Chaffee County, Colorado

Chaffee County, Colorado
Map of Colorado highlighting Chaffee County
Location in the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded February 10, 1879
Named for Jerome B. Chaffee
Seat Salida
Largest city Salida
Area
 • Total 1,015 sq mi (2,629 km2)
 • Land 1,013 sq mi (2,624 km2)
 • Water 1.6 sq mi (4 km2), 0.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 18,658
 • Density 18/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website www.chaffeecounty.org
Salida, Colorado with Sangre de Cristo Range in background

Chaffee County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,809.[1] The county seat is Salida.[2]

History

Chaffee County has a confusing origin. Between February 8 and February 10, 1879, Carbonate County was created by the Colorado legislature out of northern Lake County. On February 10 the two counties were renamed, with the southern part of Lake County becoming Chaffee County, and Carbonate County becoming Lake County. Chaffee County is known as the “Heart of the Rockies”. It was named for Jerome B. Chaffee,[3] Colorado's first United States Senator.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,015 square miles (2,630 km2), of which 1,013 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

National protected areas

Recreation area

Trails

Bicycle routes

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18806,512—
18906,6121.5%
19007,0857.2%
19107,6227.6%
19207,7531.7%
19308,1264.8%
19408,109−0.2%
19507,168−11.6%
19608,29815.8%
197010,16222.5%
198013,22730.2%
199012,684−4.1%
200016,24228.1%
201017,8099.6%
Est. 201518,658[5]4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 16,242 people, 6,584 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 8,392 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.94% White, 1.58% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.21% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 8.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,584 households out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county the population was spread out with 19.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 113.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,368, and the median income for a family was $42,043. Males had a median income of $30,770 versus $22,219 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,430. About 7.40% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Chaffee County, Colorado
Buffalo Peaks near Buena Vista

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 74.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
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Coordinates: 38°44′N 106°11′W / 38.74°N 106.18°W / 38.74; -106.18

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