San Miguel County, Colorado

San Miguel County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,359.[1] The county seat is Telluride.[2] The county is named for the San Miguel River.

San Miguel County
U.S. county
The San Miguel County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°01′N 108°26′W
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedMarch 2, 1883
Named forSan Miguel River
SeatTelluride
Largest townTelluride
Area
 • Total1,289 sq mi (3,340 km2)
 • Land1,287 sq mi (3,330 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
8,179
 • Density5.7/sq mi (2.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.sanmiguelcountyco.gov

History

San Miguel County was given the Spanish language name for "Saint Michael" due to the nearby San Miguel River. On 27 February 1883, Ouray County was split to form San Miguel County. Originally the San Miguel County portion was to retain the name Ouray County with the new portion called Uncompahgre County.

Mining operators in the San Juan mountain area of Colorado formed the San Juan District Mining Association (SJDMA) in 1903, as a direct result of a Western Federation of Miners proposal to the Telluride Mining Association for the eight-hour day, which had been approved in a referendum by 72 percent of Colorado voters.[3] The new association consolidated the power of thirty-six mining properties in San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan counties.[4] The SJDMA refused to consider any reduction in hours or increase in wages, helping to provoke a bitter strike.

In 1875, the Smuggler gold vein was discovered near Telluride. The Smuggler-Union, Tomboy, and Liberty Bell mines combined produced over a hundred tons of gold by 1920, third in the state of Colorado.[5]:51,83

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,289 square miles (3,340 km2), of which 1,287 square miles (3,330 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18902,909—
19005,37984.9%
19104,700−12.6%
19205,28112.4%
19302,184−58.6%
19403,66467.8%
19502,693−26.5%
19602,9449.3%
19701,949−33.8%
19803,19263.8%
19903,65314.4%
20006,59480.5%
20107,35911.6%
2019 (est.)8,179[7]11.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[1]

At the 2000 census there were 6,594 people, 3,015 households, and 1,423 families living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 5,197 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.57% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.37% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[12] Of the 3,015 households 22.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.30% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.80% were non-families. 32.70% of households were one person and 2.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 17.60% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 43.30% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 3.40% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 120.80 males. For every 100 females age eighteen 18 and over, there were 126.40 males.

The median household income was $48,514 and the median family income was $60,417. Males had a median income of $35,922 versus $30,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,329. About 6.60% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

For most of the 20th century, San Miguel County was a national bellwether. It voted for the winner in every presidential election from 1912 to 1984. Since 1988, the county has become one of the most Democratic in Colorado and the nation, largely due to the presence of the Telluride Ski Resort and the influx of liberal-minded voters in the 1960s and 1970s. These trends have made San Miguel similar in vein to other heavily Democratic ski resort counties like Blaine County in Idaho, Teton County in Wyoming, and Pitkin County within Colorado. In the 2000 presidential election, San Miguel County was Green Party candidate Ralph Nader's best countywide performance in the country with 17.2% of the vote.

Presidential elections results
San Miguel County vote
by party in presidential elections[13]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2016 23.9% 1,033 68.7% 2,975 7.4% 321
2012 27.1% 1,154 70.3% 2,992 2.6% 110
2008 21.5% 933 77.0% 3,349 1.6% 68
2004 26.9% 1,079 71.6% 2,876 1.6% 64
2000 32.0% 1,043 49.1% 1,598 18.9% 614
1996 28.2% 773 56.0% 1,535 15.9% 435
1992 23.6% 628 51.8% 1,380 24.6% 655
1988 43.4% 798 52.3% 961 4.4% 80
1984 54.8% 833 43.0% 654 2.2% 34
1980 42.8% 774 36.0% 651 21.2% 384
1976 43.8% 622 47.5% 674 8.7% 123
1972 55.0% 583 40.2% 426 4.9% 52
1968 53.2% 422 39.2% 311 7.6% 60
1964 34.2% 332 65.6% 636 0.2% 2
1960 46.1% 525 53.7% 612 0.2% 2
1956 57.9% 648 41.9% 469 0.3% 3
1952 55.2% 654 44.2% 524 0.6% 7
1948 41.8% 451 56.8% 613 1.4% 15
1944 45.7% 536 53.7% 630 0.6% 7
1940 45.9% 729 53.6% 851 0.4% 7
1936 32.1% 433 63.8% 860 4.1% 55
1932 29.7% 383 66.9% 862 3.3% 43
1928 54.9% 721 42.2% 554 2.9% 38
1924 43.6% 677 36.5% 567 19.9% 308
1920 54.3% 928 40.3% 688 5.4% 93
1916 29.1% 578 66.8% 1,325 4.1% 81
1912 30.4% 639 48.9% 1,029 20.8% 437

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated Communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Roughneck—The Life and Times of Big Bill Haywood, Peter Carlson, 1983, page 65.
  4. The Corpse On Boomerang Road, Telluride's War On Labor 1899-1908, MaryJoy Martin, 2004, page 201.
  5. Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN 0878424555
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

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