Eagle County, Colorado

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Eagle County
Eagle County Justice Center.JPG
The Eagle County Justice Center (county courthouse) in Eagle
Flag of Eagle County, Colorado.svg
Map of Colorado highlighting Eagle County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado in United States.svg
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°37′N106°42′W / 39.62°N 106.7°W / 39.62; -106.7
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
FoundedFebruary 11, 1883
Named for Eagle River
Seat Eagle
Largest community Edwards
Area
  Total1,692 sq mi (4,380 km2)
  Land1,685 sq mi (4,360 km2)
  Water7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
  Total55,731
  Density33/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 3rd
Website www.eaglecounty.us

Eagle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,731. [1] The county seat is the Town of Eagle and the most populous community is Edwards. [2] The county is named for the Eagle River.

Contents

Eagle County comprises the Edwards, Colorado, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Eagle County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 11, 1883, from portions of Summit County. It was named after the Eagle River, which runs through the county. The county seat was originally set in Red Cliff, Colorado, but was moved to the town of Eagle in 1921.

The Ground Hog Mine, near Red Cliff, produced gold and silver in two vertical veins in 1887. One vein, or "chimney", contained gold in crystalline form, cemented by iron, while the other contained wire gold in the form of "ram's horns". One of these ram's horns is now on display in the Harvard Mineralogical Museum. [3] :59

Geography

The highest elevation in the county is the Mount of the Holy Cross which rises to 14,011 feet (4,271 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is on the Colorado River at 6,128 feet (1,868 m). [4]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,692 square miles (4,380 km2), of which 1,685 square miles (4,360 km2) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (0.4%) is water. [5]

Much of the county is taken up by White River National Forest, and much of the rest is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Interstate 70 crosses the county from east to west.

The Eagle River rises in the southeastern part of the county. It receives Gore Creek at Dowds Junction, and joins the Colorado River in the west. The Fryingpan River and the Roaring Fork River intersect the southwest corner of the county.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

State protected area

Trails

Scenic byways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1890 3,725
1900 3,008−19.2%
1910 2,985−0.8%
1920 3,38513.4%
1930 3,92415.9%
1940 5,36136.6%
1950 4,488−16.3%
1960 4,6774.2%
1970 7,49860.3%
1980 13,32077.6%
1990 21,92864.6%
2000 41,65990.0%
2010 52,19725.3%
2020 55,7316.8%
2023 (est.)54,381 [6] −2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9]
1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [1]

As of the census [11] of 2000, there were 41,659 people, 15,148 households, and 9,013 families living in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (9.7 people/km2). There were 22,111 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.4% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.8% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 23.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,148 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 42.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 121.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $62,682, and the median income for a family was $68,226. Males had a median income of $37,603 versus $30,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,011. About 3.9% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education

Eagle County is served by Eagle County School District RE-50J. The district operates eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools across Eagle County.

Private/other education

Higher education

Colorado Mountain College, a community college serving much of western Colorado, operates its Vail Valley campus in Edwards.

Life expectancy

According to a report in JAMA , residents of Eagle County had a life expectancy from birth of 85.94 years in 2014, the third-longest in the United States. [12] Men live 84.4 years on the average and women live 87.6 years. [13] Two contiguous counties, Summit and Pitkin counties, rank numbers one and two in the nation in life expectancy.

