Fremont County

Fremont County is located in south-central Colorado along the Arkansas River corridor, west of Colorado Springs and east of the Continental Divide. Established in 1861 and named for explorer John C. Frémont, the county developed around mining, ranching, and river-based transportation routes, later adding state correctional facilities as a major regional employer. Fremont County is mid-sized by Colorado standards, with a population of roughly 50,000 residents. The county is largely rural outside the urbanized Cañon City area and is characterized by dramatic canyon landscapes, high desert valleys, and mountain terrain at the edge of the Front Range and Wet Mountains. Land use includes agriculture and grazing, public lands, and outdoor recreation associated with the Arkansas River. The county seat is Cañon City, which serves as the primary commercial and governmental center for surrounding communities.

Fremont County is in south-central Colorado along the Arkansas River corridor, west of Pueblo and east of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The county seat is Cañon City, and local government information is maintained on the Fremont County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (data.census.gov), Fremont County had a total population of 48,939 in the 2020 Decennial Census (2020 Census, P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data).

Age & Gender

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates), Fremont County’s age structure and sex distribution are reported in standard demographic tables (notably ACS subject tables for age and sex). County-level figures should be pulled directly from ACS 5-year tables for the most current profile; the Census Bureau’s portal provides the authoritative breakdowns by age cohort and sex for Fremont County.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census), county-level race and Hispanic or Latino origin are available from the 2020 Decennial Census (e.g., PL 94-171 and related detailed race/origin tables). The Census Bureau reports:

• Race (e.g., White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, Two or More Races)
• Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) and Not Hispanic or Latino

Household & Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates), Fremont County household and housing characteristics are available in county-level tables covering:

• Number of households and average household size
• Household types (family vs. nonfamily; living alone; households with children)
• Housing unit counts, occupancy (occupied vs. vacant), and tenure (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied)
• Additional housing characteristics (e.g., year structure built, housing costs) in detailed ACS tables

For county planning and administrative context, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) maintains state-local resources and community information relevant to Colorado counties.

Note on specificity: Exact values for age distribution, gender ratio, race/ethnicity percentages, and household/housing totals are available at the county level through the linked Census Bureau sources, but they are not reproduced here because the prompt does not specify the required reference year (e.g., 2020 Census vs. a particular ACS 5-year period).

Fremont County, Colorado includes small cities (Cañon City, Florence) and extensive rural and mountainous areas, where lower population density and terrain increase the cost and complexity of broadband buildout and can constrain routine digital communication such as email.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are not typically published; trends are inferred from access proxies such as broadband and device availability from the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) and related survey products. Broadband subscription and computer access rates are primary indicators because consistent home connectivity and an internet-capable device strongly correlate with regular email use.

Age structure also influences adoption: counties with larger shares of older adults generally show lower rates of some online activities, including email-heavy tasks requiring account management and authentication, relative to younger working-age populations. Fremont County’s age distribution can be referenced via U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Fremont County). Gender distribution is generally less predictive of email access than age and connectivity, but it is available from the same source.

Connectivity limitations are shaped by rural last-mile coverage gaps and affordability constraints; infrastructure context is summarized through NTIA BroadbandUSA and the Colorado Broadband Office.

Fremont County is in south-central Colorado on the Arkansas River corridor, encompassing the City of Cañon City and extensive mountainous and high-desert terrain extending toward the Sangre de Cristo Range. The county’s settlement pattern is relatively concentrated along US‑50 and the river valley, with large areas of public land and rugged topography that can constrain radio propagation and backhaul placement. These physical and geographic characteristics tend to produce uneven mobile coverage: stronger in populated corridors and weaker in remote canyons, high elevations, and sparsely populated areas.

Key distinction: network availability vs. household adoption

• Network availability refers to whether mobile carriers report service at a location (coverage), typically expressed through provider-reported maps and availability datasets.
• Household adoption refers to whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service or use mobile service as their primary internet connection (usage), typically measured through surveys such as the American Community Survey (ACS).

County-level adoption and device-type data are available only for certain indicators (notably “cellular data–only” households) via ACS. Detailed, county-specific smartphone share, 4G/5G usage rates, or carrier market shares are generally not published in an authoritative, granular form.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (adoption)

Cellular data–only internet households (ACS)

The most direct, county-level indicator of mobile internet reliance in U.S. official statistics is the share of households with “cellular data plan” internet service and no other internet subscription (often described as “mobile-only” or “cellular-only” households). This reflects adoption/usage, not coverage.

