Gunnison County, Colorado

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


founded year = 1877
founded date = March 9
seat wl = Gunnison
largest city wl = Gunnison
area_total_sq_mi = 3260
area_total_km2 = 8443
area_land_sq_mi = 3239
area_land_km2 = 8388
area_water_sq_mi = 21
area_water_km2 = 54
area percentage = 0.64%
census yr = 2000
pop = 13956
density_sq_mi = 4
density_km2 = 2
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.gunnisoncounty.org
named for = John W. Gunnison

Gunnison 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.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 was named for John W. Gunnison, a United States Army officer and captain in the Army Topographical Engineers, who surveyed for the transcontinental railroad in 1853. The county seat is the City of Gunnison.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,260 square miles (8,443 km²), of which, 3,239 square miles (8,388 km²) of it is land and 21 square miles (54 km²) of it (0.64%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Pitkin County, Colorado - north
*Chaffee County, Colorado - east
*Saguache County, Colorado - southeast
*Hinsdale County, Colorado - south
*Ouray County, Colorado - southwest
*Delta County, Colorado - west
*Montrose County, Colorado - west
*Mesa County, Colorado - northwest

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,956 people, 5,649 households, and 2,965 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 9,135 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.08% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. 5.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,649 households out of which 24.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.20% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.50% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county the population was spread out with 17.90% under the age of 18, 21.10% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 6.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 118.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,916, and the median income for a family was $51,950. Males had a median income of $30,885 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,407. About 6.00% of families and 15.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Almont
*Crested Butte
*Crystal
*Gunnison
*Marble
*Mount Crested Butte
*Ohio City
*Parlin
*Pitkin
*Pittsburg
*Powderhorn
*Sapinero
*Somerset

tate park

*Paonia State Park

National recreation area

*Curecanti National Recreation Area

National forests

*Gunnison National Forest
*White River National Forest

National wilderness areas

*Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
*Fossil Ridge Wilderness
*Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
*Powderhorn Wilderness
*Raggeds Wilderness
*Uncompahgre Wilderness
*West Elk Wilderness

Trails

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

Bicycle routes

*Great Parks Bicycle Route
*Western Express Bicycle Route

cenic byway

*West Elk Loop Scenic Byway

In popular culture

In 2007, the science fiction horror film "" was set in and around the Gunison County town of Crested Butte.

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities

References

External links

* [http://www.gunnisoncounty.org/ Gunnison County Government website]
* [http://www.gunnison.travel/ Gunnison County Tourism website]
* [http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]