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Eagle County, Colorado

Coordinates: 39°37′N 106°42′W / 39.62°N 106.70°W / 39.62; -106.70
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Eagle County
County
The Eagle County Justice Center (county courthouse) in Eagle
The Eagle County Justice Center (county courthouse) in Eagle
Flag of Eagle County
Flag
Official logo of Eagle County
Logo
Map of Colorado highlighting Eagle County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Map of the United States highlighting Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°37′N 106°42′W / 39.62°N 106.7°W / 39.62; -106.7
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedFebruary 11, 1883
Named forEagle River
SeatEagle
Largest communityEdwards
Area
 • Total1,692 sq mi (4,380 km2)
 • Land1,685 sq mi (4,360 km2)
 • Water7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total55,731
 • Density33/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 3rd
Websitewww.eaglecounty.us

Eagle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,731.[1] The county seat is the Town of Eagle and the most populous community is Edwards.[2] The county is named for the Eagle River.

Eagle County comprises the Edwards, Colorado, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Eagle County was created by the Colorado legislature on February 11, 1883, from portions of Summit County. It was named after the Eagle River, which runs through the county. The county seat was originally set in Red Cliff, Colorado, but was moved to the town of Eagle in 1921.

The Ground Hog Mine, near Red Cliff, produced gold and silver in two vertical veins in 1887. One vein, or "chimney", contained gold in crystalline form, cemented by iron, while the other contained wire gold in the form of "ram's horns". One of these ram's horns is now on display in the Harvard Mineralogical Museum.[3]: 59 

Geography

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The highest elevation in the county is the Mount of the Holy Cross which rises to 14,011 feet (4,271 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is on the Colorado River at 6,128 feet (1,868 m).[4]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,692 square miles (4,380 km2), of which 1,685 square miles (4,360 km2) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]

Much of the county is taken up by White River National Forest, and much of the rest is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Interstate 70 crosses the county from east to west.

The Eagle River rises in the southeastern part of the county. It receives Gore Creek at Dowds Junction, and joins the Colorado River in the west. The Fryingpan River and the Roaring Fork River intersect the southwest corner of the county.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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State protected area

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Trails

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Scenic byways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18903,725—
19003,008−19.2%
19102,985−0.8%
19203,38513.4%
19303,92415.9%
19405,36136.6%
19504,488−16.3%
19604,6774.2%
19707,49860.3%
198013,32077.6%
199021,92864.6%
200041,65990.0%
201052,19725.3%
202055,7316.8%
2023 (est.)54,381[6]−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 41,659 people, 15,148 households, and 9,013 families living in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (9.7 people/km2). There were 22,111 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.4% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.8% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 23.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,148 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 42.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 121.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $62,682, and the median income for a family was $68,226. Males had a median income of $37,603 versus $30,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,011. About 3.9% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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Public education

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Eagle County is served by Eagle County School District RE-50J. The district operates eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools across Eagle County.

Private/other education

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  • Vail Christian High School (Edwards)
  • Vail Mountain School (Vail)
  • Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy (Minturn)

Higher education

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Colorado Mountain College, a community college serving much of western Colorado, operates its Vail Valley campus in Edwards.

Life expectancy

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According to a report in JAMA, residents of Eagle County had a life expectancy from birth of 85.94 years in 2014, the third-longest in the United States.[12] Men live 84.4 years on the average and women live 87.6 years.[13] Two contiguous counties, Summit and Pitkin counties, rank numbers one and two in the nation in life expectancy.

Factors contributing to the high life expectancy of the three Colorado counties are "high education, high income, high access to medical care, the people are physically active, obesity is lower than anywhere else – so you're doing it right." said Ali Mokdad, one of the study's co-authors.[14]

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Eagle County, Colorado[15][16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,892 33.95% 18,588 63.79% 660 2.26%
2016 8,990 35.64% 14,099 55.90% 2,134 8.46%
2012 9,411 41.52% 12,792 56.43% 465 2.05%
2008 8,181 37.77% 13,191 60.91% 286 1.32%
2004 8,533 46.10% 9,744 52.64% 234 1.26%
2000 7,165 47.18% 6,772 44.59% 1,251 8.24%
1996 4,637 40.89% 5,094 44.92% 1,610 14.20%
1992 3,100 28.52% 3,870 35.60% 3,900 35.88%
1988 4,366 55.91% 3,314 42.44% 129 1.65%
1984 4,500 67.84% 2,032 30.63% 101 1.52%
1980 3,061 52.63% 1,608 27.65% 1,147 19.72%
1976 2,963 64.18% 1,502 32.53% 152 3.29%
1972 1,920 58.16% 1,306 39.56% 75 2.27%
1968 1,049 49.11% 927 43.40% 160 7.49%
1964 644 33.11% 1,299 66.79% 2 0.10%
1960 989 52.86% 880 47.03% 2 0.11%
1956 1,154 57.36% 852 42.35% 6 0.30%
1952 1,242 53.70% 1,058 45.74% 13 0.56%
1948 738 40.31% 1,008 55.05% 85 4.64%
1944 922 49.07% 952 50.67% 5 0.27%
1940 1,077 42.00% 1,474 57.49% 13 0.51%
1936 776 33.06% 1,541 65.66% 30 1.28%
1932 712 33.81% 1,348 64.01% 46 2.18%
1928 1,014 63.18% 570 35.51% 21 1.31%
1924 722 44.43% 431 26.52% 472 29.05%
1920 854 55.13% 649 41.90% 46 2.97%
1916 397 25.19% 1,136 72.08% 43 2.73%
1912 387 25.83% 727 48.53% 384 25.63%
1908 521 37.16% 828 59.06% 53 3.78%
1904 802 54.30% 625 42.32% 50 3.39%
1900 412 29.90% 943 68.43% 23 1.67%
1896 53 4.38% 1,149 95.04% 7 0.58%
1892 275 29.22% 0 0.00% 666 70.78%
1888 604 59.98% 400 39.72% 3 0.30%
1884 306 61.57% 190 38.23% 1 0.20%

Communities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated places

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Ghost towns

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Voynick, S.M., 1992, Colorado Gold, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company, ISBN 0878424555
  4. ^ Google Earth
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "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 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Dwyer-Lindgren, Laura (May 8, 2017). "Inequalities in Life Expectancy Among US Counties, 1980 to 2014". JAMA Internal Medicine. 177 (7): 1003–1011. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.0918. PMC 5543324. PMID 28492829.
  13. ^ "County Profile: Summit County Colorado," http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Eagle_County_Colorado.pdf, accessed 2 Aug 2017
  14. ^ Achenbach, Joel, "U.S. life expectancy varies more than 20 years from county to county," Washington Post, May 8, 2017
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  16. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Independent Ross Perot, received 3,821 votes, while Libertarian candidate Andre Marrou received 61 votes, and New Alliance candidate Lenora Fulani received 18 votes.
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39°37′N 106°42′W / 39.62°N 106.70°W / 39.62; -106.70

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