San Juan County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Juan County
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The San Juan County Courthouse in Silverton
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Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
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 Colorado's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Founded | January 31, 1876 |
| Named for | Saint John |
| Seat | Silverton |
| Largest town | Silverton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 388 sq mi (1,000 km2) |
| • Land | 387 sq mi (1,000 km2) |
| • Water | 0.8 sq mi (2 km2) 0.2%% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2020)
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705 |
| • Density | 1.8/sq mi (0.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
San Juan County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 705, making it the least populous county in Colorado. The county seat and the only incorporated municipality in the county is Silverton. 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.
Contents
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. The new association consolidated the power of thirty-six mining properties in San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan counties. 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. 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
- Ouray County - north
- Hinsdale County - east
- La Plata County - south
- Montezuma County - southwest
- Dolores County - west
- San Miguel County - northwest
National protected areas
- Durango-Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad National Historic District
- Rio Grande National Forest
- San Juan National Forest
- Shenandoah-Dives (Mayflower) Mill
- Silverton National Historic District
- Uncompahgre National Forest
- Weminuche Wilderness
Trails and byways
- Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway
- Colorado Trail
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
- San Juan Skyway National Scenic Byway
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% | |
| 2020 | 705 | 0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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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 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.
As of November 2006, the one and only local school had 53 students in grades K–12.
Communities
Images for kids
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Silverton as seen from US 550
See also
In Spanish: Condado de San Juan (Colorado) para niños
