Hinsdale County, Colorado

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


founded year = 1874
founded date = February 10
seat wl = Lake City
largest city wl = Lake City
area_total_sq_mi = 1123
area_total_km2 = 2909
area_land_sq_mi = 1118
area_land_km2 = 2895
area_water_sq_mi = 5
area_water_km2 = 14
area percentage = 0.49%
census yr = 2000
pop = 790
density_sq_mi = 0.7
density_km2 = 0.3
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
Least densely populated Colorado county

web = www.hinsdalecountycolorado.us
named for = George A. Hinsdale

Hinsdale 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.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 and the only municipality in the county is the Town of Lake City. Hinsdale County is named for George A. Hinsdale, a prominent pioneer and former Lt. Governor of Colorado.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,123 square miles (2,909 km²), of which, 1,118 square miles (2,895 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (14 km²) of it (0.49%) 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 most roadless areas in the country. [cite web|author=Tracy Staedter |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/05/03/roadlessspace_pla.html |title=Roadless Space Uneven Across U.S. |publisher=Discovery News |date=May 3, 2007] 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

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 790 people, 359 households, and 246 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.7 people per square mile (0.3/km²). There were 1,304 housing units at an average density of 1.2 per square mile (0.5/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.

Cities and towns

*Henson
*Lake City

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

cenic byways

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

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities

References

External links

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