Yuma County is a county in Colorado, United States, on the state’s high plains near the Nebraska and Kansas lines. It had a population of 9,988 at the 2020 census, covers 2,369 square miles (6,140 km2), of which 2,364 square miles are land, and is centred near 40°00′N 102°25′W.
Wray is the county seat, and its postal code is 80758. The county has two cities, one town, five census-designated places and several unincorporated communities. Yuma County observes Mountain time and is served by the Yuma County government based in Wray.
Towns & Villages in Yuma County
Yuma County’s population is split between two agricultural trade towns and a scatter of small farm communities strung along US 34, US 36 and US 385.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wray | City · seat | 2,358 | 80758 |
| Yuma | City | 3,456 | 80759 |
| Eckley | Town | — | 80727 |
| Idalia | CDP | — | — |
| Joes | CDP | — | 80822 |
| Kirk | CDP | — | 80824 |
| Laird | CDP | — | — |
| Vernon | CDP | — | — |
| Abarr | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Alvin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clarkville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wauneta | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 80758 — Wray (also serves the surrounding southeast of the county)
- 80759 — Yuma (also serves Vernon and Alvin)
- 80727 — Eckley
- 80822 — Joes
- 80824 — Kirk (also serves Laird)
Idalia, Abarr, Clarkville, Hale and Wauneta have no post office of their own and use a neighboring town’s ZIP code.
Geography
Yuma County sits on the flat, dryland-farmed plains of northeast Colorado, drained by the North Fork Republican River and the Arikaree River. The point where the Arikaree River leaves the county for Cheyenne County, Kansas, is Colorado’s lowest elevation, at 3,315 feet. Yuma County borders six counties: Phillips County to the north, Chase County, Nebraska, to the northeast, Cheyenne County, Kansas, to the east, Kit Carson County to the south, Washington County to the west, and Logan County to the northwest.
Demographics
Yuma County had 9,988 residents at the 2020 census. Yuma, the largest city, and Wray, the county seat, together hold roughly 60 percent of the county’s population. Colorado’s 2023 ACS median household income was $92,911; Yuma County, a farm-dependent rural county, runs well below the state figure. Population density is low, at about 4 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Dryland wheat, corn and cattle feeding anchor the county economy, alongside irrigated corn along the North Fork Republican River valley. Yuma is home to grain elevators and a regional hospital, Yuma District Hospital. Wray hosts the Yuma County Fair each August, the county’s largest annual gathering.
History
Yuma County was created on March 15, 1889, carved from Washington County as settlement pushed east along the new rail lines. The town of Yuma took its name from the Yuma people of the lower Colorado River, chosen by early townsite promoters rather than for any local connection. Wray grew around a Burlington Railroad depot and became the county seat soon after the county’s organization.
Getting There
US Highways 34, 36 and 385 and Colorado Highway 59 cross the county, meeting at Wray and Yuma.
- Akron — 33 miles west
- Burlington — 50 miles south
- Fort Morgan — 70 miles west
- Goodland, Kansas — 45 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Denver International Airport, about 150 miles west. Amtrak does not serve Yuma County; the closest station is in Fort Morgan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Yuma County?
It is on the high plains of northeastern Colorado, bordering Nebraska and Kansas.
What is the Wray postcode?
Wray, the county seat, uses ZIP code 80758.
What is the population of Yuma County?
Yuma County had 9,988 residents at the 2020 census.
What is the largest town in Yuma County?
Yuma is the largest city, with 3,456 residents at the 2020 census.
Is Wray or Yuma the county seat?
Wray is the county seat.
How big is Yuma County?
It covers 2,369 square miles (6,140 km2), most of it farmland.
Why is Colorado’s lowest point in Yuma County?
The Arikaree River leaves the state through Yuma County into Kansas at 3,315 feet, Colorado’s lowest elevation.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Colorado.