Lake County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake County
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Courthouse in Leadville, Colorado.
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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 |
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| State |  Colorado |
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| Founded | November 1, 1861 | |
| Named for | Twin Lakes in the area | |
| Seat | Leadville | |
| Largest city | Leadville | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 384 sq mi (990 km2) | |
| • Land | 377 sq mi (980 km2) | |
| • Water | 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) 1.8%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,436 | |
| • Density | 20/sq mi (8/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Congressional district | 7th | |
Lake County is a county in the U.S. state of Colorado. In 2020, about 7,436 people lived there. The main town and "county seat" is Leadville. A county seat is like the capital city for a county, where the government offices are.
Lake County is home to Mount Elbert. This mountain is the highest point in Colorado. It is also the tallest peak in the entire Rocky Mountains! Mount Elbert stands at 14,440 feet (4,401 meters) high.
Contents
History of Lake County
Lake County was one of the first 17 counties in Colorado. It was created on November 1, 1861. Back then, Lake County was much larger than it is today. It covered a big part of western Colorado. The county got its name from the beautiful Twin Lakes in the area.
In 1863, people found gold in Colorado Gulch. This was part of the exciting Colorado Gold Rush. Many people came hoping to find their fortune!
Over the years, Lake County became smaller. It lost land to other counties nearby. For example, parts of it became Saguache County and Hinsdale County. Because the county kept changing size, its main town, or county seat, moved several times. It was in places like Oro City, Lourette, Dayton, and Granite.
By 1878, Lake County was about the size of today's Lake and Chaffee counties. For just two days in 1879, it was called Carbonate County. Then, Chaffee County became its own separate county. The remaining northern part became Lake County again, with Leadville as its permanent county seat.
Geography of Lake County
Lake County covers about 384 square miles (995 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Colorado by size.
The Lake County courthouse in Leadville is special. It is the courthouse with the highest elevation in the entire United States! This means it's the "highest court" in the land, both in location and in its legal role.
Neighboring Counties
Lake County shares borders with several other counties:
- Eagle County to the north
- Summit County to the northeast
- Park County to the east
- Chaffee County to the south
- Pitkin County to the west
Main Roads
These are the important highways that go through Lake County:
U.S. Highway 24
State Highway 82
State Highway 91
People of Lake County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 522 | — | |
| 1880 | 23,569 | 4,415.1% | |
| 1890 | 14,603 | −38.0% | |
| 1900 | 18,054 | 23.6% | |
| 1910 | 10,600 | −41.3% | |
| 1920 | 6,630 | −37.5% | |
| 1930 | 4,899 | −26.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,833 | 39.5% | |
| 1950 | 8,600 | 25.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,101 | −17.4% | |
| 1970 | 8,318 | 17.1% | |
| 1980 | 7,491 | −9.9% | |
| 1990 | 6,007 | −19.8% | |
| 2000 | 7,102 | 18.2% | |
| 2010 | 7,310 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 7,436 | 1.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 7,365 | 0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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In 2000, there were about 7,812 people living in Lake County. Many different groups of people call Lake County home. About 36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in the county was 30 years old. About 27% of the population was under 18 years old.
Towns and Places
Lake County has one main city and several other interesting communities.
City
Other Communities
These are places where people live, but they are not officially cities or towns:
Unincorporated Community
Ghost Town
- Oro City – a historic mining town that is now mostly abandoned.
Historic Places to Visit
Lake County has many places that tell stories of its past.
- Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin: These are old buildings that show how people lived long ago.
- Leadville National Historic District: This whole area in Leadville is protected because of its important history.
Fun Things to Do
Lake County is a great place for outdoor adventures and exploring nature!
State Parks and Areas
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area: A popular spot for rafting, fishing, and camping along the Arkansas River.
National Forests and Wilderness Areas
- San Isabel National Forest (part): A huge forest with beautiful mountains and trees.
- Buffalo Peaks Wilderness (part): A wild area where nature is protected.
- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness (part): Another protected wilderness area with very tall mountains.
- Holy Cross Wilderness (part): A rugged and scenic wilderness.
- Mount Massive Wilderness (part): Named after Mount Massive, one of Colorado's highest peaks.
- Leadville National Fish Hatchery (part): A place where fish are raised to help keep rivers and lakes stocked.
Trails for Hiking and Biking
- American Discovery Trail: A very long trail that crosses the entire United States.
- Colorado Trail: A famous trail for hiking and mountain biking across Colorado.
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail: A trail that follows the Continental Divide, the line where water flows to different oceans.
- Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail: A paved trail around Leadville, great for walking and biking.
Scenic Drives
- Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway: A beautiful road that takes you through amazing mountain scenery.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lake (Colorado) para niños
