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1976

Colorado · year

Colorado in 1976

Deaths 620Fatal crashes 543Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,523

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 1976.

In 1976, 620 people died in 543 fatal crashes in Colorado.

The death toll rose 7% from 581 in 1975 to 620 in 1976.

Colorado accounted for 1.4% of the 45,523 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

48.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1975 and the nation

MeasureColorado 1976Colorado 1975United States 1976
Deaths62058145,523
Fatal crashes54350739,747
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver49%50%20%

Counties in 1976

Every county with a fatal crash in 1976, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 58 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Denver County58669.1608
Jefferson County44488.3478
El Paso County43456.0721
Adams County36448.1635
Weld County28349.2569
Arapahoe County18274.0501
Mesa County222515.5181
Larimer County23236.1352
Boulder County22237.0255
Pueblo County222213.0290
Douglas County11123.0207
Park County81265.553
Clear Creek County911121.232
Garfield County91015.8101
Las Animas County91068.934
Fremont County81020.077
Logan County9943.455
Eagle County8916.651
Montezuma County8933.552
Summit County8929.141
Routt County7935.741
Cheyenne County58467.320
Montrose County6715.661
Chaffee County5733.738
Huerfano County6685.936
Morgan County6619.878
Yuma County6659.723
Elbert County5620.439
Gunnison County5634.745
Gilpin County46100.68
Grand County4637.131
Lake County5567.913
La Plata County558.897
Otero County5527.831
Rio Blanco County5575.718
Bent County4586.512
Delta County4515.551
Moffat County4538.023
Prowers County4541.824
Alamosa County4424.031
Lincoln County4471.539
Kiowa County34287.47
Phillips County3489.19
Custer County3354.017
Jackson County33235.721
Pitkin County3318.018
Rio Grande County3326.921
Washington County3362.934
San Miguel County1–2338.420
Baca County1–21–2—23
Crowley County1–21–2—10
Kit Carson County1–21–2—38
Ouray County1–21–2—23
Teller County1–21–2—27
San Juan County1–21–2—9
Archuleta County1–21–2—28
Conejos County1–21–2—15
Mineral County1–21–2—23

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am7.1%
1am6%
2am6.7%
3am3.5%
4am1.7%
5am1.7%
6am1.7%
7am1.7%
8am2%
9am1.5%
10am1.7%
11am2.8%
12pm3.5%
1pm5%
2pm3.4%
3pm6%
4pm4.8%
5pm5.6%
6pm6%
7pm5.8%
8pm5%
9pm7.1%
10pm5%
11pm4.8%

Weekday

Sunday19%
Monday8%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday10%
Thursday12%
Friday15%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Colorado in 1976?

620 people in 543 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1976 file.

Which county in Colorado had the most crash deaths in 1976?

Denver County with 66 deaths in 58 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1976 compare with 1975 in Colorado?

620 deaths against 581 in 1975 (+7%). Nationally the 1976 total was 45,523.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1976 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.