San Miguel County, Colorado

San Miguel County
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 / 38.01°N 108.43°W
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	March 2, 1883
Named for	San Miguel River
Seat	Telluride
Largest town	Telluride
Area
• Total	1,289 sq mi (3,340 km2)
• Land	1,287 sq mi (3,330 km2)
• Water	2.0 sq mi (5 km2) 0.2%%
Population
• Estimate (2020)	8,072
• Density	6.3/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov

San Miguel County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,072.^[1] The county seat is Telluride.^[2] The county is named for the San Miguel River.

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[]

Montrose County - north
Ouray County - east
San Juan County - southeast
Dolores County - south
San Juan County, Utah - west

Major highways[]

National protected areas[]

Lizard Head Wilderness
Mount Sneffels Wilderness
Old Spanish National Historic Trail
Telluride National Historic District
Uncompahgre National Forest

Trails and byways[]

Great Parks Bicycle Route
San Juan Skyway National Scenic Byway
Western Express Bicycle Route

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	2,909	—
1900	5,379	84.9%
1910	4,700	−12.6%
1920	5,281	12.4%
1930	2,184	−58.6%
1940	3,664	67.8%
1950	2,693	−26.5%
1960	2,944	9.3%
1970	1,949	−33.8%
1980	3,192	63.8%
1990	3,653	14.4%
2000	6,594	80.5%
2010	7,359	11.6%
2020	8,072	9.7%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790-1960^[8] 1900-1990^[9] 1990-2000^[10] 2010-2020^[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.^[11] 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.

In June 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked the San Miguel County as having the best life expectancy in the United States at 100+ years old.^[12]

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.

show

Presidential elections results

Communities[]

Towns[]

Unincorporated Communities[]

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.
^ Roughneck—The Life and Times of Big Bill Haywood, Peter Carlson, 1983, page 65.
^ The Corpse On Boomerang Road, Telluride's War On Labor 1899-1908, MaryJoy Martin, 2004, page 201.
^ 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 11, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ Cirruzzo, Chelsea (June 30, 2021). "The 25 Counties With the Longest Life Expectancy". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

External links[]

Coordinates: 38°01′N 108°26′W / 38.01°N 108.43°W / 38.01; -108.43

[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.

[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.

[Voynick-5] Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN 0878424555

[GR1-6] "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.

[7] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[8] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[9] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[10] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.

[GR8-11] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.

[12] Cirruzzo, Chelsea (June 30, 2021). "The 25 Counties With the Longest Life Expectancy". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 1, 2021.

[13] 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	22.1% 1,136	76.2% 3,924	1.7% 87
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

show v t Municipalities and communities of San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
County seat: Telluride
Towns	Mountain Village Norwood Ophir Sawpit Telluride
CDP	Placerville
Unincorporated communities	Ames Egnar Pandora Sams Slick Rock
Ghost town	Tomboy
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