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San Miguel County, Colorado

Coordinates: 38°01′N 108°26′W / 38.01°N 108.43°W / 38.01; -108.43
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the county in New Mexico, see San Miguel County, New Mexico.
San Miguel County
County
The San Miguel County Courthouse
The San Miguel County Courthouse
Map of Colorado highlighting San Miguel County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°01′N 108°26′W / 38.01°N 108.43°W / 38.01; -108.43
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedMarch 2, 1883
Named afterSan Miguel River
SeatTelluride
Largest townTelluride
Area
 • Total
1,289 sq mi (3,340 km2)
 • Land1,287 sq mi (3,330 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
8,072
 • Density6.3/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.sanmiguelcountyco.gov

San Miguel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,072.[1] The county seat is Telluride.[2] The county is named for the San Miguel River.

History

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San Miguel County was given the Spanish language name for "Saint Michael" due to the nearby San Miguel River. On February 27, 1883, Ouray County was split to form San Miguel County. Originally the San Miguel County portion was to retain the name Ouray County with the new portion called Uncompahgre County.

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.[3] The new association consolidated the power of thirty-six mining properties in San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan counties.[4] The SJDMA refused to consider any reduction in hours or increase in wages, helping to provoke a bitter strike.

In 1875, the Smuggler gold vein was discovered near Telluride. The Smuggler-Union, Tomboy, and Liberty Bell mines combined produced over a hundred tons of gold by 1920, third in the state of Colorado.[5]: 51, 83 

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,289 square miles (3,340 km2), of which 1,287 square miles (3,330 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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Trails and byways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,909—
19005,37984.9%
19104,700−12.6%
19205,28112.4%
19302,184−58.6%
19403,66467.8%
19502,693−26.5%
19602,9449.3%
19701,949−33.8%
19803,19263.8%
19903,65314.4%
20006,59480.5%
20107,35911.6%
20208,0729.7%
2024 (est.)7,819[7]−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[12]

At the 2000 census there were 6,594 people, 3,015 households, and 1,423 families living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 5,197 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.57% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.37% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[13] Of the 3,015 households 22.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.30% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.80% were non-families. 32.70% of households were one person and 2.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 17.60% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 43.30% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 3.40% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 120.80 males. For every 100 females age eighteen 18 and over, there were 126.40 males.

The median household income was $48,514 and the median family income was $60,417. Males had a median income of $35,922 versus $30,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,329. About 6.60% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

In June 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked the San Miguel County as having the best life expectancy in the United States at 100+ years old.[14] Among all counties in Colorado, San Miguel County has the highest percentage of adults over 25 with at least a bachelor's degree, with 65.2% measured between 2019 and 2023. [15]

Politics

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For most of the 20th century, San Miguel County was a national bellwether. It voted for the winner in every presidential election from 1912 to 1984. Since 1988, the county has become one of the most Democratic in Colorado and the nation, largely due to the presence of the Telluride Ski Resort and the influx of liberal-minded voters in the 1960s and 1970s. These trends have made San Miguel similar in vein to other heavily Democratic ski resort counties like Blaine County in Idaho, Teton County in Wyoming, and Pitkin County within Colorado. In the 2000 presidential election, San Miguel County was Green Party candidate Ralph Nader's best countywide performance in the country with 17.2% of the vote.

United States presidential election results for San Miguel County, Colorado[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,154 24.02% 3,529 73.46% 121 2.52%
2020 1,136 22.07% 3,924 76.24% 87 1.69%
2016 1,033 23.86% 2,975 68.72% 321 7.42%
2012 1,154 27.11% 2,992 70.30% 110 2.58%
2008 933 21.45% 3,349 76.99% 68 1.56%
2004 1,079 26.85% 2,876 71.56% 64 1.59%
2000 1,043 32.04% 1,598 49.09% 614 18.86%
1996 773 28.18% 1,535 55.96% 435 15.86%
1992 628 23.58% 1,380 51.82% 655 24.60%
1988 798 43.39% 961 52.26% 80 4.35%
1984 833 54.77% 654 43.00% 34 2.24%
1980 774 42.79% 651 35.99% 384 21.23%
1976 622 43.83% 674 47.50% 123 8.67%
1972 583 54.95% 426 40.15% 52 4.90%
1968 422 53.22% 311 39.22% 60 7.57%
1964 332 34.23% 636 65.57% 2 0.21%
1960 525 46.09% 612 53.73% 2 0.18%
1956 648 57.86% 469 41.88% 3 0.27%
1952 654 55.19% 524 44.22% 7 0.59%
1948 451 41.80% 613 56.81% 15 1.39%
1944 536 45.69% 630 53.71% 7 0.60%
1940 729 45.94% 851 53.62% 7 0.44%
1936 433 32.12% 860 63.80% 55 4.08%
1932 383 29.74% 862 66.93% 43 3.34%
1928 721 54.91% 554 42.19% 38 2.89%
1924 677 43.62% 567 36.53% 308 19.85%
1920 928 54.30% 688 40.26% 93 5.44%
1916 578 29.13% 1,325 66.78% 81 4.08%
1912 639 30.36% 1,029 48.88% 437 20.76%
1908 882 45.30% 927 47.61% 138 7.09%
1904 1,370 61.16% 797 35.58% 73 3.26%
1900 717 30.39% 1,604 67.99% 38 1.61%
1896 87 3.90% 2,136 95.70% 9 0.40%
1892 272 23.43% 0 0.00% 889 76.57%
1888 540 57.51% 378 40.26% 21 2.24%
1884 433 54.19% 365 45.68% 1 0.13%

Communities

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated Communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b United States Census Bureau. "San Miguel County, Colorado". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Roughneck—The Life and Times of Big Bill Haywood, Peter Carlson, 1983, page 65.
  4. ^ The Corpse On Boomerang Road, Telluride's War On Labor 1899–1908, MaryJoy Martin, 2004, page 201.
  5. ^ Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN 0878424555
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ Cirruzzo, Chelsea (June 30, 2021). "The 25 Counties With the Longest Life Expectancy". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "San Miguel County, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
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