Hinsdale County, Colorado

Hinsdale County, Colorado
Location in the state of Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 10, 1874
Named for	George A. Hinsdale
Seat	Lake City
Largest city	Lake City
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,123.14 sq mi (2,909 km²) 1,117.68 sq mi (2,895 km²) 5.46 sq mi (14 km²), 0.49%
PopulationEst.  - (2012)  - Density	810 0.7/sq mi (0.3/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.hinsdalecountycolorado.us
Footnotes: Least densely populated Colorado county

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 capitol of Colorado. The post office, some outbuildings, and brick kilns remain.

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 the third least densely populated of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 843 at 2010 census. The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the Town of Lake City. Hinsdale County is named for George A. Hinsdale, a prominent pioneer and former Lt. Governor of Colorado.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,123.14 square miles (2,908.9 km²), of which 1,117.68 square miles (2,894.8 km²) (or 99.51%) is land and 5.46 square miles (14.1 km²) (or 0.49%) is water.

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. 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

• Gunnison – north
• Saguache – northeast
• Mineral – east
• Archuleta – southeast
• La Plata – southwest
• San Juan – west
• Ouray – northwest

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	1,487		—
1890	862		−42.0%
1900	1,609		86.7%
1910	646		−59.9%
1920	538		−16.7%
1930	449		−16.5%
1940	349		−22.3%
1950	263		−24.6%
1960	208		−20.9%
1970	202		−2.9%
1980	408		102.0%
1990	467		14.5%
2000	790		69.2%
2010	843		6.7%
Est. 2012	810		−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate

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.

Cities and towns

• Henson
• Lake City

National forests

• Gunnison National Forest
• Rio Grande National Forest
• San Juan National Forest
• Uncompahgre National Forest

National wilderness areas

• La Garita Wilderness
• Powderhorn Wilderness
• Uncompahgre Wilderness
• Weminuche Wilderness

Trails

• Colorado Trail
• Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
• West Lost Trail Creek National Recreation Trail

Scenic byways

• Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway
• Silver Thread Scenic Byway

See also

• Outline of Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• Colorado census statistical areas
• Colorado counties
• Colorado municipalities
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hinsdale County, Colorado

External links

• Hinsdale County Government website
• Official Tourism website for Lake City Hinsdale County Marketing Committee and Chamber of Commerce
• Hinsdale County and Lake City Museum
• Lake City Downtown Improvement and Revitalization Team (Official Main Street Program)
• Lake City Area Medical Center
• Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society