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Mineral County, Colorado

Coordinates: 37°41′N 106°56′W / 37.69°N 106.93°W / 37.69; -106.93
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mineral County
The Mineral County Courthouse in Creede
The Mineral County Courthouse in Creede
Map of Colorado highlighting Mineral County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°41′N 106°56′W / 37.69°N 106.93°W / 37.69; -106.93
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedMarch 27, 1893
SeatCreede
Largest townCreede
Area
 • Total878 sq mi (2,270 km2)
 • Land876 sq mi (2,270 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total865
 • Density1.0/sq mi (0.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitemineralcounty.colorado.gov
Rio Grande below Creede, Mineral County
Bristol Head, el. 12,713 feet (3,875 meters).

Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 865,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Colorado, behind San Juan County and Hinsdale County. The county seat and only incorporated municipality in the county is Creede.[2] The county was named for the many valuable minerals found in the mountains and streams of the area.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 878 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 876 square miles (2,270 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.2%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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Trails and byways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19001,913
19101,239−35.2%
1920779−37.1%
1930640−17.8%
194097552.3%
1950698−28.4%
1960424−39.3%
197078685.4%
19808042.3%
1990558−30.6%
200083148.9%
2010712−14.3%
202086521.5%
2023 (est.)944[4]9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

At the 2000 census, there were 831 people in 377 households, including 251 families, in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile (0.39 people/km2). There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The 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%[9] 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]

2015

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As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Mineral County, Colorado are:[10]

Largest ancestries (2015) Percent
English England 22.5%
German Germany 19.9%
Irish Republic of Ireland 13.9%
"American" United States 7.5%

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Mineral County, Colorado[11][12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 427 56.48% 317 41.93% 12 1.59%
2016 344 52.76% 237 36.35% 71 10.89%
2012 344 52.92% 291 44.77% 15 2.31%
2008 334 53.61% 270 43.34% 19 3.05%
2004 383 61.87% 227 36.67% 9 1.45%
2000 294 60.49% 168 34.57% 24 4.94%
1996 179 40.04% 192 42.95% 76 17.00%
1992 159 35.41% 171 38.08% 119 26.50%
1988 217 55.08% 174 44.16% 3 0.76%
1984 333 72.55% 117 25.49% 9 1.96%
1980 271 60.22% 125 27.78% 54 12.00%
1976 235 55.56% 167 39.48% 21 4.96%
1972 247 70.98% 96 27.59% 5 1.44%
1968 116 43.77% 126 47.55% 23 8.68%
1964 89 30.17% 204 69.15% 2 0.68%
1960 146 47.87% 158 51.80% 1 0.33%
1956 168 62.69% 99 36.94% 1 0.37%
1952 209 67.86% 98 31.82% 1 0.32%
1948 144 42.99% 190 56.72% 1 0.30%
1944 170 52.80% 150 46.58% 2 0.62%
1940 229 45.08% 273 53.74% 6 1.18%
1936 126 30.22% 285 68.35% 6 1.44%
1932 112 29.55% 210 55.41% 57 15.04%
1928 144 41.14% 187 53.43% 19 5.43%
1924 150 46.01% 101 30.98% 75 23.01%
1920 183 49.33% 146 39.35% 42 11.32%
1916 135 29.16% 278 60.04% 50 10.80%
1912 186 28.93% 286 44.48% 171 26.59%
1908 218 29.99% 488 67.13% 21 2.89%
1904 306 33.59% 575 63.12% 30 3.29%
1900 208 22.73% 700 76.50% 7 0.77%
1896 11 1.34% 808 98.30% 3 0.36%

Communities

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Native silver from the Bulldog Mountain Mine, Creede District. Size 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.25 cm.

Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "Home | Mineral County". mineralcounty.colorado.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  10. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2018. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  12. ^ "Election Night Reporting".

Further reading

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  • 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.
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37°41′N 106°56′W / 37.69°N 106.93°W / 37.69; -106.93