View source for Lake County, Colorado

{{short description|County in Colorado, United States}}
{{For|other counties with similar names|Lake County (disambiguation){{!}}Lake County}}
{{infobox U.S. county
 | county          = Lake County
 | state              = Colorado
 | ex image             = Leadville, CO Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = Courthouse in Leadville, Colorado.
 | seal                 = Seal of Lake County, Colorado.png
 | founded year         = 1861
 | founded date         = November 1
 | coordinates          = {{coord|39.19|-106.36|display=it|type:adm2nd_region:US-CO_source:UScensus1990}}
 | seat wl           = Leadville
 | largest city wl   = Leadville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 384
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 377
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.0
 | area percentage      = 1.8%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 7436
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 7369 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone          = Mountain
 | footnotes            = 
 | web    = www.lakecountyco.com
 | named for            = Twin Lakes in the area
 | district             = 7th
 }}
[[File:The Twin Lakes. Lake County, Colorado - NARA - 516991.tif|thumb|right|Twin Lakes – Department of the Interior. General Land Office. U.S. Geological and Geographic Survey of the Territories. (1874 – June 30, 1879)]]

'''Lake County''' is a county located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 7,436.<ref name="2020Census">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lakecountycolorado/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] and the only [[Colorado municipalities|municipality]] in the county is [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=https://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The highest natural point in Colorado and the entire [[Rocky Mountains]] is the summit of [[Mount Elbert]] in Lake County at {{convert|14,440|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} elevation.

==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. The county was named for [[Twin Lakes (Colorado)|Twin Lakes]].

Placer gold was found at Colorado Gulch in 1863 as part of the [[Colorado Gold Rush]].<ref name=Voynick>Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, {{ISBN|0878424555}}</ref>{{rp|30}}

Lake County slowly lost territory over the succeeding decades, losing land its southeast to [[Saguache County, Colorado|Saguache County]] in 1866 and [[Hinsdale County, Colorado|Hinsdale County]] in 1874; in its southwest to [[La Plata County, Colorado|La Plata County]] in 1874 and [[San Juan County, Colorado|San Juan County]] in 1876, and in its west to [[Ouray County, Colorado|Ouray]] and [[Gunnison County, Colorado|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, Colorado|Oro City]] (from 1861), [[Lourette, Colorado|Lourette]] (from 1863), [[Dayton, Colorado|Dayton]] (from 1866), and [[Granite, Colorado|Granite]] (from 1868).

By 1878, Lake County had been reduced to an area including only present-day Lake and [[Chaffee County, Colorado|Chaffee]] counties. On February 8, 1879, the Colorado legislature renamed Lake County, '''[[Carbonate County, Colorado|Carbonate County]].''' However, this designation name only lasted for two days, until Chaffee 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, Colorado|Leadville]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|384|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|377|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.0|sqmi}} (1.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is the fourth-smallest county in Colorado by area.

As the courthouse with the highest elevation in the United States, the Lake County courthouse in Leadville is the "highest court" in the land.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Eagle County, Colorado|Eagle County]] – north
* [[Summit County, Colorado|Summit County]] – northeast
* [[Park County, Colorado|Park County]] – east
* [[Chaffee County, Colorado|Chaffee County]] – south
* [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin County]] – west

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 24.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 24 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 24]]
* [[File:Colorado 82.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 82|State Highway 82]]
* [[File:Colorado 91.svg|20px]] [[Colorado State Highway 91|State Highway 91]]

==In popular culture==
The 2013 horror video game ''[[Outlast]]'' is set in a fictional asylum in Lake County.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 522
|1880= 23569
|1890= 14603
|1900= 18054
|1910= 10600
|1920= 6630
|1930= 4899
|1940= 6833
|1950= 8600
|1960= 7101
|1970= 8318
|1980= 7491
|1990= 6007
|2000= 7102
|2010= 7310
|2020= 7436
|estyear=2024
|estimate=7369
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 3, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="2020Census" />
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 7,812 people, 2,977 households, and 1,914 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 3,913 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 77.60% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.25% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 17.99% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.62% from two or more races. 36.14% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,977 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 115.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,691, and the median income for a family was $41,652. Males had a median income of $30,977 versus $24,415 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,524. About 9.50% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Lake County, Colorado|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|3,801|4,197|142|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|3,416|2,661|76|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,901|2,413|57|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|1,003|0|2,266|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|255|6,518|14|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,385|4,755|175|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,026|2,936|81|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,918|2,652|216|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|966|1,933|1,315|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|993|2,672|235|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,287|992|142|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,005|613|719|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|990|1,449|30|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|801|1,436|59|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|650|2,146|27|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,403|2,063|15|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,236|1,687|14|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|838|1,581|83|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,303|1,585|9|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,433|1,355|5|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|954|1,842|7|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|681|2,362|8|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,025|1,550|312|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,556|1,263|80|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,575|1,549|155|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,375|1,213|437|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,364|1,324|59|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|969|1,516|58|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|605|1,426|892|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|728|1,338|384|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|1,056|1,296|276|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|1,261|1,623|65|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,078|1,859|65|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,098|1,839|103|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|1,270|1,616|313|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|1,497|2,303|161|Colorado}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|1,557|2,199|157|Colorado}}
{{PresFoot}}

Lake County has leaned towards the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] for most of its history, voting for that party's presidential nominee in every election since 1988.

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Leadville North, Colorado|Leadville North]]
* [[Twin Lakes, Lake County, Colorado|Twin Lakes]]

===Unincorporated community===
* [[Climax, Colorado|Climax]]

===Ghost Town===
* [[Oro City, Colorado|Oro City]]

==Historic sites==
[[File:Stumptown winch House? CO.jpg|thumb|1890s(?) building in [https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/stumptown.html Stumptown], in the [[Leadville mining district]].]]

* [[Healy House Museum]] and [[Dexter Cabin]]
* [[Leadville National Historic District]]

==Recreation==

===State protected area===
* [[Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area]]

===National protected areas===
* [[San Isabel National Forest]] (part)
** [[Buffalo Peaks Wilderness]] (part)
** [[Collegiate Peaks Wilderness]] (part)
** [[Holy Cross Wilderness]] (part)
** [[Mount Massive Wilderness]] (part)
*** [[Leadville National Fish Hatchery]] (part)

===Trails===
* [[American Discovery Trail]]
* [[Colorado Trail]]
* [[Continental Divide National Scenic Trail]]
* [[Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail]]

===Scenic byway===
* [[Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway]]
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|Government|History|Mountains|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Bibliography of Colorado]]
*[[Geography of Colorado]]
*[[History of Colorado]]
**[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, Colorado]]
*[[Index of Colorado-related articles]]
*[[List of Colorado-related lists]]
**[[List of counties in Colorado]]
*[[Outline of Colorado]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
* [https://www.lakecountyco.com Lake County Government website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070205102713/http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090624071143/http://www.lakecountyvisitorcenter.com/ Lake County Visitor Center]
{{Lake County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lake County, Colorado
|North     = [[Eagle County, Colorado|Eagle County]]
|Northeast = [[Summit County, Colorado|Summit County]]
|East      = [[Park County, Colorado|Park County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Chaffee County, Colorado|Chaffee County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin County]]
|Northwest = 
}} 
{{Colorado}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lake County, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Colorado counties]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in Colorado Territory]]
[[Category:Arkansas Valley of Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1861]]
[[Category:Rocky Mountains of Colorado]]