Gunnison County, Colorado

Gunnison County, Colorado
Location in the state of Colorado
Colorado's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 9, 1877
Named for	John W. Gunnison
Seat	Gunnison
Largest city	Gunnison
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	3,259.75 sq mi (8,443 km²) 3,238.81 sq mi (8,388 km²) 20.93 sq mi (54 km²), 0.64%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	15,324 4.7/sq mi (1.8/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.gunnisoncounty.org

Gunnison County is the fifth most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado in the United States. The county population was 15,324 at the 2010 census. The county was named for John W. Gunnison, a United States Army officer and captain in the Army Topographical Engineers, who surveyed for the transcontinental railroad in 1853. The county seat is the city of Gunnison.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,259.75 square miles (8,442.7 km²), of which 3,238.81 square miles (8,388.5 km²) (or 99.36%) is land and 20.93 square miles (54.2 km²) (or 0.64%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Pitkin County, Colorado—north
• Chaffee County, Colorado—east
• Saguache County, Colorado—southeast
• Hinsdale County, Colorado—south
• Ouray County, Colorado—southwest
• Delta County, Colorado—west
• Montrose County, Colorado—west
• Mesa County, Colorado—northwest

See also: List of counties bordering eight or more counties

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,956 people, 5,649 households, and 2,965 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 9,135 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.08% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. 5.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,649 households out of which 24.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.20% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.50% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county the population was spread out with 17.90% under the age of 18, 21.10% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 6.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 118.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,916, and the median income for a family was $51,950. Males had a median income of $30,885 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,407. About 6.00% of families and 15.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Almont
• Crested Butte
• Crystal
• Gunnison
• Marble
• Mount Crested Butte
• Ohio City
• Parlin
• Pitkin
• Pittsburg
• Powderhorn
• Sapinero
• Somerset
• Tincup

State park

• Paonia State Park

National recreation area

• Curecanti National Recreation Area

National forests

• Gunnison National Forest
• White River National Forest

National wilderness areas

• Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
• Fossil Ridge Wilderness
• Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
• Powderhorn Wilderness
• Raggeds Wilderness
• Uncompahgre Wilderness
• West Elk Wilderness

Trails

• American Discovery Trail
• Colorado Trail
• Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail

Bicycle routes

• Great Parks Bicycle Route
• Western Express Bicycle Route

Scenic byway

• West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
• Silver Thread Scenic Byway

In popular culture

In 2007, the science fiction horror film Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem was set in and around the town of Gunnison.

See also

• Colorado census statistical areas
• Colorado counties
• Colorado municipalities
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Gunnison County, Colorado

External links

• Gunnison County official website
• Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association
• "Colorado County Evolution", by Don Stanwyck
• Colorado Historical Society