Lake County, Colorado
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Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of 2000, the population is 7,812. The county seat is Leadville.
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History
Lake County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Colorado legislature on November 1, 1861. As originally defined, Lake County included a large portion of western Colorado to the south and west of its present boundaries.
Lake County slowly lost territory over the suceeding decades, losing land in its southeast to Saguache County in 1866 and Hinsdale County in 1874; in its southwest to La Plata County in 1874 and San Juan County in 1876, and in its west to Ouray and Gunnison counties in 1877.
With its many reductions in size, Lake County's designated county seat also changed multiple times within just a few years, residing successively in Oro City (from 1861), Lourette (from 1863), Dayton (from 1866), and Granite (from 1868).
By 1878, Lake County had been reduced to an area including only present-day Lake and Chafee counties. On February 8, 1879, the Colorado legislature renamed Lake County Carbonate County, although this designation name only lasted for two days, until Chafee County was split off from Carbonate's southern section on February 10 and the remaining northern portion was redesignated Lake County with its current county seat of Leadville.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 994 km² (384 mi²). 976 km² (377 mi²) of it is land and 18 km² (7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.83% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 7,812 people, 2,977 households, and 1,914 families residing in the county. The population density is 8/km² (21/mi²). There are 3,913 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (10/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 77.60% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.25% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 17.99% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. 36.14% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,977 households out of which 33.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% are married couples living together, 8.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% are non-families. 26.30% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.59 and the average family size is 3.15.
In the county the population is spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 12.80% from 18 to 24, 33.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 6.60% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 115.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 116.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $37,691, and the median income for a family is $41,652. Males have a median income of $30,977 versus $24,415 for females. The per capita income for the county is $18,524. 12.90% of the population and 9.50% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.60% of those under the age of 18 and 6.30% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
