Saguache County, Colorado

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


founded year = 1866
founded date = December 29
seat wl = Saguache
largest city wl = Center
city type = town
area_total_sq_mi = 3170
area_total_km2 = 8211
area_land_sq_mi = 3168
area_land_km2 = 8206
area_water_sq_mi = 2
area_water_km2 = 5
area percentage = 0.06%
census yr = 2000
pop = 5917
density_sq_mi = 2
density_km2 = 1
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.saguachecounty.net
named for =

Saguache CountySaguache is pronEng|səˈwætʃ. This name comes from a Ute language word meaning "blue earth" or "water at blue earth". The Spanish language version of this name is usually spelled "Saguache", while the English language version is usually spelled "Sawatch".] is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning "blue earth" or "water at blue earth". The county population was 5,917 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 = 2007-05-16] The county seat is the Town of Saguache.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,170 square miles (8,211 km²), of which, 3,168 square miles (8,206 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Chaffee County, Colorado - north
*Fremont County, Colorado - northeast
*Custer County, Colorado - east
*Huerfano County, Colorado - southeast
*Rio Grande County, Colorado - south
*Alamosa County, Colorado - south
*Mineral County, Colorado - southwest
*Hinsdale County, Colorado - southwest
*Gunnison County, Colorado - northwest

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,917 people, 2,300 households, and 1,557 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 3,087 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.29% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 2.06% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 23.00% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 45.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,300 households out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,495, and the median income for a family was $29,405. Males had a median income of $25,158 versus $18,862 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,121. About 18.70% of families and 22.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Bonanza
*Center
*Crestone
*Moffat
*Saguache
*Villa GroveSargeants

National park

*Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

National forests

*Gunnison National Forest
*Rio Grande National Forest

National wilderness areas

*Great Sand Dunes Wilderness
*La Garita Wilderness
*Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

Trails

*Colorado Trail
*Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
*Old Spanish National Historic Trail

Bicycle routes

*Great Parks Bicycle Route
*Western Express Bicycle Route

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities
*State of Colorado

References

Further reading

*Lindsey, D.A. et al. (1985). "Mineral resources of the Black Canyon and South Piney Creek Wilderness Study Areas, Saguache County, Colorado" [U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1716-A] . Washington, D.C.: U.S Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

External links

* [http://www.saguachecounty.net/ Saguache County Government website]
* [http://www.saguache.org/ Crestone and Saguache County Visitor's Agency website]
* [http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]