Editing Hinsdale County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Hinsdale County
 | state                = Colorado
 | ex image             = Hinsdale County Court House.JPG
 | ex image size        = 225px
 | ex image cap         = The 1877 Hinsdale County Court House in Lake City, Colorado.
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1874
 | founded date         = February 10
 | seat wl           = Lake City
 | largest city wl   = Lake City
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1123
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1117
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.9
 | area percentage      = 0.5
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 788
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 765 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone          = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = hinsdalecounty.colorado.gov
 | named for            = George A. Hinsdale
 | district             = 3rd }}
[[File:Empire Chief mine, 2001.jpg|thumb|Bonanza-Empire Chief mine and mill, on the [[Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway|Alpine Loop]]. The mill ruins were stabilized in 2000 by the [[Bureau of Land Management]] and Hinsdale County Historical Society. In 2007–2008, the mill ruins were demolished by an avalanche.]]
'''Hinsdale County''' is a county located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 788,<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hinsdalecountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> making it the second least-populous county in Colorado. With a population density of only {{convert|0.71|PD/sqmi}}, it is also the least-densely populated county in Colorado. The [[county seat]] and only [[Colorado municipalities|incorporated municipality]] in the county is [[Lake City, Colorado|Lake City]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is named for [[George A. Hinsdale]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n156 157]}}</ref> a prominent pioneer and former Lieut. Governor of [[Colorado Territory]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1123|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1117|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.9|sqmi}} (0.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

Hinsdale County is one of the most remote counties in Colorado and the United States. The county is covered by mountains, including multiple [[fourteener]]s, and contains one of the largest roadless areas in the country.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Watts |first=Raymond D. |last2=Compton |first2=Roger W. |last3=McCammon |first3=John H. |last4=Rich |first4=Carl L. |last5=Wright |first5=Stewart M. |last6=Owens |first6=Tom |last7=Ouren |first7=Douglas S. |date=May 4, 2007 |title=Roadless Space of the Conterminous United States |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1138141 |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=316 |issue=5825 |pages=736–738 |doi=10.1126/science.1138141 |issn=0036-8075 |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Tracy Staedter |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/05/03/roadlessspace_pla.html |title=Roadless Space Uneven Across U.S. |publisher=Discovery News |date=May 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506091330/http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/05/03/roadlessspace_pla.html |archive-date=May 6, 2007 }}</ref> The [[continental divide]] crosses the county twice. Most of the county is divided among several different [[United States National Forest|national forests]] and the [[Weminuche Wilderness]] area.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Gunnison County, Colorado|Gunnison]] – north
*[[Saguache County, Colorado|Saguache]] – northeast
*[[Mineral County, Colorado|Mineral]] – east
*[[Archuleta County, Colorado|Archuleta]] – southeast
*[[La Plata County, Colorado|La Plata]] – southwest
*[[San Juan County, Colorado|San Juan]] – west
*[[Ouray County, Colorado|Ouray]] – northwest

===Major highways===
* [[File:Colorado 149.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 149|State Highway 149]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1487
|1890= 862
|1900= 1609
|1910= 646
|1920= 538
|1930= 449
|1940= 349
|1950= 263
|1960= 208
|1970= 202
|1980= 408
|1990= 467
|2000= 790
|2010= 843
|2020= 788
|estyear=2023
|estimate=765
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="2020Census" />
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 790 people, 359 households, and 246 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|0.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 1,304 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.34% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.25% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.51% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 359 households, out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.6.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 34.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,279, and the median income for a family was $42,159. Males had a median income of $26,210 versus $23,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $22,360. About 4.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Republican presidential nominees have carried Hinsdale County since [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] defeated [[Alf Landon]] by eight votes in 1936. Along with [[Elbert County, Colorado|Elbert County]] and [[Washington County, Colorado|Washington County]] it was one of three Colorado counties to vote for [[Barry Goldwater]] over [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1964. In 2020, Joe Biden received the highest vote share for a Democrat since Johnson, and became the third Democrat since 1940 to breach 40% of the vote.

The last Democrat to carry Hinsdale County in a statewide election was [[John Hickenlooper]] in the [[Colorado gubernatorial election, 2010|2010 gubernatorial contest]],<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2010&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado ]</ref> and the only other case since at least 1980 have been Democratic senator [[Ben Nighthorse Campbell|Ben “Nighthorse” Campbell]], who was later to shift to the Republican Party, in 1992, alongside popular Governor [[Roy Romer]], who carried all but three counties statewide, in 1990.<ref>Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&f=1&off=5&elect=0 1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Colorado]</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Hinsdale County, Colorado|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|332|257|18|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|353|255|24|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|339|197|53|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|353|229|18|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|344|240|15|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|355|236|11|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|316|188|62|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|289|185|73|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|188|151|137|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|295|111|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|310|98|6|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|232|76|28|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|189|83|12|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|172|44|6|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|127|43|22|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|107|94|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|138|82|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|155|47|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|154|54|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|133|75|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|124|61|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|150|103|2|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|129|137|4|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|94|138|14|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|128|106|4|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|138|79|59|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|149|67|36|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|94|178|30|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|136|157|59|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|156|215|32|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|243|239|29|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|230|595|6|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|19|697|7|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|412|0|1,184|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|158|116|0|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|245|180|4|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|421|361|0|Colorado}}

==Recreation==
===National forests===
*[[Gunnison National Forest]]
*[[Rio Grande National Forest]]
*[[San Juan National Forest]]
*[[Uncompahgre National Forest]]

===National wilderness areas===
*[[La Garita Wilderness]]
*[[Powderhorn Wilderness]]
*[[Uncompahgre Wilderness]]
*[[Weminuche Wilderness]]

===Trails===
*[[Colorado Trail]]
*[[Continental Divide National Scenic Trail]]
*[[West Lost Trail Creek National Recreation Trail]]

===Scenic byways===
*[[Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway]]
*[[Silver Thread Scenic Byway]]

==Communities==
[[File:Capitol City, Colo.jpg|thumb|[[Capitol City, Colorado]], a [[ghost town]] on the [[Alpine Loop National Scenic Back Country Byway]]. Capitol City once had a population of 400; its founders wanted it to become the capital of Colorado. The post office, some outbuildings, and brick kilns remain.]]

===Town===
*[[Lake City, Colorado|Lake City]]

===Census-designated places===
*[[Cathedral, Colorado|Cathedral]]
*[[Piedra, Colorado|Piedra]]

===Ghost towns===
*Beartown
*Burrows Park
*[[Capitol City, Colorado|Capitol City]]
*Carson
*[[Henson, Colorado|Henson]]
*Old Carson
<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghost Towns of Colorado- Hinsdale County |url=https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/cohinsdale.html |website=Ghost Towns |access-date=June 21, 2020}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08053_hinsdale/DC20SD_C08053.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713031307/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08053_hinsdale/DC20SD_C08053.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hinsdale County, CO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 15, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08053_hinsdale/DC20SD_C08053_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Hinsdale County School District RE-1]]
* [[Archuleta County School District 50-JT]]
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Government|History|Mountains|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
*[[Geography of Colorado]]
*[[History of Colorado]]
**[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hinsdale County, Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of counties in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://hinsdalecounty.colorado.gov/}}
*[http://www.lakecity.com/ Official Tourism website for Lake City Hinsdale County Marketing Committee and Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.lakecitydirt.com/ Lake City Downtown Improvement and Revitalization Team (Official Main Street Program)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205102713/http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
*[http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Hinsdale County, Colorado
|North     = [[Gunnison County, Colorado|Gunnison County]]
|Northeast = [[Saguache County, Colorado|Saguache County]]
|East      = [[Mineral County, Colorado|Mineral County]]
|Southeast = [[Archuleta County, Colorado|Archuleta County]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[La Plata County, Colorado|La Plata County]]
|West      = [[San Juan County, Colorado|San Juan County]]
|Northwest = [[Ouray County, Colorado|Ouray County]]
}}
{{Hinsdale County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|37|49|12|N|107|16|48|W|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Hinsdale County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Colorado Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1874]]