Mineral County, Colorado

Mineral County is one of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 712,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Colorado, behind San Juan County. The county seat and only incorporated municipality in the county is Creede.[2] The county was named for the many valuable minerals found in the mountains and streams of the area.

Mineral County
U.S. county
The Mineral County Courthouse in Creede
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°41′N 106°56′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedMarch 27, 1893
SeatCreede
Largest townCreede
Area
 • Total878 sq mi (2,270 km2)
 • Land876 sq mi (2,270 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
769
 • Density0.8/sq mi (0.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.mineralcountycolorado.com
Rio Grande below Creede, Mineral County
Bristol Head, el. 12,713 feet (3,875 meters).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 878 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 876 square miles (2,270 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.2%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Trails and byways
  • Colorado Trail
  • Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
  • Lake Fork National Recreation Trail
  • Silver Thread Scenic Byway

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19001,913—
19101,239−35.2%
1920779−37.1%
1930640−17.8%
194097552.3%
1950698−28.4%
1960424−39.3%
197078685.4%
19808042.3%
1990558−30.6%
200083148.9%
2010712−14.3%
Est. 2019769[4]8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2015[1]

At the 2000 census, there were 831 people in 377 households, including 251 families, in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile (0/km²). There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.87% White, 0.84% Native American, 0.12% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 377 households 22.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.10% of households were one person and 9.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.70.

The age distribution was 20.50% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 32.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 104.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.10 males.

The median household income was $34,844 and the median family income was $40,833. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,475. About 9.30% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.70% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Mineral County has an extremely high proportion of land under federal ownership, with 96% of the county under the management of the federal government (It houses an office of, and is surrounded by, the Rio Grande National Forest).

2015

As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Mineral County, Colorado are:[9]

Largest ancestries (2015)Percent
English 22.5%
German 19.9%
Irish 13.9%
"American" 7.5%

Politics
Presidential elections results
Mineral County vote
by party in presidential elections[10]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2016 52.8% 344 36.4% 237 10.9% 71
2012 52.9% 344 44.8% 291 2.3% 15
2008 53.6% 334 43.3% 270 3.1% 19
2004 61.9% 383 36.7% 227 1.5% 9
2000 60.5% 294 34.6% 168 4.9% 24
1996 40.0% 179 43.0% 192 17.0% 76
1992 35.4% 159 38.1% 171 26.5% 119
1988 55.1% 217 44.2% 174 0.8% 3
1984 72.6% 333 25.5% 117 2.0% 9
1980 60.2% 271 27.8% 125 12.0% 54
1976 55.6% 235 39.5% 167 5.0% 21
1972 71.0% 247 27.6% 96 1.4% 5
1968 43.8% 116 47.6% 126 8.7% 23
1964 30.2% 89 69.2% 204 0.7% 2
1960 47.9% 146 51.8% 158 0.3% 1
1956 62.7% 168 36.9% 99 0.4% 1
1952 67.9% 209 31.8% 98 0.3% 1
1948 43.0% 144 56.7% 190 0.3% 1
1944 52.8% 170 46.6% 150 0.6% 2
1940 45.1% 229 53.7% 273 1.2% 6
1936 30.2% 126 68.4% 285 1.4% 6
1932 29.6% 112 55.4% 210 15.0% 57
1928 41.1% 144 53.4% 187 5.4% 19
1924 46.0% 150 31.0% 101 23.0% 75
1920 49.3% 183 39.4% 146 11.3% 42
1916 29.2% 135 60.0% 278 10.8% 50
1912 28.9% 186 44.5% 286 26.6% 171

Communities
Native silver from the Bulldog Mountain Mine, Creede District. Size 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.25 cm.

Town

Unincorporated Communities

Ghost Towns
  • Bachelor City
  • Weaver

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

Further reading
  • Foley, N.K. et al. (1993). Mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and paragenesis of gold, silver, and base-metal ores of the North Amethyst vein system, San Juan Mountains, Mineral County, Colorado [U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1537]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

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