Hinsdale County, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hinsdale County
U.S. county
The 1877 Hinsdale County Court House in Lake City, Colorado.
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	February 10, 1874
Named for	George A. Hinsdale
Seat	Lake City
Largest town	Lake City
Area
• Total	1,123 sq mi (2,910 km2)
• Land	1,117 sq mi (2,890 km2)
• Water	5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	788
• Density	0.7/sq mi (0.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Bonanza-Empire Chief mine and mill, on the Alpine Loop. The mill ruins were stabilized in 2000 by the Bureau of Land Management and Hinsdale County Historical Society. In 2007–2008, the mill ruins were demolished by an avalanche.

Hinsdale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 788, making it the least-populous county in Colorado. With a population density of only 0.71 inhabitants per square mile (0.27/km²), it is also the least-densely populated county in Colorado. The county seat and only incorporated municipality in the county is Lake City. The county is named for George A. Hinsdale, a prominent pioneer and former Lieut. Governor of Colorado Territory.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,123 square miles (2,910 km²), of which 1,117 square miles (2,890 km²) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Hinsdale County is one of the most remote counties in Colorado and the United States. The county is covered by mountains, including multiple fourteeners, and contains one of the largest roadless areas in the country. The continental divide crosses the county twice. Most of the county is divided among several different national forests and the Weminuche Wilderness area.

Adjacent counties

• Gunnison – north
• Saguache – northeast
• Mineral – east
• Archuleta – southeast
• La Plata – southwest
• San Juan – west
• Ouray – northwest

Major highways

• State Highway 149

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 790 people, 359 households, and 246 families living in the county. The population density was 0.7 people per square mile (0.27 people/km²). There were 1,304 housing units at an average density of 1.2 units per square mile (0.46 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% White, 1.52% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 359 households, out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.6.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 34.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,279, and the median income for a family was $42,159. Males had a median income of $26,210 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,360. About 4.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

National forests

• Gunnison National Forest
• Rio Grande National Forest
• San Juan National Forest
• Uncompahgre National Forest

National wilderness areas

• La Garita Wilderness
• Powderhorn Wilderness
• Uncompahgre Wilderness
• Weminuche Wilderness

Trails

• Colorado Trail
• Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
• West Lost Trail Creek National Recreation Trail

Scenic byways

• Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway
• Silver Thread Scenic Byway

Communities

Capitol City, Colorado, a ghost town on the Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway. Capitol City once had a population of 400; its founders wanted it to become the capital of Colorado. The post office, some outbuildings, and brick kilns remain.

Town

• Lake City

Census-designated places

• Cathedral
• Piedra

Ghost towns

• Beartown
• Burrows Park
• Capitol City
• Carson
• Henson
• Old Carson

Education

School districts include:

• Hinsdale County School District RE-1
• Archuleta County School District 50-JT

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Hinsdale para niños