• Fremont County cellular-only estimates can be retrieved from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS internet subscription tables through data.census.gov (ACS internet subscription tables). Relevant ACS table families include:
  • S2801 / DP02 (internet subscription/computer availability profiles)
  • B28002 (types of internet subscriptions, including cellular data plan)
• ACS provides margins of error; for smaller geographies these can be large, and year-to-year changes may not be statistically meaningful.

Mobile service subscription penetration

A single, county-wide “mobile subscription penetration rate” (e.g., subscriptions per 100 residents) is not consistently published in a way that is both current and directly attributable to Fremont County. Carrier subscriptions are often proprietary; some federal datasets focus on coverage rather than subscriptions. As a result, ACS cellular-only households and related ACS computer/internet measures are the most defensible county-level adoption indicators in public sources.

Mobile internet usage patterns and network technology (availability)

4G LTE availability

4G LTE is the baseline mobile broadband technology across most U.S. counties and is generally the most spatially extensive layer of mobile coverage. In Fremont County, LTE availability is typically strongest in:

• Cañon City and nearby communities
• The US‑50/Arkansas River corridor
• Other populated pockets and transportation corridors

The authoritative federal source for provider-reported mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC):

• FCC mobile broadband availability and maps are available through the FCC National Broadband Map and associated data downloads. These data describe reported coverage, not verified user experience.

5G availability (including 5G NR)

5G availability in Fremont County is best characterized using carrier-reported coverage layers rather than countywide “5G usage” statistics, which are generally not published at county granularity. 5G deployment tends to track population density, backhaul availability, and corridor-based infrastructure, resulting in:

• More consistent 5G availability in and near population centers and along main routes
• More limited or discontinuous 5G coverage in remote, mountainous, and lightly populated areas

The FCC’s map provides a standardized way to review reported 5G availability by location:

• FCC National Broadband Map (mobile coverage and technology)

Observed performance vs. availability

Provider-reported availability does not guarantee consistent indoor coverage, throughput, or low latency. Topography (ridges, narrow valleys), vegetation, and building materials can materially affect real-world performance. Public, location-specific speed test aggregates exist, but they typically do not constitute an official measure of adoption; they are best treated as supplemental context rather than definitive countywide usage statistics.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-level device-type distribution: limitations

Authoritative, county-level breakdowns of smartphones vs. basic phones are not typically published by federal statistical agencies. The ACS reports household computer/device availability categories (desktop/laptop/tablet) and internet subscription types, but it does not provide a direct “smartphone ownership rate” at county resolution.

What can be measured with public datasets

• Household computing devices and internet subscriptions (ACS): Useful for distinguishing households that rely on cellular service for internet from those using fixed broadband, and for describing presence of computing devices other than phones.
  • ACS tables on computers and internet (data.census.gov)
• Mobile network-capable devices on networks (industry/administrative sources): Often proprietary, not consistently published at county level, and not suitable as a definitive Fremont County statistic.

Given these constraints, the most defensible statement at county level is that mobile internet usage measured by “cellular-only” households is observable, while smartphone share and device mix are not reliably quantifiable in official public data for Fremont County.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Terrain and land use

• Mountainous terrain and canyon geography can create shadowing and coverage gaps, especially away from towers and along winding drainages.
• Large rural areas and public lands reduce the density of potential tower sites and increase the cost per covered resident, which can limit the economic incentives for dense network buildout.

These factors influence availability (where coverage is reported) and can also influence adoption (where households may rely on mobile-only service due to limited fixed options).

Population distribution and corridors

• Coverage is generally more robust in and near Cañon City and along US‑50, where population density and infrastructure are concentrated.
• Outlying areas can experience weaker indoor coverage and fewer technology options, reflected in patchwork availability on official maps.

Population and housing characteristics for Fremont County are available through:

• U.S. Census Bureau county profiles and ACS estimates (data.census.gov)

Income, age, and household characteristics (adoption patterns)

At a general level, ACS and related surveys show that:

• Lower-income households and some older populations are more likely to have limited device availability and can be more reliant on mobile-only connectivity.
• Rural households are more likely to face constraints in fixed broadband availability, which can increase the share of cellular-only subscriptions.

For Fremont County specifically, these relationships should be evaluated using ACS cross-tabs where available, rather than inferred. ACS margins of error at county level can constrain the precision of subgroup estimates.

