In 1902 the voters approved creation of Adams County which, prior to that time, had been part of an enormous Arapahoe County. The County was named after Alva Adams, a popular former governor who was in office at the time of this election. The County Court House was temporarily housed in the residence of Daniel Carmichael (the founder of Brighton) in Brighton. After a fire destroyed these offices in January of 1904, the offices were relocated to a rented house at Third and Bridge Street. At the end of World War II, there were only two incorporated towns in the county west of the Platte River; Westminster, which at the time had a population of 2,000, and Federal Heights with a population of only a few hundred. Today, that portion of the county contains all or part of six different municipalities. The first of these new communities was Thornton which was incorporated in 1956. Northglenn was incorporated in 1968. In 1971 Broomfield became an Adams County municipality, then became an independent city and county in 2001.
Adams County's economic base differs greatly depending on location. The County's western communities are part of the Denver Metropolitan Area and have a modern urban economy. But Adams County also extends east into Colorado's farm and ranch territory and the majority of the County is characterized by that rural, agricultural economy and lifestyle.
The climate of Adams County is very pleasant. The altitude of Adams County is 5,375 feet. It receives an annual precipitation of 15.51 inches. The percent of possible sunshine is 70%. The average daily temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit Average and the annual snowfall is 60.1 inches. The heaviest moisture months are from March to October.
As agriculture became more specialized, the availability of vegetable crops soon lead to the growth of a canning industry in Adams County. Several canners operated factories in the early 1900's. One of those, Kuner-Empson Company, still operates today. Soon came commercial dairies and a sugar beet factory. Due to the livestock, vegetables and dairy products raised and produced, the County was in many respects the "bread basket" of the Denver area.
