Lake County, Colorado

Lake County is one of 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,310.[1] The county seat and the only municipality in the county is Leadville.[2] The highest natural point in Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountains is the summit of Mount Elbert in Lake County at 14,440 feet (4401.2 meters) elevation.

Lake County
U.S. county
Courthouse in Leadville, Colorado.
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°11′N 106°22′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
Named forTwin Lakes in the area
SeatLeadville
Largest cityLeadville
Area
 • Total384 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Land377 sq mi (980 km2)
 • Water7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  1.8%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
8,127
 • Density19/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.lakecountyco.com
Twin Lakes – Department of the Interior. General Land Office. U.S. Geological and Geographic Survey of the Territories. (1874 – 06/30/1879)

History

Lake County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Colorado legislature on November 1, 1861. As originally defined, Lake County included a large portion of western Colorado to the south and west of its present boundaries. The county was named for Twin Lakes.

Placer gold was found at Colorado Gulch in 1863 as part of the Colorado Gold Rush.[3]:30

Lake County slowly lost territory over the succeeding decades, losing land in its southeast to Saguache County in 1866 and Hinsdale County in 1874; in its southwest to La Plata County in 1874 and San Juan County in 1876, and in its west to Ouray and Gunnison counties in 1877.

With its many reductions in size, Lake County's designated county seat also changed multiple times within just a few years, residing successively in Oro City (from 1861), Lourette (from 1863), Dayton (from 1866), and Granite (from 1868).

By 1878, Lake County had been reduced to an area including only present-day Lake and Chaffee counties. On February 8, 1879, the Colorado legislature renamed Lake County as Carbonate County, although this designation name only lasted for two days, until Chaffee County was split off from Carbonate's southern section on February 10 and the remaining northern portion was redesignated Lake County with its current county seat of Leadville.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (990 km2), of which 377 square miles (980 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (1.8%) is water.[4] It is the fourth-smallest county in Colorado by area.

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

The 2013 horror video game Outlast is set in a fictional asylum in Lake County.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870522—
188023,5694,415.1%
189014,603−38.0%
190018,05423.6%
191010,600−41.3%
19206,630−37.5%
19304,899−26.1%
19406,83339.5%
19508,60025.9%
19607,101−17.4%
19708,31817.1%
19807,491−9.9%
19906,007−19.8%
20007,10218.2%
20107,3102.9%
2019 (est.)8,127[5]11.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2015[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 7,812 people, 2,977 households, and 1,914 families living in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 3,913 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.60% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.25% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 17.99% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. 36.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,977 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 12.80% from 18 to 24, 33.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 6.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 115.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,691, and the median income for a family was $41,652. Males had a median income of $30,977 versus $24,415 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,524. About 9.50% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Presidential election results
Lake County vote
by party in presidential elections[11]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2020 37.8% 1,497 58.1% 2,303 4.0% 161
2016 39.7% 1,270 50.5% 1,616 9.8% 313
2012 36.1% 1,098 60.5% 1,839 3.4% 103
2008 35.9% 1,078 61.9% 1,859 2.2% 65
2004 42.8% 1,261 55.0% 1,623 2.2% 65
2000 40.2% 1,056 49.3% 1,296 10.5% 276
1996 29.7% 728 54.6% 1,338 15.7% 384
1992 20.7% 605 48.8% 1,426 30.5% 892
1988 38.1% 969 59.6% 1,516 2.3% 58
1984 49.7% 1,364 48.2% 1,324 2.2% 59
1980 45.5% 1,375 40.1% 1,213 14.5% 437
1976 48.0% 1,575 47.2% 1,549 4.7% 155
1972 53.7% 1,556 43.6% 1,263 2.8% 80
1968 35.5% 1,025 53.7% 1,550 10.8% 312
1964 22.3% 681 77.4% 2,362 0.3% 8
1960 34.0% 954 65.7% 1,842 0.3% 7
1956 51.3% 1,433 48.5% 1,355 0.2% 5
1952 45.0% 1,303 54.7% 1,585 0.3% 9
1948 33.5% 838 63.2% 1,581 3.3% 83
1944 42.1% 1,236 57.4% 1,687 0.5% 14
1940 40.3% 1,403 59.3% 2,063 0.4% 15
1936 23.0% 650 76.0% 2,146 1.0% 27
1932 34.9% 801 62.5% 1,436 2.6% 59
1928 40.1% 990 58.7% 1,449 1.2% 30
1924 43.0% 1,005 26.2% 613 30.8% 719
1920 53.2% 1,287 41.0% 992 5.9% 142
1916 25.5% 993 68.5% 2,672 6.0% 235
1912 22.9% 966 45.9% 1,933 31.2% 1,315

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated community

Ghost Town

Historic sites
1890s(?) building in Stumptown, in the Leadville mining district.

Recreation

State protected area

National protected areas

Trails

Scenic byway

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN 0878424555
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

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