State and local broadband context

Colorado maintains broadband planning and mapping activities that provide context on coverage initiatives and local planning, but these typically focus on broadband availability broadly (including fixed) rather than publishing countywide “mobile usage” rates.

• Colorado Broadband Office

Local government information about geography, transportation corridors, and community development also provides context relevant to tower siting and service demand:

• Fremont County, Colorado (official county website)

Summary of what is known with high confidence vs. what is limited

• Well-supported (public, county-level):
  • Household internet subscription types, including cellular data plan–only households (ACS via data.census.gov)
  • Provider-reported 4G/5G availability by location (FCC BDC via FCC National Broadband Map)
• Limited or not reliably available at county level:
  • Smartphone ownership rate vs. basic phone share
  • Countywide 4G vs. 5G “usage” shares (as opposed to reported availability)
  • Carrier subscriber counts and market share specific to Fremont County

Fremont County is in south‑central Colorado along the Arkansas River corridor, anchored by Cañon City and including communities such as Florence and Coal Creek. The county’s mix of small-city hubs, rural areas, and a sizable corrections sector, plus proximity to outdoor recreation destinations (Royal Gorge region), tends to align local social media use with broader U.S. patterns shaped by smartphone access, age, and education rather than by highly specialized local platforms.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• County-specific social media penetration figures are not published in major public datasets in the same way they are for state or national levels; most reliable estimates for a county the size of Fremont are inferred from national and statewide adoption patterns.
• National benchmark: About 69% of U.S. adults report using at least one social media site, according to the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet. This is the most-cited baseline for “social media penetration” among adults.
• Internet access context: Social media adoption closely tracks household broadband and smartphone access. County-level connectivity indicators used to contextualize likely adoption include U.S. Census/ACS and federal broadband reporting (for example, broadband availability and adoption summaries via the FCC National Broadband Map).

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Based on the latest national adult survey patterns reported by Pew:

• 18–29: Highest usage; social media is near‑ubiquitous in this group in Pew’s reporting (Pew social media use by age).
• 30–49: High usage, typically the second‑highest cohort.
• 50–64: Moderate usage; lower than under‑50 groups but still substantial.
• 65+: Lowest usage, though long-term growth is documented over the past decade.

These age gradients generally apply in Colorado counties with similar small‑metro/rural composition, with overall penetration moderated by the county’s age distribution and connectivity.

Gender breakdown

Pew’s national findings show relatively small gender gaps overall, with platform-specific differences more pronounced than “any social media use”:

• Women are more likely than men to use certain visually oriented or socially networked platforms (notably Pinterest and, in many waves, Instagram), while gaps for Facebook and YouTube are typically smaller.
• Summary tables are reported in the Pew Research Center platform-by-demographic breakdowns.

Most‑used platforms (percent of U.S. adults; used as benchmark)

Pew’s fact sheet reports approximate shares of U.S. adults who use each platform (latest available in the fact sheet; platform availability varies by survey wave). Commonly cited levels include:

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• WhatsApp: ~29%

Source: Pew Research Center, Social Media Fact Sheet (adult usage benchmarks). County-level platform shares are not reliably published by official sources; these national benchmarks are typically used for local planning in the absence of representative county samples.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

• Platform “stacking” (multi-platform use): Adults commonly maintain accounts on multiple platforms, with YouTube and Facebook acting as broad-reach defaults and Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat skewing younger (Pew platform demographics).
• Video-led engagement: Short- and long-form video consumption is a dominant behavior (YouTube’s broad penetration; TikTok’s high engagement intensity among younger adults). This aligns with national usage data summarized by Pew and broader digital news/video behavior research from the Pew Research Center’s news and media research.
• Local information seeking: In smaller communities, Facebook groups/pages and community forums are widely used nationally for local events, school updates, public-safety notices, and commerce; this is consistent with Facebook’s broad adult reach in Pew’s measurements.
• Messaging as a parallel channel: Social platform use often pairs with private messaging (including Messenger/WhatsApp), with “public posting” less frequent than reading/watching and direct sharing in many adult cohorts (summarized across Pew’s platform reporting: Pew social media fact sheet).
• Workforce/networking niche: LinkedIn use concentrates among adults with higher educational attainment and professional/managerial roles, producing uneven adoption across counties depending on occupational mix (documented in Pew demographic splits: Pew, LinkedIn demographics).

