Saguache County, Colorado Explained

County:Saguache County
State:Colorado
Seal:Seal of Saguache County, Colorado.png
Founded Year:1866
Founded Date:December 29
Seat Wl:Saguache
Largest City Wl:Center
City Type:town
Area Total Sq Mi:3170
Area Land Sq Mi:3169
Area Water Sq Mi:1.7
Area Percentage:0.05%
Census Yr:2020
Pop:6368
Density Sq Mi:2.0
Time Zone:Mountain
Web:saguachecounty.colorado.gov/
Ex Image:Saguache County, Colorado.JPG
Ex Image Cap:Entering Saguache County from the north on U.S. 285
District:3rd
Pop Est As Of:2023
Pop Est Footnotes:[1]
Population Est:6688

Saguache County (suh-WATCH) is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado.[2] As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,368.[3] The county seat is Saguache.[4]

History

Saguache County was formed December 29, 1866, in the Territory of Colorado when it was extracted from the northern half of Costilla County. A partition from Lake County on February 9, 1872, added the northwest section of the present-day county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.05%) is water.[5] It is the 7th largest of Colorado's 64 counties.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 5,917 people, 2,300 households, and 1,557 families living in the county. The population density was 2/mi2. There were 3,087 housing units at an average density of 1/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 71.29% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 2.06% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 23.00% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 45.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,300 households, out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,495, and the median income for a family was $29,405. Males had a median income of $25,158 versus $18,862 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,121. About 18.70% of families and 22.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Like many Colorado counties with a strong Hispanic presence, Saguache leans Democratic in Presidential elections. The last Republican to carry the county was Ronald Reagan in 1984.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

National Register of Historic Places

See main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Saguache County, Colorado. Saguache County has nine locations listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

Further reading

External links

38.08°N -106.3°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 . March 24, 2024 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Book: Benson, Maxine. 1001 Colorado Place Names. Lawrence. University Press of Kansas. 1994. 0-7006-0632-7.
  3. Web site: State & County QuickFacts. United States Census Bureau. September 5, 2021.
  4. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  6. http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_a36587da-8dab-55a6-bc12-5999de72a22f.html "Forest Service issues management plan for Baca Mountain Tract:"
  7. http://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/hiking.htm Hiking and Backpacking
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. May 14, 2011.