Chaffee County, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Chaffee County is one of the 64 counties
of the state of Colorado of the United States
. The county population was 16,242 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat
is Salida
.
(although at the time, Lake County was known as Carbonate County, a designation which lasted for only two days). It is known as the “Heart of the Rockies”. It was named for Jerome B. Chaffee
, Colorado's first United States Senator.
of 2000, there were 16,242 people, 6,584 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density
was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 8,392 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.94% White
, 1.58% Black
or African American
, 1.09% Native American
, 0.44% Asian
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
, 4.21% from other races
, and 1.69% from two or more races. 8.58% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 6,584 households out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples
living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county the population was spread out with 19.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 113.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,368, and the median income for a family was $42,043. Males had a median income of $30,770 versus $22,219 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $19,430. About 7.40% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo1.jpg|Scene in the ghost town
of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo2.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo3.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo4.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
Image:co_goosttown_st_elmo5.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo6.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elm
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo9.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo8.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
Colorado counties
The U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships...
of the state of Colorado of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The county population was 16,242 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Salida
Salida, Colorado
The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...
.
History
Chaffee County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 10, 1879, out of southern Lake CountyLake County, Colorado
Lake County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The highest natural point in Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountains is the summit of Mount Elbert in Lake County at 14,440 feet elevation. The county population was 7,812 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat...
(although at the time, Lake County was known as Carbonate County, a designation which lasted for only two days). It is known as the “Heart of the Rockies”. It was named for Jerome B. Chaffee
Jerome B. Chaffee
Jerome Bonaparte Chaffee was an entrepreneur and United States Senator from Colorado. Chaffee County, Colorado is named after him.-Biography:...
, Colorado's first United States Senator.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1015.01 square miles (2,628.9 km²), of which 1013.45 square miles (2,624.8 km²) (or 99.85%) is land and 1.55 square miles (4 km²) (or 0.15%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Lake CountyLake County, ColoradoLake County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The highest natural point in Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountains is the summit of Mount Elbert in Lake County at 14,440 feet elevation. The county population was 7,812 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- north - Park CountyPark County, ColoradoPark County is the 17th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after the large geographic region known as South Park, which was named by early fur traders and trappers in the area. The geographic center of the State of Colorado is...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- northeast - Fremont CountyFremont County, ColoradoFremont County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county is named for explorer and presidential candidate John C. Frémont. The county population was 46,824 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Cañon City. The Cañon City...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- southeast - Saguache CountySaguache County, ColoradoSaguache County is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning “blue earth” or “water at blue earth”. The county population was 5,917 at U.S. Census 2000...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- south - Gunnison CountyGunnison County, ColoradoGunnison County is the fifth most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado in the United States. The county population was 15,324 at the 2010 census. The county was named for John W. Gunnison, a United States Army officer and captain in the Army Topographical Engineers, who surveyed...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- west - Pitkin CountyPitkin County, ColoradoPitkin County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named in honor of the late Colorado Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin. The county population was 14,872 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Aspen...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- northwest
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 16,242 people, 6,584 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 8,392 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.94% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.58% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.09% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.44% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.69% from two or more races. 8.58% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 6,584 households out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county the population was spread out with 19.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 113.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,368, and the median income for a family was $42,043. Males had a median income of $30,770 versus $22,219 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $19,430. About 7.40% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.
Ghost Towns
St. Elmo --- all pictures are June 2005image:co_goosttown_st_elmo1.jpg|Scene in the ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo2.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo3.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo4.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
Image:co_goosttown_st_elmo5.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo6.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elm
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo9.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
image:co_goosttown_st_elmo8.jpg|Scene in the ghost town of St. Elmo
Cities and towns
- AmericusAmericus, ColoradoAmericus is a populated place in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States.-Geography:Americus is located at ....
- Belleview
- Browns Canon
- Buena VistaBuena Vista, ColoradoBuena Vista is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,195 at the 2000 census.Buena Vista is located in central Colorado roughly midway between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of . The area between Buena Vista and...
- Centerville
- Cleora
- Futurity
- GarfieldGarfield, ColoradoGarfield is a census-designated place in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 15.-Reference:...
- GraniteGranite, ColoradoGranite is an unincorporated town with a U.S. Post Office in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The zip code of Granite is 81228. According to the 2010 census, the population is 116.-Geography and climate:...
- HamiltonHamilton, ColoradoHamilton is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The Hamilton Post Office has the ZIP Code 81638....
- Johnson VillageJohnson Village, ColoradoJohnson Village is a small unincorporated community located in central Chaffee County, Colorado in the United States. It is located along the west side of the Arkansas River, where the river is bridged by U.S. Highway 24. It is approximately three miles south of the town of Buena Vista. The...
- MaysvilleMaysville, ColoradoMaysville is a census-designated place in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 135.-Reference:...
- Newett
- Poncha SpringsPoncha Springs, ColoradoPoncha Springs is a Statutory Town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 466 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Poncha Springs is located at ....
- Princeton
- Riverside
- Rockdale
- St. ElmoSt. Elmo, ColoradoSt. Elmo is a ghost town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1880, St. Elmo lies in the heart of the Sawatch Range, 20 miles southwest of Buena Vista. Nearly 2,000 people settled in this town when mining for gold and silver became evident. The mining industry started to decline...
- SalidaSalida, ColoradoThe City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...
- SmeltertownSmeltertown, ColoradoSmeltertown is a census-designated place in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 120.-Reference:...
- Stonewall
- Turret
- Vicksburg
- Winfield
National forest and wilderness
- Buffalo Peaks WildernessBuffalo Peaks WildernessThe Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in San Isabel National Forest and Pike National Forest in central Colorado. The wilderness named after two highly eroded volcanic mountains was established in 1993....
- Collegiate Peaks WildernessCollegiate Peaks WildernessThe Collegiate Peaks Wilderness is a area located in central Colorado between Leadville and Buena Vista to the east and Aspen to the west and Crested Butte to the southwest. Most of the area is in the San Isabel and Gunnison National Forests, with a smaller area in the White River National Forest...
- San Isabel National ForestSan Isabel National ForestSan Isabel National Forest is located in central Colorado. The forest contains 19 of the state's 54 fourteeners, peaks over high, including Mount Elbert, the highest point in Colorado....
Trails
- American Discovery TrailAmerican Discovery TrailThe American Discovery Trail is a coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail across the mid-tier of the United States. It starts on the Delmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and ends on the northern California coast on the Pacific Ocean, and is signed on over of trail. This includes the doubled...
- Colorado TrailColorado TrailThe Colorado Trail is a long trail running from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States. Its highest point is above sea level, and most of the trail is above...
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
See also
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Colorado countiesColorado countiesThe U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships...
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Chaffee County, ColoradoNational Register of Historic Places listings in Chaffee County, ColoradoThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Chaffee County, Colorado. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States...
- St. Elmo