Mineral County, Colorado

Last updated

Mineral County
Mineral County Courthouse (Creede, Colorado) 3.JPG
The Mineral County Courthouse in Creede
Map of Colorado highlighting Mineral County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado in United States.svg
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°41′N106°56′W / 37.69°N 106.93°W / 37.69; -106.93
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
FoundedMarch 27, 1893
Seat Creede
Largest townCreede
Area
  Total
878 sq mi (2,270 km2)
  Land876 sq mi (2,270 km2)
  Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
865
  Density1.0/sq mi (0.4/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 3rd
Website mineralcounty.colorado.gov
Rio Grande below Creede, Mineral County Rio grande below Creede CO.jpg
Rio Grande below Creede, Mineral County
Bristol Head, el. 12,713 feet (3,875 meters). Bristol Head from the West, CO.jpg
Bristol Head, el. 12,713 feet (3,875 meters).

Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 865, [1] making it the third-least populous county in Colorado, behind San Juan County and Hinsdale County. The county seat and only incorporated municipality in the county is Creede. [2] The county was named for the many valuable minerals found in the mountains and streams of the area.

Contents

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 878 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 876 square miles (2,270 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.2%) is water. [3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1900 1,913
1910 1,239−35.2%
1920 779−37.1%
1930 640−17.8%
1940 97552.3%
1950 698−28.4%
1960 424−39.3%
1970 78685.4%
1980 8042.3%
1990 558−30.6%
2000 83148.9%
2010 712−14.3%
2020 86521.5%
2023 (est.)944 [4] 9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7]
1990-2000 [8] 2010-2020 [1]

At the 2000 census, there were 831 people in 377 households, including 251 families, in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile (0.39 people/km2). There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.87% White, 0.84% Native American, 0.12% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 377 households 22.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.10% of households were one person and 9.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.70.

The age distribution was 20.50% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 32.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 104.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.10 males.

The median household income was $34,844 and the median family income was $40,833. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,475. About 9.30% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.70% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Mineral County has an extremely high proportion of land under federal ownership, with 95% [9] of the county under the management of the federal government (It houses an office of, and is surrounded by, the Rio Grande National Forest).[ citation needed ]

2015

As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Mineral County, Colorado are: [10]

Largest ancestries (2015)Percent
English Flag of England.svg 22.5%
German Flag of Germany.svg 19.9%
Irish Flag of Ireland.svg 13.9%
"American" Flag of the United States.svg 7.5%

Politics

Like neighboring Hinsdale County, Mineral County leans Republican. It has only voted for Democrats twice since 1968 (although heavy third-party swing had a major role to play in each). Up through 1968, it was a Democratic-leaning swing county.

United States presidential election results for Mineral County, Colorado [11] [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 41755.38%31742.10%192.52%
2020 42756.48%31741.93%121.59%
2016 34452.76%23736.35%7110.89%
2012 34452.92%29144.77%152.31%
2008 33453.61%27043.34%193.05%
2004 38361.87%22736.67%91.45%
2000 29460.49%16834.57%244.94%
1996 17940.04%19242.95%7617.00%
1992 15935.41%17138.08%11926.50%
1988 21755.08%17444.16%30.76%
1984 33372.55%11725.49%91.96%
1980 27160.22%12527.78%5412.00%
1976 23555.56%16739.48%214.96%
1972 24770.98%9627.59%51.44%
1968 11643.77%12647.55%238.68%
1964 8930.17%20469.15%20.68%
1960 14647.87%15851.80%10.33%
1956 16862.69%9936.94%10.37%
1952 20967.86%9831.82%10.32%
1948 14442.99%19056.72%10.30%
1944 17052.80%15046.58%20.62%
1940 22945.08%27353.74%61.18%
1936 12630.22%28568.35%61.44%
1932 11229.55%21055.41%5715.04%
1928 14441.14%18753.43%195.43%
1924 15046.01%10130.98%7523.01%
1920 18349.33%14639.35%4211.32%
1916 13529.16%27860.04%5010.80%
1912 18628.93%28644.48%17126.59%
1908 21829.99%48867.13%212.89%
1904 30633.59%57563.12%303.29%
1900 20822.73%70076.50%70.77%
1896 111.34%80898.30%30.36%

Communities

Native silver from the Bulldog Mountain Mine, Creede District. Size 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.25 cm. Bulldog Mountain Mine wire Silver-20872.jpg
Native silver from the Bulldog Mountain Mine, Creede District. Size 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.25 cm.

Town

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

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 May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. "Home | Mineral County". mineralcounty.colorado.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  10. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  11. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  12. "Election Night Reporting".

Further reading

37°41′N106°56′W / 37.69°N 106.93°W / 37.69; -106.93