Factors contributing to the high life expectancy of the three Colorado counties are "high education, high income, high access to medical care, the people are physically active, obesity is lower than anywhere else so you're doing it right." said Ali Mokdad, one of the study's co-authors. [14]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Eagle County, Colorado [15] [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.%No.%No.%
2020 9,89233.95%18,58863.79%6602.26%
2016 8,99035.64%14,09955.90%2,1348.46%
2012 9,41141.52%12,79256.43%4652.05%
2008 8,18137.77%13,19160.91%2861.32%
2004 8,53346.10%9,74452.64%2341.26%
2000 7,16547.18%6,77244.59%1,2518.24%
1996 4,63740.89%5,09444.92%1,61014.20%
1992 3,10028.52%3,87035.60%3,90035.88%
1988 4,36655.91%3,31442.44%1291.65%
1984 4,50067.84%2,03230.63%1011.52%
1980 3,06152.63%1,60827.65%1,14719.72%
1976 2,96364.18%1,50232.53%1523.29%
1972 1,92058.16%1,30639.56%752.27%
1968 1,04949.11%92743.40%1607.49%
1964 64433.11%1,29966.79%20.10%
1960 98952.86%88047.03%20.11%
1956 1,15457.36%85242.35%60.30%
1952 1,24253.70%1,05845.74%130.56%
1948 73840.31%1,00855.05%854.64%
1944 92249.07%95250.67%50.27%
1940 1,07742.00%1,47457.49%130.51%
1936 77633.06%1,54165.66%301.28%
1932 71233.81%1,34864.01%462.18%
1928 1,01463.18%57035.51%211.31%
1924 72244.43%43126.52%47229.05%
1920 85455.13%64941.90%462.97%
1916 39725.19%1,13672.08%432.73%
1912 38725.83%72748.53%38425.63%
1908 52137.16%82859.06%533.78%
1904 80254.30%62542.32%503.39%
1900 41229.90%94368.43%231.67%
1896 534.38%1,14995.04%70.58%
1892 27529.22%00.00%66670.78%
1888 60459.98%40039.72%30.30%
1884 30661.57%19038.23%10.20%

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Ghost towns

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avon, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

Avon is a home rule municipality located in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 6,072 at the 2020 United States Census. The town is a part of the Edwards, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. Avon is the gateway to the Beaver Creek Resort which lies about two miles (3 km) south of the town. It was the previous site of Vail Resorts before the company moved its physical headquarters to Broomfield, Colorado, in 2006. The town is the home of Liberty Skis, an independent ski manufacturing company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basalt, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

Basalt is a home rule municipality located in Eagle and Pitkin counties, Colorado, United States. The town population was 3,984 at the 2020 United States Census with 2,917 residing in Eagle County and 1,067 residing in Pitkin County. Basalt is a part of the Edwards-Glenwood Springs, CO Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

Eagle is the Statutory Town that is the county seat of Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 7,511 at the 2020 United States Census, a +15.41% increase since the 2010 United States Census. Eagle is the part of the Edwards, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsum, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

The Town of Gypsum is the home rule municipality that is the most populous municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 8,040 at the 2020 United States Census, a +24.13% increase since the 2010 United States Census. Gypsum is a part of the Edwards, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. Gypsum is the home of an American Gypsum drywall plant and mine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minturn, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

Minturn is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,033 at the 2020 United States Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Cliff, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

Red Cliff is a statutory town in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population was 257 at the 2020 census. The town is a former mining camp situated in the canyon of the upper Eagle River just off U.S. Highway 24 north of Tennessee Pass. The town site is concealed below the highway and is accessible by a side road leading to Shrine Pass in the Sawatch Range.

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN   0878424555
  4. Google Earth
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. Dwyer-Lindgren, Laura (May 8, 2017). "Inequalities in Life Expectancy Among US Counties, 1980 to 2014". JAMA Internal Medicine. 177 (7): 1003–1011. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.0918. PMC   5543324 . PMID   28492829.
  13. "County Profile: Summit County Colorado," http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Eagle_County_Colorado.pdf, accessed 2 Aug 2017
  14. Achenbach, Joel, "U.S. life expectancy varies more than 20 years from county to county," Washington Post, May 8, 2017
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  16. The leading "other" candidate, Independent Ross Perot, received 3,821 votes, while Libertarian candidate Andre Marrou received 61 votes, and New Alliance candidate Lenora Fulani received 18 votes.

39°37′N106°42′W / 39.62°N 106.70°W / 39.62; -106.70