado / Sterling)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Sterling is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Sterling, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Sterling. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for Sterling:80751<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Sterling.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Sterling: www.sterlingcolo.com/
The official website for Logan County: www.loganco.gov/
The official website for State of Colorado: https://www.colorado.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Colorado's counties, including Logan, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 252 degrees and a distance of 5,774 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 227 degrees and a distance of 1,006 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Sterling or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |