Editing Mineral County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Mineral County
 | state                = Colorado
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1893
 | founded date         = March 27
 | seat wl              = Creede
 | largest city wl      = Creede
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 878
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 876
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.0
 | area percentage      = 0.2%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 865
 | density_sq_mi        = 1.0
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = mineralcounty.colorado.gov/
 | named for            = 
 | ex image             = Mineral County Courthouse (Creede, Colorado) 3.JPG
 | ex image cap         = The Mineral County Courthouse in Creede
 | district             = 3rd
}}

[[File:Rio grande below Creede CO.jpg|thumb|Rio Grande below Creede, Mineral County]]
[[Image:Bristol Head from the West, CO.jpg|thumb|Bristol Head, el. {{convert|12,713|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}.]]

'''Mineral County''' is a county located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 865,<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mineralcountycolorado/PST045219 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 5, 2021 }}</ref> making it the third-least populous county in Colorado, behind [[San Juan County, Colorado|San Juan County]] and [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]]. The [[county seat]] and only [[Colorado municipalities|incorporated municipality]] in the county is [[Creede, Colorado|Creede]].<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=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county was named for the many valuable minerals found in the mountains and streams of the area.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|878|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|876|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.0|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Saguache County, Colorado|Saguache County]] - northeast
*[[Rio Grande County, Colorado|Rio Grande County]] - east
*[[Archuleta County, Colorado|Archuleta County]] - south
*[[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]] - west

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 160.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 160 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 160]]
* [[File:Colorado 149.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 149|State Highway 149]]

===National protected areas===
*[[Rio Grande National Forest]]
*[[San Juan National Forest]]
*[[La Garita Wilderness]]
*[[Weminuche Wilderness]]

===Trails and byways===
*[[Colorado Trail]]
*[[Continental Divide National Scenic Trail]]
*[[Lake Fork National Recreation Trail]]
*[[Silver Thread Scenic Byway]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 1913
|1910= 1239
|1920= 779
|1930= 640
|1940= 975
|1950= 698
|1960= 424
|1970= 786
|1980= 804
|1990= 558
|2000= 831
|2010= 712
|2020= 865
|estyear=2023
|estimate=944
|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/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</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|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|archive-date=August 11, 2012}}</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|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731171012/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|archive-date=July 31, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="2020Census" />
}}

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], there were 831 people in 377 households, including 251 families, in the county. The population density was {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|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%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Mineral County |url=https://mineralcounty.colorado.gov/#:~:text=Mineral%20County%20Colorado&text=Featuring%2095%25%20public%20lands,%20residents,and%20ghost%20towns%20to%20explore. |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=mineralcounty.colorado.gov}}</ref> 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|date=June 2021}}

===2015===
As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Mineral County, Colorado are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US08079|title=American FactFinder - Results|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=factfinder.census.gov|access-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035313/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US08079|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Largest ancestries (2015) !! Percent 
|-
| [[English Americans|English]] {{flagicon|England}} || 22.5% 
|-
| [[German Americans|German]] {{flagicon|Germany}} || 19.9%
|-
| [[Irish Americans|Irish]] {{flagicon|Ireland}} || 13.9%
|-
| [[American ancestry|"American"]] {{flagicon|USA}} || 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.
{{PresHead|place=Mineral County, Colorado|source1=<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|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604224433/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>|source2=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/Mineral/106016/web.264614/#/summary?v=271875%2F|title = Election Night Reporting}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|417|317|19|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|427|317|12|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|344|237|71|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|344|291|15|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|334|270|19|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|383|227|9|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|294|168|24|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|179|192|76|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|159|171|119|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|217|174|3|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|333|117|9|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|271|125|54|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|235|167|21|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|247|96|5|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|116|126|23|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|89|204|2|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|146|158|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|168|99|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|209|98|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|144|190|1|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|170|150|2|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|229|273|6|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|126|285|6|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|112|210|57|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|144|187|19|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|150|101|75|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|183|146|42|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|135|278|50|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|186|286|171|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|218|488|21|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|306|575|30|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|208|700|7|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Democratic|11|808|3|Colorado}}

==Communities==

===Town===
*[[Creede, Colorado|Creede]]

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Spar City, Colorado|Spar City]]
*Wagon Wheel Gap

===Ghost towns===
*Bachelor City
* [[Wason, Colorado]]
*Weaver
[[File:Bulldog Mountain Mine wire Silver-20872.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|[[Native silver]] from the Bulldog Mountain Mine, Creede District. Size 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.25 cm.]]

{{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 Mineral County, Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of counties in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]
{{clear}}

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

==Further reading==
*Foley, N.K. et al. (1993). ''Mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and paragenesis of gold, silver, and base-metal ores of the North Amethyst vein system, San Juan Mountains, Mineral County, Colorado'' [U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1537]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://mineralcounty.colorado.gov/}}
*[http://www.creede.com/ Creede and Mineral County information]
*[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]
{{clear}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Mineral County, Colorado
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[Saguache County, Colorado|Saguache County]]
|East      = [[Rio Grande County, Colorado|Rio Grande County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Archuleta County, Colorado|Archuleta County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]]
|Northwest = 
}}
{{Mineral County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|37.69|-106.93|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Mineral County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1893]]