Fremont County, Colorado maintains family and associate-related records primarily through state and county offices. Vital records (birth and death certificates) are issued and held by the State of Colorado through Colorado Vital Records; county public health offices may provide limited services but certified copies are governed by state rules. Marriage records are recorded by the Fremont County Clerk and Recorder and are commonly available through the clerk’s recording services. Divorce and other family court case records are filed with the Fremont County Combined Court; many case registers are accessible through the Colorado Judicial Branch docket system.

Public databases include recorded-document search tools provided by the Clerk and Recorder and statewide court case search via Colorado Courts E-Filing and docket access. Some records require in-person requests or written applications.

Access options include online searches for recordings and court dockets, and in-person access at county offices for recorded documents and at the courthouse for viewing available court files. Official county entry points include the Fremont County Clerk and Recorder and the Fremont County government website. Court information is available via the Colorado Judicial Branch. State vital records are managed by Colorado Vital Records (CDPHE).

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to birth and death certificates (certified copies limited to eligible requestors). Adoption records are generally sealed under state law. Some court filings may be restricted or partially redacted (for example, protected information in domestic relations cases).

Types of records available

Marriage-related records

• Marriage licenses and marriage certificates (county-level records): In Colorado, marriage records are created at the county level. A license is issued before the marriage; the completed license is typically returned and recorded after the ceremony.
• Marriage verification (state-level index/verification): Colorado maintains statewide marriage data used for verification, though certified copies are generally obtained from the county that issued/recorded the marriage.

Divorce-related records

• Divorce decrees (court orders): Divorces are handled by the District Court. The final decree and related case filings become part of the court case record.
• Divorce verification (state-level): Colorado maintains statewide divorce data for verification purposes.

Annulments

• Decrees of invalidity of marriage (annulments): Colorado treats annulments as court matters (often titled a “decree of invalidity of marriage”). These are maintained as court records in the District Court, similar to divorce case files.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Fremont County marriage records (licenses/certificates)

• Filed/maintained by: Fremont County Clerk and Recorder (Recording/Marriage license function).
• Access: Requests for certified copies are typically handled by the Clerk and Recorder’s office using county procedures (in-person, mail, and/or online request methods depending on current county practice).
  Official county contact page: Fremont County Clerk and Recorder.

Fremont County divorce and annulment records (court case files)

• Filed/maintained by: Fremont County District Court (Colorado Judicial Branch), as part of the civil/domestic relations case record.
• Access: Court records are accessed through the courthouse clerk’s office and, where available, through Colorado Judicial Branch record-access systems for docket/case information. Some documents may require in-person requests or formal record requests depending on document type and access rules.
  Court location and information: Colorado Judicial Branch – Fremont County.

State-level verification resources (marriage and divorce)

• Maintained by: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Vital Records (verification and certified copies under state rules, subject to record type and eligibility).
• Access: CDPHE provides guidance on statewide verification and ordering processes.
  CDPHE Vital Records: Colorado Vital Records (CDPHE).

Typical information included in these records

Marriage licenses/certificates

Common fields include:

• Full names of both parties (and sometimes prior names)
• Date and place of marriage (city/county/state)
• Date the license was issued and license number
• Officiant name/title and signature (or authorization details)
• Witness information (where recorded)
• Parties’ ages or dates of birth (varies by form/version), birthplaces, and current addresses (varies)
• Prior marital status (varies)

Divorce decrees and associated court filings

Typical contents include:

• Case caption (names of parties), case number, court, and filing date
• Date of decree and judicial officer
• Findings/orders addressing:
  • Dissolution of marriage and restoration of a former name (when ordered)
  • Allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, and child support (when applicable)
  • Spousal maintenance (alimony) (when applicable)
  • Division of property and allocation of debts
• Attachments or incorporated agreements (separation agreements, parenting plans), when filed and approved

Annulment (decree of invalidity) records

Typical contents include:

• Case caption, case number, court, and filing date
• Date of decree and judicial officer
• Legal basis for invalidity and resulting orders (as stated by the court)
• Related orders on property, support, and children (when applicable)

Privacy and legal restrictions

Marriage records

• Generally public record at the county level: Recorded marriage licenses/certificates are commonly treated as public records in Colorado, subject to statutory limits on disclosure of certain sensitive identifiers.
• Identity/documentation requirements for certified copies: Government-issued identification and payment of statutory fees are commonly required by the custodian to issue certified copies.

