Summit County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Summit County
|
||
|---|---|---|
Summit County court house in Breckenridge
|
||
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
|
||
 Colorado's location within the U.S. |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  Colorado |
|
| Founded | November 1, 1861 | |
| Named for | Continental Divide | |
| Seat | Breckenridge | |
| Largest town | Breckenridge | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 619 sq mi (1,600 km2) | |
| • Land | 608 sq mi (1,570 km2) | |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (30 km2) 1.8%% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 31,055 | |
| • Density | 51/sq mi (20/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Summit County is a special area in the state of Colorado, USA. It is known for its beautiful mountains. In 2020, about 31,055 people lived here. The main town and largest community is Breckenridge.
Summit County is part of a larger area around Breckenridge. This area is important for its economy and community.
Contents
History of Summit County
Summit County was created a long time ago, on November 1, 1861. It was one of the first 17 counties in Colorado. The county got its name because it has many high mountain summits.
When it was first formed, Summit County was much bigger. It included land that is now several other counties. These included Grand, Routt, Moffat, Garfield, Eagle, and Rio Blanco counties.
Over time, parts of Summit County were separated to form new counties. In 1874, Grand County was created from its northern part. Later, in 1883, Garfield and Eagle counties were also formed. After these changes, Summit County reached its current size and shape.
Geography of Summit County
Summit County covers about 619 square miles (1,603 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) being water. This water makes up about 1.8% of the county's total area.
The land in Summit County is very mountainous. The lowest point is about 7,957 feet (2,425 meters) above sea level at Green Mountain Reservoir. The highest point is Grays Peak, which reaches 14,270 feet (4,350 meters). Breckenridge, the county seat, is also very high at 9,602 feet (2,927 meters). This makes it one of the highest towns in Colorado and the United States.
Much of the county has an alpine climate. This means it's very cold, and you'll find tundra plants. In places like Breckenridge, the climate is subarctic. This means cool summers and lots of snow in winter.
Neighboring Counties
Summit County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Grand County to the north
- Clear Creek County to the east
- Park County to the southeast
- Lake County to the southwest
- Eagle County to the west
Main Roads in Summit County
Several important roads pass through Summit County:
Interstate 70
I-70 Bus.
U.S. Highway 6
State Highway 9
State Highway 91
.svg){kind=small}
People of Summit County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 258 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,459 | 2,015.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,906 | −65.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,744 | 44.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,003 | −27.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,724 | −13.9% | |
| 1930 | 987 | −42.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,754 | 77.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,135 | −35.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,073 | 82.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,665 | 28.6% | |
| 1980 | 8,848 | 232.0% | |
| 1990 | 12,281 | 38.8% | |
| 2000 | 23,548 | 91.7% | |
| 2010 | 27,994 | 18.9% | |
| 2020 | 31,055 | 10.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 30,465 | 8.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
|||
In 2000, there were 23,548 people living in Summit County. These people lived in 9,120 households, and 4,769 of these were families. The county had about 39 people per square mile (15 people per square kilometer). There were also 24,201 housing units, which are places where people can live.
Most people in the county (about 91.84%) were White. Other groups included Black or African American (0.68%), Native American (0.48%), Asian (0.87%), and Pacific Islander (0.07%). About 9.79% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 24% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (44%) were married couples. The average household had 2.48 people, and the average family had 2.86 people.
The population was quite young. About 17.4% were under 18, and 44.3% were between 25 and 44 years old. The average age was 31 years.
Life Expectancy in Summit County
People in Summit County tend to live longer than in many other places in the United States. In 2014, the average life expectancy at birth was 86.83 years. This was the longest in the entire country! Men in Summit County lived an average of 85.5 years, and women lived an average of 88.0 years.
Two nearby counties, Pitkin and Eagle, also have very high life expectancies. Experts believe this is because people in Summit County are well-educated and have good incomes. They also have good access to healthcare. People there are very active, and fewer people are overweight compared to other areas.
Education in Summit County
Summit County has schools for all ages, from elementary to high school. It also has options for higher education.
K–12 Schools
Elementary Schools
- Breckenridge Elementary School
- Dillon Valley Elementary School (in Dillon)
- Frisco Elementary School
- Silverthorne Elementary School
- Summit Cove Elementary School (in Dillon)
- Upper Blue Elementary School (in Breckenridge)
Middle School
- Summit Middle School (in Frisco)
High Schools
- Snowy Peaks Junior/Senior High School (in Frisco)
- Summit High School (in Breckenridge)
Higher Education
Colorado Mountain College has campuses in both Breckenridge and Dillon. This college offers different programs for students after high school.
Communities in Summit County
Summit County is home to several towns and other communities.
Towns
- Blue River
- Breckenridge
- Dillon
- Frisco
- Keystone
- Montezuma
- Silverthorne
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.
Ghost Towns
These are towns that were once active but are now mostly abandoned.
- Dyersville
- Kokomo
- Parkville
- Preston
- Saints John
- Tiger
Fun Things to Do in Summit County
Summit County is a great place for outdoor activities and fun!
National Protected Areas
These areas are protected to preserve nature and wildlife:
- White River National Forest
- Eagles Nest Wilderness
Ski Areas
Summit County is famous for its amazing ski resorts:
Trails and Byways
There are many trails for hiking, biking, and exploring:
- American Discovery Trail
- Colorado Trail
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
- Great Parks Bicycle Route
- Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway
- TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route
- Vail Pass National Recreation Trail
- Wheeler Ten Mile National Recreation Trail
Lakes and Reservoirs
The county has beautiful lakes that are popular for recreation:
- Lake Dillon
- Green Mountain Reservoir
- Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir
Islands
Concert Venues
- Dillon Amphitheater
Images for kids
-
Snowmelt runoff fills Lake Dillon in Summit County
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Summit (Colorado) para niños
