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. The county was named for Twin Lakes.
Placer gold was found at Colorado Gulch in 1863 as part of the Colorado Gold Rush. [3] : 30
Lake County slowly lost territory over the succeeding decades, losing land its southeast to Saguache County in 1866 and Hinsdale County in 1874; in its southwest to La Plata County in 1874 and San Juan County in 1876, and in its west to Ouray and Gunnison 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 City (from 1861), Lourette (from 1863), Dayton (from 1866), and Granite (from 1868).
By 1878, Lake County had been reduced to an area including only present-day Lake and Chaffee counties. On February 8, 1879, the Colorado legislature renamed Lake County, Carbonate County. However, 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.
Demographics
Historical population| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1870 | 522 | | — |
|---|
| 1880 | 23,569 | | 4,415.1% |
|---|
| 1890 | 14,603 | | −38.0% |
|---|
| 1900 | 18,054 | | 23.6% |
|---|
| 1910 | 10,600 | | −41.3% |
|---|
| 1920 | 6,630 | | −37.5% |
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| 1930 | 4,899 | | −26.1% |
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| 1940 | 6,833 | | 39.5% |
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| 1950 | 8,600 | | 25.9% |
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| 1960 | 7,101 | | −17.4% |
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| 1970 | 8,318 | | 17.1% |
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| 1980 | 7,491 | | −9.9% |
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| 1990 | 6,007 | | −19.8% |
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| 2000 | 7,102 | | 18.2% |
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| 2010 | 7,310 | | 2.9% |
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| 2020 | 7,436 | | 1.7% |
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| 2023 (est.) | 7,365 | [5] | −1.0% |
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As of the census [10] of 2000, there were 7,812 people, 2,977 households, and 1,914 families living in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8.1 people/km2). There were 3,913 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.60% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.25% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 17.99% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. 36.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 couples 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 income 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.
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