Divorce and annulment court records

• Presumptively public, with significant exceptions: Colorado court records are generally accessible, but documents or information may be restricted by law, court rule, or court order.
• Common restrictions/redactions: Records involving minors, adoption-related information, protected addresses, certain financial account identifiers, and other confidential information may be sealed or redacted. Protective orders and specific domestic relations filings can include restricted components.
• Sealed cases or sealed documents: A judge may seal all or part of a case file; sealed material is not available to the general public.

State vital records (verification/certified copies)

• Statutory controls on vital records: CDPHE administers access under Colorado vital records statutes and regulations, including identity verification requirements and limits on who may obtain certain certified records, depending on record type and date range.

Fremont County is in south-central Colorado along the Arkansas River corridor, anchored by Cañon City and the communities of Florence, Penrose, and Williamsburg, with large rural areas extending into the Wet Mountain Valley. The county includes major state correctional facilities and significant outdoor-recreation and tourism activity (Royal Gorge area), producing a mixed employment base of government, health care, retail/services, and construction. Population and housing patterns reflect a small-city hub with surrounding lower-density residential and agricultural land.

Education Indicators

Public school districts, schools, and names

Public K–12 education is primarily provided by three districts:

• Cañon City School District RE-1
• Florence School District RE-2
• Fremont RE-3 (Penrose)

School counts and the complete list of school names are most consistently available via district directories and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) school/district profiles. District and school listings can be verified through the [Colorado Department of Education SchoolView directory](https://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview" target="_blank") (search “Fremont” and filter by district).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios: District-reported ratios vary by school level and year; the most comparable source is CDE staffing and pupil membership reporting. Countywide ratios typically align with small-district southern Colorado norms (generally in the mid-teens per teacher), but a single countywide ratio is not always published as a standalone indicator. The most direct proxy is district-level staffing metrics from [CDE SchoolView district profiles](https://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview" target="_blank").
• Graduation rates: Colorado reports graduation rates at the district and school level under the four-year and extended-year measures. Fremont County’s districts generally track below the Colorado statewide average in many recent years, with variation by district and cohort. Official, most-recent cohort results are published in [CDE Graduation and Dropout Rates](https://www.cde.state.co.us/dropoutprevention/graduationanddropoutrates" target="_blank").

Adult educational attainment

Adult attainment is reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS, 5-year estimates) at the county level:

• High school graduate or higher (age 25+): Fremont County is typically in the high-80% range, below Colorado’s statewide level (Colorado is among the highest in the U.S.).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Fremont County is typically in the mid-to-high teens (%), well below the Colorado statewide share.

The most recent standardized county estimates are available via [U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Fremont County](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fremontcountycolorado" target="_blank").

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Colorado districts participate in state-approved CTE pathways (e.g., skilled trades, health sciences, business, IT), often tied to regional labor needs. Program offerings are best documented by each district and through state CTE reporting under CDE.
• Advanced Placement (AP) / concurrent enrollment: High schools commonly offer AP and/or college credit options through Colorado’s concurrent enrollment framework; availability varies by high school and staffing.
• STEM: STEM programming is commonly integrated through course sequences and extracurriculars rather than being countywide-branded; confirmation is district- and school-specific.

Because program availability is school-specific and changes by year, the most reliable proxies are district course catalogs and CDE school profiles (see [CDE SchoolView](https://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview" target="_blank")).

School safety measures and counseling resources

• Safety planning: Colorado public schools follow state requirements for safety planning, emergency operations, and threat reporting. Districts commonly use secure entry procedures, visitor management, drills, and coordination with local law enforcement. District board policies and school handbooks are the primary sources for local specifics.
• Student support services: Counseling, school psychology, and social-work supports are typically provided at the school level, with additional county/community behavioral health resources. Staffing levels vary and are reported through CDE staffing collections; service descriptions are typically posted by districts.

Statewide safety and support frameworks are summarized through [Colorado School Safety Resource Center](https://www.cde.state.co.us/cssrc" target="_blank").

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The most consistently cited “official” local unemployment measures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS) via the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). Fremont County’s unemployment rate in the most recent year is available through [CDLE labor market information](https://cdle.colorado.gov/labor-market-information" target="_blank"). (County rates fluctuate seasonally and have generally improved from pandemic-era highs but remain above Colorado’s lowest-rate counties.)

