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Chaffee County, Colorado

Coordinates: 38°44′N 106°11′W / 38.74°N 106.18°W / 38.74; -106.18
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Chaffee County
County
County of Chaffee
Old Chaffee County Courthouse
Old Chaffee County Courthouse
Map
Interactive map of Chaffee County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Country United States
State Colorado
EstablishedFebruary 10, 1879
Named forJerome B. Chaffee
County seatSalida
Largest citySalida
Area
 • Total
1,015 sq mi (2,630 km2)
 • Land1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Highest elevation
[1]
14,421 ft (4,396 m)
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
20,356[2]
 • Density18/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code970
FIPS code08015
GNIS feature ID198123
Websitewww.chaffeecounty.org
Salida, Colorado with Sangre de Cristo Range in background

Chaffee County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,809.[3] The county seat is Salida.[4]

History

Chaffee County has a confusing origin. Between February 8 and February 10, 1879, Carbonate County was created by the Colorado legislature out of northern Lake County. On February 10 the two counties were renamed, with the southern part of Lake County becoming Chaffee County, and Carbonate County becoming Lake County. Chaffee County is known as the “Heart of the Rockies”. It was named for Jerome B. Chaffee,[5] Colorado's first United States Senator.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,015 square miles (2,630 km2), of which 1,013 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

National protected areas

Recreation area

Trails

Bicycle routes

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18806,512—
18906,6121.5%
19007,0857.2%
19107,6227.6%
19207,7531.7%
19308,1264.8%
19408,109−0.2%
19507,168−11.6%
19608,29815.8%
197010,16222.5%
198013,22730.2%
199012,684−4.1%
200016,24228.1%
201017,8099.6%
2019 (est.)20,356[7]14.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[3]

At the 2000 census there were 16,242 people, 6,584 households, and 4,365 families living 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.[12] Of the 6,584 households 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 households were one person and 11.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $34,368 and the median family income 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.

Chaffee County is also home to a source of water that Arrowhead water uses for some water bottles. The source is Ruby Mountain Springs.

Politics

Chaffee County is a bellwether county, having supported the winner of 10 out of the last 11 presidential elections. Ironically, the one time that Chaffee County got it wrong was in 2008 when John McCain won the county despite Barack Obama winning in a landslide nationwide, and also winning Colorado by a comfortable margin.

Presidential election results
Chaffee County vote
by party in presidential elections[13]
Year Republican Democratic Others
2020 45.4% 6,222 52.2% 7,160 2.4% 335
2016 47.9% 5,391 43.5% 4,888 8.6% 971
2012 48.5% 5,070 48.6% 5,086 2.9% 306
2008 49.1% 4,873 49.0% 4,862 1.9% 186
2004 55.6% 4,875 42.9% 3,766 1.5% 129
2000 56.5% 4,300 36.4% 2,768 7.1% 542
1996 42.5% 2,768 46.9% 3,052 10.7% 695
1992 36.4% 2,284 38.5% 2,419 25.1% 1,579
1988 53.9% 3,080 44.6% 2,548 1.5% 86
1984 66.3% 3,680 32.1% 1,779 1.6% 91
1980 60.7% 3,327 28.9% 1,583 10.4% 568
1976 56.7% 2,925 40.0% 2,064 3.4% 173
1972 66.6% 2,859 31.6% 1,354 1.8% 78
1968 51.1% 2,121 40.1% 1,667 8.8% 365
1964 37.4% 1,476 62.3% 2,463 0.3% 12
1960 52.1% 2,094 47.8% 1,918 0.1% 4
1956 63.7% 2,284 36.3% 1,303 0.0% 0
1952 56.7% 2,171 42.9% 1,643 0.4% 15
1948 57.7% 2,065 41.2% 1,476 1.1% 39
1944 48.8% 1,675 50.5% 1,731 0.7% 24
1940 46.9% 1,933 52.2% 2,153 0.9% 35
1936 29.2% 1,069 66.8% 2,447 4.0% 148
1932 29.2% 1,061 66.0% 2,393 4.8% 174
1928 59.5% 1,880 38.9% 1,230 1.6% 50
1924 43.4% 1,336 19.9% 612 36.7% 1,130
1920 52.9% 1,501 43.5% 1,233 3.6% 103
1916 24.6% 864 72.5% 2,546 2.9% 103
1912 21.3% 723 48.3% 1,641 30.4% 1,031

Communities

Chaffee County, Colorado
Buffalo Peaks near Buena Vista

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

References

  1. ^ Mount Harvard
  2. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 74.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
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