Lake County, Colorado

Lake County
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 / 39.19°N 106.36°W
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	November 1, 1861
Named for	Twin Lakes in the area
Seat	Leadville
Largest city	Leadville
Area
• Total	384 sq mi (990 km2)
• Land	377 sq mi (980 km2)
• Water	7.0 sq mi (18 km2) 1.8%%
Population
• Estimate (2020)	7,436
• Density	20/sq mi (8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.lakecountyco.com

Twin Lakes – Department of the Interior. General Land Office. U.S. Geological and Geographic Survey of the Territories. (1874 – 06/30/1879)

Lake County is one of 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,436.^[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.

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), (from 1863), (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[]

Eagle County – north
Summit County – northeast
Park County – east
Chaffee County – south
Pitkin County – west

Major Highways[]

U.S. Highway 24
State Highway 82
State Highway 91

In popular culture[]

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

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	522	—
1880	23,569	4,415.1%
1890	14,603	−38.0%
1900	18,054	23.6%
1910	10,600	−41.3%
1920	6,630	−37.5%
1930	4,899	−26.1%
1940	6,833	39.5%
1950	8,600	25.9%
1960	7,101	−17.4%
1970	8,318	17.1%
1980	7,491	−9.9%
1990	6,007	−19.8%
2000	7,102	18.2%
2010	7,310	2.9%
2020	7,436	1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census^[5] 1790–1960^[6] 1900–1990^[7] 1990–2000^[8] 2010–2020^[1]

As of the census^[9] 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[]

show

Presidential election results

Communities[]

City[]

Leadville

Census-designated places[]

Unincorporated community[]

Climax

Ghost Town[]

Oro City

Historic sites[]

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

Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin
Leadville National Historic District

Recreation[]

Scenic byway[]

Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN 0878424555
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

External links[]

Coordinates: 39°11′N 106°22′W / 39.19°N 106.36°W / 39.19; -106.36

[2020Census-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.

[GR6-2] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.

[Voynick-3] Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN 0878424555

[GR1-4] "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.

[5] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[6] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[7] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[8] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[GR8-9] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.

[10] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

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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

show v t Municipalities and communities of Lake County, Colorado, United States
County seat: Leadville
City	Leadville
CDPs	Leadville North Twin Lakes
Ghost towns	Adelaide Climax Finntown Oro City
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