Lake County, Colorado

Infobox U.S. County
county = Lake County
state = Colorado


founded year = 1861
founded date = November 1
seat wl = Leadville
largest city wl = Leadville
area_total_sq_mi = 384
area_total_km2 = 994
area_land_sq_mi = 377
area_land_km2 = 976
area_water_sq_mi = 7
area_water_km2 = 18
area percentage = 1.83%
census yr = 2000
pop = 7812
density_sq_mi = 21
density_km2 = 8
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
Top of the Rocky Mountains

web = www.co.lake.co.us
named for = Twin Lakes in the area

Lake County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The highest point in Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountains is the summit of Mount Elbert in Lake County at 4401.2 meters (14,440 ft) elevation. The county population was 7,812 at U.S. Census 2000.cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/files/CO-EST2006-ALLDATA.csv | title = Annual County Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CO-EST2006-alldata) | format = CSV | work = 2006 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2007-03-22 | accessdate = 2007-05-10] The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the City of Leadville. The Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area comprises Eagle County and Lake County.

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. It was named for the Twin Lakes in the area.

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 Counie'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 (994 km²), of which, 377 square miles (976 km²) of it is land and 7 square miles (18 km²) of it (1.83%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Eagle County, Colorado - north
*Summit County, Colorado - northeast
*Park County, Colorado - east
*Chaffee County, Colorado - south
*Pitkin County, Colorado - west

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,812 people, 2,977 households, and 1,914 families residing 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.

Cities and towns

*Climax
*Leadville
*Leadville North
*Oro City
*Twin Lakes

Historic sites

*Healy House State History Museum and Dexter Cabin
*Leadville National Historic District

Recreation area

*Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

National forest and wilderness

*San Isabel National Forest
*Buffalo Peaks Wilderness
*Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
*Holy Cross Wilderness
*Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
*Mount Massive Wilderness

Trails

*American Discovery Trail
*Colorado Trail
*Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
*Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail

cenic byway

*Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities
*Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area

References

External links

* [http://www.lakecountyco.com Lake County Government website]
* [http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]