Editing Saguache County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | 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
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = saguachecounty.colorado.gov/
 | named for            = 
 | 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=<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>|population_est=6688}}

'''Saguache County''' (suh-WATCH {{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Saguache.ogg|s|ə|ˈ|w|ɑː|tʃ}}) is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]].{{efn|name=Saguache|The name "Saguache" is pronounced {{IPAc-en|s|ə|ˈ|w|æ|tʃ}}. This name comes from the [[Ute language]] noun "''sawup''" {{IPAc-en|s|ə|ˈ|w|ʌ|p}} meaning "sand dunes". The [[Spanish language]] version of this name is usually spelled "''Saguache''", while the [[English language]] version is usually spelled "Sawatch".}}<ref name=Sawup>{{citation|url=http://www.denverpost.com/outwest/ci_22666597/whats-colorado-name-pronunciation?|title=What's in a Colorado name pronunciation?|last=Merkl|first=Dameon|newspaper=[[The Denver Post]]|date=February 26, 2013|access-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name=benson>{{cite book|last=Benson|first=Maxine|title=1001 Colorado Place Names|location=Lawrence|publisher=University Press of Kansas|year=1994|isbn=0-7006-0632-7}}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 6,368.<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/saguachecountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Saguache, Colorado|Saguache]].<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}}</ref>

==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, Colorado#History|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 {{convert|3170|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3169|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.7|sqmi}} (0.05%) 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> It is the 7th largest of Colorado's [[Colorado counties|64 counties]].

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
*[[Chaffee County, Colorado|Chaffee County]] - north
*[[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]] - northeast
*[[Custer County, Colorado|Custer County]] - east
*[[Huerfano County, Colorado|Huerfano County]] - southeast
*[[Rio Grande County, Colorado|Rio Grande County]] - south
*[[Alamosa County, Colorado|Alamosa County]] - south
*[[Mineral County, Colorado|Mineral County]] - southwest
*[[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]] - southwest
*[[Gunnison County, Colorado|Gunnison County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 285.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 285 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 285]]
* [[File:Colorado 17.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 17|State Highway 17]]
* [[File:Colorado 112.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 112|State Highway 112]]
* [[File:Colorado 114.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 114|State Highway 114]]

===National protected areas===
*[[Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve]]
*[[Great Sand Dunes Wilderness]]
*[[Gunnison National Forest]]
*[[La Garita Wilderness]]
*[[Rio Grande National Forest]]
*[[Sangre de Cristo Wilderness]]

===Trails and byways===
*[[Colorado Trail]]
*[[Continental Divide National Scenic Trail]]
*[[Great Parks Bicycle Route]]
*[[Liberty Road (Rio Grande National Forest)|Liberty Road]] historic mail route open to foot, horse, and bicycle travel between Crestone and the ghost towns of Duncan and Liberty crossing the Baca Mountain Tract [[Rio Grande National Forest]].<ref>[http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_a36587da-8dab-55a6-bc12-5999de72a22f.html "Forest Service issues management plan for Baca Mountain Tract:"] Creation of Great Sand Dunes National Park gave 14,000-acre parcel to Forest Service." article by Matt Hildner in ''[[The Pueblo Chieftain]]'' November 14, 2009, Updated May 11, 2010, accessed August 30, 2010</ref>
*[[Medano Pass Primitive Road]]
*[[Montville Nature Trail]]
*[[Mosca Pass Trail]]
*[[Old Spanish National Historic Trail]]
*[[Sand Ramp Trail]], a [[hiking trail]] within the [[Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve]] which skirts the east and north of the dune field.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/hiking.htm Hiking and Backpacking] accessed July 16, 2010</ref>
*[[Western Express Bicycle Route]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 304
|1880= 1973
|1890= 3313
|1900= 3853
|1910= 4160
|1920= 4638
|1930= 6250
|1940= 6173
|1950= 5664
|1960= 4473
|1970= 3827
|1980= 3935
|1990= 4619
|2000= 5917
|2010= 6108
|2020= 6368
|estyear=2023
|estimate=6688
|estref=<ref>{{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 11, 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 11, 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 11, 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 11, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="2020Census" />
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,917 people, 2,300 households, and 1,557 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 3,087 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 71.29% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.46% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 23.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.08% from two or more races. 45.26% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 [[Latino vote|Hispanic]] presence, Saguache leans [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] in Presidential elections. The last Republican to carry the county was [[Ronald Reagan]] in [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]].
{{PresHead|place=Saguache 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|Democratic|1,577|1,704|120|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|1,413|1,884|92|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|1,147|1,417|271|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|964|1,865|103|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|956|1,730|64|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|1,163|1,594|46|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|1,078|1,145|306|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|712|969|271|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|675|1,011|488|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|945|1,033|35|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,201|867|16|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,124|893|118|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,094|1,059|57|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,062|578|41|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|824|648|99|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|622|1,099|4|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|956|984|9|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,149|823|8|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,344|714|7|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|914|1,009|14|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,204|729|5|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,462|1,142|27|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,071|1,321|54|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|931|1,427|100|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,491|854|36|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,205|591|270|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,195|717|69|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|681|1,254|55|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|730|859|418|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|811|817|25|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|922|697|22|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|731|1,085|19|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|176|1,155|5|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|326|0|567|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|592|428|5|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|543|454|7|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|509|371|10|Colorado}}

==Communities==

===Towns===
*[[Bonanza, Colorado|Bonanza]]
*[[Center, Colorado|Center]]
*[[Crestone, Colorado|Crestone]]
*[[Moffat, Colorado|Moffat]]
*[[Saguache, Colorado|Saguache]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
*[[Alder, Colorado|Alder]]
*[[Duncan, Colorado|Duncan]]
*[[La Garita, Colorado|La Garita]]
*[[Mineral Hot Springs, Colorado|Mineral Hot Springs]]
*[[Sargents, Colorado|Sargents]]
*[[Villa Grove, Colorado|Villa Grove]]
{{div col end}}

==National Register of Historic Places==
{{main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Saguache County, Colorado}}
Saguache County has nine locations listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].
{{clear}}

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

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Lindsey, D.A. et al. (1985). ''Mineral resources of the Black Canyon and South Piney Creek Wilderness Study Areas, Saguache County, Colorado'' [U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1716-A]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://saguachecounty.colorado.gov/}}
*[http://www.saguache.org/ Crestone and Saguache County Visitor's Agency website]
*[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]
*{{osmrelation|1411313}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Saguache County, Colorado
|North     = [[Chaffee County, Colorado|Chaffee County]]
|Northeast = [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]]
|East      = [[Custer County, Colorado|Custer County]]
|Southeast = [[Huerfano County, Colorado|Huerfano County]]
|South     = [[Rio Grande County, Colorado|Rio Grande County]] and [[Alamosa County, Colorado|Alamosa County]]
|Southwest = [[Mineral County, Colorado|Mineral County]] and [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]]
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[Gunnison County, Colorado|Gunnison County]]
}} 
{{Saguache County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|38.08|-106.30|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Saguache County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:Colorado placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1866 establishments in Colorado Territory]]
[[Category:San Luis Valley of Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1866]]