San Juan County, Colorado

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San Juan County, Colorado
SAN JUAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, SILVERTON, COLORADO.jpg
The San Juan County courthouse
Map of Colorado highlighting San Juan County
Location in the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded January 31, 1876
Named for Saint John
Seat Silverton
Largest town Silverton
Area
 • Total 388 sq mi (1,005 km2)
 • Land 387 sq mi (1,002 km2)
 • Water 0.8 sq mi (2 km2), 0.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 720
 • Density 1.8/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website www.sanjuancountycolorado.us

San Juan County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 699,[1] making it the least populous county in Colorado. The county seat and the only incorporated municipality in the county is Silverton.[2] The county name is the Spanish language name for “Saint John”, the name Spanish explorers gave to a river and the mountain range in the area. With a mean elevation of 11,240 feet (3426 meters), San Juan County is the highest county in the United States.

History

Mining operators in the San Juan mountain area of Colorado formed the San Juan District Mining Association (SJDMA) in 1903, as a direct result of a Western Federation of Miners proposal to the Telluride Mining Association for the eight hour day, which had been approved in a referendum by 72 percent of Colorado voters.[3] The new association consolidated the power of thirty-six mining properties in San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan counties.[4] The SJDMA refused to consider any reduction in hours or increase in wages, helping to provoke a bitter strike.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 388 square miles (1,000 km2), of which 387 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-smallest county in Colorado by area. The County is located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, with numerous peaks above 14,000 feet in height. It has the highest mean elevation of any county in the United States, at 11,240 feet (3,426 m). [1]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Trails and byways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880 1,087 —
1890 1,572 44.6%
1900 2,342 49.0%
1910 3,063 30.8%
1920 1,700 −44.5%
1930 1,935 13.8%
1940 1,439 −25.6%
1950 1,471 2.2%
1960 849 −42.3%
1970 831 −2.1%
1980 833 0.2%
1990 745 −10.6%
2000 558 −25.1%
2010 699 25.3%
Est. 2014 720 [6] 3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 558 people, 269 households, and 157 families residing in the county. The population density was one person per square mile (1/km²). There were 632 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 0.72% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 7.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 269 households out of which 23.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.90% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.30% were non-families. 36.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.63.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.10% under the age of 18, 4.30% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 40.50% from 45 to 64, and 7.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 110.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,764, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $30,588 versus $19,545 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,584. About 13.50% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.40% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

San Juan county is the only county outside of Alaska where walking is the most common form of commute to work. As of 2013, 33% of residents walked to work, 18% drove alone, 19% carpooled, and 18% bicycled, though the small population size introduces considerable margins of error to these statistics.[11]

As of November, 2006 the one and only local school had 53 students in grades k-12.

Communities

San Juan County Courthouse in Silverton

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Roughneck—The Life and Times of Big Bill Haywood, Peter Carlson, 1983, page 65.
  4. ↑ The Corpse On Boomerang Road, Telluride's War On Labor 1899-1908, MaryJoy Martin, 2004, page 201.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

 San Miguel County Ouray County
Dolores County Hinsdale County
  San Juan County, Colorado  
Montezuma County La Plata County

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