Hinsdale County, Colorado

Hinsdale County, Colorado
Historic Baptist Church in Lake City, Colorado.
Map of Colorado highlighting Hinsdale County
Location in the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded February 10, 1874
Named for George A. Hinsdale
Seat Lake City
Largest town Lake City
Area
 • Total 1,123 sq mi (2,909 km2)
 • Land 1,117 sq mi (2,893 km2)
 • Water 5.9 sq mi (15 km2), 0.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 774
 • Density 0.8/sq mi (0.3/km2)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Mountain: UTC−7/−6
Website www.hinsdalecountycolorado.us
Bonanza-Empire Chief mine and mill, on the Alpine Loop. The mill ruins were stabilized in 2000 by the Bureau of Land Management and Hinsdale County Historical Society. In 2007–2008, the mill ruins were demolished by an avalanche.

Hinsdale County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 843,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Colorado. With a population density of only 0.75 inhabitants per square mile (0.29/km2), it is also the least-densely populated county in Colorado. The county seat and only incorporated municipality in the county is Lake City.[2] The county is named for George A. Hinsdale,[3] a prominent pioneer and former Lieut. Governor of Colorado.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,123 square miles (2,910 km2), of which 1,117 square miles (2,890 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Hinsdale County is one of the most remote counties in Colorado and the United States. The county is covered by mountains, including multiple fourteeners, and contains one of the most roadless areas in the country.[5] The continental divide crosses the county twice. Most of the county is divided among several different national forests and the Weminuche Wilderness area.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,487—
1890862−42.0%
19001,60986.7%
1910646−59.9%
1920538−16.7%
1930449−16.5%
1940349−22.3%
1950263−24.6%
1960208−20.9%
1970202−2.9%
1980408102.0%
199046714.5%
200079069.2%
20108436.7%
Est. 2016788[6]−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 790 people, 359 households, and 246 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.7 people per square mile (0.3/km²). There were 1,304 housing units at an average density of 1.2 per square mile (0.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% White, 1.52% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 359 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.6.

In the county, the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 34.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,279, and the median income for a family was $42,159. Males had a median income of $26,210 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,360. About 4.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Hinsdale is a strongly Republican county in Presidential elections. Along with Elbert County and Washington County it was one of three Colorado counties to vote for Barry Goldwater over Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and no Democratic presidential nominee has carried Hinsdale County since Franklin Delano Roosevelt defeated Alf Landon by eight votes in 1936.

Presidential elections results
Hinsdale County vote
by party in presidential elections[11]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2016 57.6% 339 33.5% 197 9.0% 53
2012 58.8% 353 38.2% 229 3.0% 18
2008 57.4% 344 40.1% 240 2.5% 15
2004 59.0% 355 39.2% 236 1.8% 11
2000 55.8% 316 33.2% 188 11.0% 62
1996 52.8% 289 33.8% 185 13.4% 73
1992 39.5% 188 31.7% 151 28.8% 137
1988 72.5% 295 27.3% 111 0.3% 1
1984 74.9% 310 23.7% 98 1.5% 6
1980 69.1% 232 22.6% 76 8.3% 28
1976 66.6% 189 29.2% 83 4.2% 12
1972 77.5% 172 19.8% 44 2.7% 6
1968 66.2% 127 22.4% 43 11.5% 22
1964 53.2% 107 46.8% 94 0.0% 0
1960 62.7% 138 37.3% 82 0.0% 0
1956 76.7% 155 23.3% 47 0.0% 0
1952 74.0% 154 26.0% 54 0.0% 0
1948 63.9% 133 36.1% 75 0.0% 0
1944 67.0% 124 33.0% 61 0.0% 0
1940 58.8% 150 40.4% 103 0.8% 2
1936 47.8% 129 50.7% 137 1.5% 4
1932 38.2% 94 56.1% 138 5.7% 14
1928 53.8% 128 44.5% 106 1.7% 4
1924 50.0% 138 28.6% 79 21.4% 59
1920 59.1% 149 26.6% 67 14.3% 36
1916 31.1% 94 58.9% 178 9.9% 30
1912 38.6% 136 44.6% 157 16.8% 59

The last Democrat to carry Hinsdale County in a statewide election was John Hickenlooper in the 2010 gubernatorial contest,[12] and the only other case since at least 1980 have been Democratic senator Ben “Nighthorse” Campbell, who was later to shift to the Republican Party, in 1992, alongside popular Governor Roy Romer, who carried all but three counties statewide, in 1990.[13]

Recreation

National forests

National wilderness areas

Trails

Scenic byways

Communities

Capitol City, Colorado, a ghost town on the Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway. Capitol City once had a population of 400; its founders wanted it to become the capital of Colorado. The post office, some outbuildings, and brick kilns remain.

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Ghost towns

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 157.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ Tracy Staedter (May 3, 2007). "Roadless Space Uneven Across U.S." Discovery News. Archived from the original on May 6, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  12. ↑ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado
  13. ↑ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado

Coordinates: 37°49′12″N 107°16′48″W / 37.82000°N 107.28000°W / 37.82000; -107.28000

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