Lake County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The highest point in Colorado and the entire
Rocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States. The range's highest peak is Mount Elbert in Colorado at above sea level...
is the summit of
Mount ElbertMount Elbert is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains of North America, at 14,443 feet . It is also the highest of the fourteeners in the US State of Colorado, and the high point of the Sawatch Range. It is located in Lake County, approximately southwest of Leadville...
in Lake County at 4401.2 meters (14,440 ft) elevation. The county population was 7,812 at U.S. Census 2000. The
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
and the only
municipalityThe 271 incorporated municipalities of the State of Colorado operate under one of five types of municipal governing authority.-Consolidated City and County:...
in the county is the City of Leadville. The
Edwards Micropolitan Statistical AreaThe Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Micropolitan Statistical Area located in the Edwards area of the State of Colorado. The Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area comprises Eagle County and Lake County, Colorado...
comprises
Eagle CountyEagle County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county is named for the Eagle River. The county population was 41,659 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the Town of Eagle...
and Lake County.
Lake County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Colorado legislature on November 1, 1861.
Lake County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The highest point in Colorado and the entire
Rocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States. The range's highest peak is Mount Elbert in Colorado at above sea level...
is the summit of
Mount ElbertMount Elbert is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains of North America, at 14,443 feet . It is also the highest of the fourteeners in the US State of Colorado, and the high point of the Sawatch Range. It is located in Lake County, approximately southwest of Leadville...
in Lake County at 4401.2 meters (14,440 ft) elevation. The county population was 7,812 at U.S. Census 2000. The
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
and the only
municipalityThe 271 incorporated municipalities of the State of Colorado operate under one of five types of municipal governing authority.-Consolidated City and County:...
in the county is the City of Leadville. The
Edwards Micropolitan Statistical AreaThe Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Micropolitan Statistical Area located in the Edwards area of the State of Colorado. The Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area comprises Eagle County and Lake County, Colorado...
comprises
Eagle CountyEagle County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county is named for the Eagle River. The county population was 41,659 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the Town of Eagle...
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 CountySaguache County 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. The county seat is the Town of...
in 1866 and
Hinsdale CountyHinsdale County is the least densely populated of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 790 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the Town of Lake City. Hinsdale County is named for George A. Hinsdale, a...
in 1874; in its southwest to
La Plata CountyLa Plata County is the fourteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for the La Plata River and the La Plata Mountains. "La plata" is the Spanish language word for "silver". The United States Census Bureau estimated that the...
in 1874 and
San Juan CountySan Juan County is the least populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county name is the Spanish language name for Saint John, the name Spanish explorers gave to a river and the mountain range in the area. The county population was 558 at U.S. Census 2000...
in 1876, and in its west to
OurayOuray County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county population was 3,742 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the City of Ouray. Because of its rugged mountain geography, Ouray County is also known as the Switzerland of...
and
GunnisonGunnison County is the fifth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 13,956 at U.S. Census 2000. The county was named for John W. Gunnison, a United States Army officer and captain in the Army Topographical Engineers, who surveyed...
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 CityOro City, now a ghost town, was an early gold placer mining town in the Mosquito Range of Lake County, Colorado, United States. Oro is the Spanish word for gold.-History:...
(from 1861), Lourette (from 1863), Dayton (from 1866), and
GraniteGranite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite has a medium to coarse texture, occasionally with some individual crystals larger than the groundmass forming a rock known as porphyry. Granites can be pink to dark gray or even black, depending on their...
(from 1868).
By 1878, Lake County had been reduced to an area including only present-day Lake and
ChaffeeChaffee County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 16,242 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Salida.-History:...
counties. On February 8, 1879, the Colorado legislature renamed Lake County as
Carbonate CountyCarbonate County was a county of the State of Colorado that existed for only two days in 1879. Carbonate County was created by renaming Lake County, Colorado.-History:On 1879-02-08, the Colorado General Assembly 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
Eagle County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county is named for the Eagle River. The county population was 41,659 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the Town of Eagle...
, ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
- north
- Summit County
Summit County is the 19th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 23,538 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Breckenridge...
, ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
- northeast
- Park County
Park County is the 17th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after the large geographic region known as South Park, which was named by early fur traders and trappers in the area. The geographic center of the State of Colorado is...
, ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
- east
- Chaffee County
Chaffee County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 16,242 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Salida.-History:...
, ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
- south
- Pitkin County
Pitkin County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named in honor of the late Colorado Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin. The county population was 14,872 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Aspen. Piktin County has the fourth highest...
, ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
- west
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 7,812 people, 2,977 households, and 1,914 families residing in the county. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
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%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.25%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.31%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.05%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 17.99% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.62% from two or more races. 36.14% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
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 couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
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 incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
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
Climax was an unincorporated mining village and a former U.S. Post Office located in Lake County, Colorado. Climax was known for its large molybdenum ore deposit. The former Climax Post Office had the ZIP Code 80429.
- Leadville
Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. Situated at an elevation of 10,152 feet , Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States...
- Leadville North
Leadville North is a census-designated place in Lake County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,942 at the 2000 census. The area described as Leadville North is more commonly called the West Park subdivision.-Geography:...
- Oro City
Oro City, now a ghost town, was an early gold placer mining town in the Mosquito Range of Lake County, Colorado, United States. Oro is the Spanish word for gold.-History:...
- Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located in Lake County, Colorado, United States. The Twin Lakes Post Office has the ZIP Code 81251.-Geography:...
Historic sites
- Healy House State History Museum and Dexter Cabin
- Leadville National Historic District
National forest and wilderness
- San Isabel National Forest
San Isabel National Forest is located in central Colorado. The forest contains 19 of the states 54 fourteeners, peaks over high, including Mount Elbert, the highest point in Colorado....
- Buffalo Peaks Wilderness
- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness is a area located in central Colorado between Leadville and Buena Vista to the east and Aspen to the west and Crested Butte to the southwest. Most of the area is in the San Isabel and Gunnison National Forests, with a smaller area in the White River National Forest...
- Holy Cross Wilderness
- Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
- Mount Massive Wilderness
The Mount Massive Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sawatch Range, located in the US state of Colorado. It is operated jointly by the United States Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service as parts of the San Isabel National Forest and the Leadville National Fish...
Trails
- American Discovery Trail
The American Discovery Trail is a coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail across the mid-tier of the United States. It starts on the Delmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and ends on the northern California coast on the Pacific Ocean, and is signed on over of trail. This includes the doubled...
- Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail is a long trail running from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States. Its highest point is above sea level, and most of the trail is above...
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
- Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail
The Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail is an 11.6 mile all-season trail that loops around Leadville, Colorado and through its historic mining district. The trail's setting is quintessentially Colorado Rocky Mountain landscape. Groves of aspen, conifer forests, wildflower meadows, and open...
See also
- Colorado census statistical areas
thumb|An enlargeable map of the 14 [[Core Based Statistical Area]]s in the [[State of Colorado]]The United States Census Bureau has defined one Combined Statistical Area , seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas , and seven Micropolitan Statistical Areas in the State of Colorado.-Table:The following...
- Colorado counties
- Colorado municipalities
The 271 incorporated municipalities of the State of Colorado operate under one of five types of municipal governing authority.-Consolidated City and County:...
- Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area
The Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Micropolitan Statistical Area located in the Edwards area of the State of Colorado. The Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area comprises Eagle County and Lake County, Colorado...
External links