Major industries and employment sectors

The county’s employment base is typically concentrated in:

• Government and public administration, including state correctional facilities and local government
• Health care and social assistance
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (supported by tourism and local service demand)
• Construction (including residential and infrastructure activity)
• Manufacturing and transportation/warehousing at smaller shares
• Agriculture (limited employment share but notable land use in rural areas)

Sector composition is available via federal and state datasets such as [U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp.html" target="_blank") and CDLE industry employment tables.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational patterns in Fremont County commonly reflect:

• Office/administrative support
• Food preparation and serving
• Transportation and material moving
• Sales
• Health care support and practitioner roles
• Protective service (including corrections-related roles)
• Construction and extraction, and installation/maintenance/repair

County occupational distributions and wages are available through [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/" target="_blank") (often presented via state labor-market dashboards).

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

ACS commuting data typically show:

• A large share of residents commuting by driving alone, with smaller shares carpooling and limited public transit use in most census tracts.
• Mean commute time for Fremont County generally falls in the mid-20-minute range, with variation by whether workers are based in Cañon City/Florence versus more rural areas.

The county’s commuting indicators are reported in [Census QuickFacts (commuting and travel time)](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fremontcountycolorado" target="_blank") and detailed in ACS “Journey to Work” tables.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Fremont County has a substantial local employment base in Cañon City/Florence, but out-commuting occurs to neighboring counties for specialized health care, higher-wage professional services, and regional trade hubs. The most direct measures of in-county versus out-of-county work and commuting flows are provided by [LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES)](https://lehd.ces.census.gov/data/" target="_blank"), which reports where residents work and where workers live at the county and tract level.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

ACS tenure data typically show Fremont County with:

• A homeownership majority (commonly around two-thirds of occupied units) and
• A rental share around one-third, varying by location (higher rental concentrations in Cañon City than in rural areas).

The most recent county tenure figures are available through [Census QuickFacts](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fremontcountycolorado" target="_blank") (Owner-occupied rate; 5-year ACS).

Median property values and recent trends

• Median owner-occupied home value: ACS reports a county median value that has generally risen materially since 2020, consistent with broader Colorado appreciation, though Fremont County values remain below many Front Range markets.
• Trend proxy: Because monthly market medians vary by listing mix, the most stable trend reference is ACS median value and state/local assessor summaries. County-level assessed value trends are also reflected in annual abstract reports and county assessor publications.

Current ACS median value can be referenced through [Census QuickFacts (median value of owner-occupied housing)](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fremontcountycolorado" target="_blank").

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent (ACS): Fremont County’s median gross rent is typically below the Colorado statewide median, reflecting lower overall housing costs than many metro areas, while still rising in recent years. The most recent county median gross rent is available via [Census QuickFacts (median gross rent)](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fremontcountycolorado" target="_blank").

Types of housing

Housing stock is commonly characterized by:

• Single-family detached homes as the dominant type (Cañon City subdivisions and rural homes on acreage)
• Manufactured housing present in several areas and parks
• Smaller multifamily/apartment inventory concentrated in Cañon City and Florence
• Rural lots and small ranchettes outside incorporated areas, with greater reliance on wells/septic in some locations

These patterns are consistent with ACS housing-unit structure tables and county land-use geography.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

• Cañon City: More compact neighborhoods near schools, medical services, retail corridors, and civic facilities; higher share of rentals and multifamily than rural areas.
• Florence: Small-town residential areas with proximity to local schools and downtown services; mixed housing types.
• Penrose and rural areas: Lower-density residential and agricultural parcels; longer travel times to full-service retail and health care; proximity to outdoor recreation assets and highway connections.

Neighborhood-level detail is best approximated using ACS tract/block-group data and local planning/zoning maps; a single countywide “neighborhood characteristics” dataset is not published as an official indicator.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Colorado property taxes are driven by assessed value, assessment rates, and local mill levies. County-level effective rates vary by taxing district.

• Typical effective property tax rate: Fremont County’s effective rate is generally below 1% of market value, consistent with many Colorado counties, but varies by location and local levies.
• Typical annual tax paid: Countywide medians are available from ACS (“median real estate taxes paid”) and provide the most comparable homeowner-cost proxy across counties.

County median real estate taxes paid can be referenced via [Census QuickFacts (median real estate taxes paid)](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fremontcountycolorado" target="_blank"); levy and assessment mechanics are summarized by the [Colorado Division of Property Taxation](https://cdor.colorado.gov/division-of-property-taxation" target="_blank").