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Summit County, Colorado

Coordinates: 39°30′N 106°03′W / 39.50°N 106.05°W / 39.50; -106.05
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Summit County
County
Summit County court house in Breckenridge
Summit County court house in Breckenridge
Official seal of Summit County
Seal
Map of Colorado highlighting Summit 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°38′08″N 106°06′08″W / 39.6356°N 106.10235°W / 39.6356; -106.10235
Country United States
State Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
Named forContinental Divide
SeatBreckenridge
Largest townBreckenridge
Area
 • Total
619 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Land608 sq mi (1,570 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
31,055
 • Density51/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.summitcountyco.gov

Summit County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,055.[1] The county seat and largest town is Breckenridge.[2]

Summit County comprises the Breckenridge, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.[3][4]

History

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Summit County was organized as one of the seventeen original Colorado counties by the First Territorial Legislature on November 1, 1861. It was named for the many mountain summits in the county. Until February 2, 1874, its boundaries included the area now comprising Summit County, Grand County, Routt County, Moffat County, Garfield County, Eagle County, and Rio Blanco County.

In 1874, the northern half of the original Summit County was split off to form Grand County; with the creation of Garfield and Eagle counties in 1883, Summit County arrived at its present boundaries. In addition, Summit County has seen two major boom eras.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 619 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 608 square miles (1,570 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.8%) is water.[5]

The terrain of the county is mountainous with elevations ranging from 7,957 feet (2,425 m) at Green Mountain Reservoir to 14,270 feet (4,350 m) at Grays Peak. The elevation of the county seat of Breckenridge is 9,602 feet (2,927 m), making it one of the highest cities in the state of Colorado and the United States.[6] Much of the county has an alpine climate (ET in the Köppen Classification) characterized by tundra vegetation. Breckenridge and other similar elevations in the county have a subarctic climate (Dfc) characterized by cool summers and abundant snowfall in winter.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870258—
18805,4592,015.9%
18901,906−65.1%
19002,74444.0%
19102,003−27.0%
19201,724−13.9%
1930987−42.7%
19401,75477.7%
19501,135−35.3%
19602,07382.6%
19702,66528.6%
19808,848232.0%
199012,28138.8%
200023,54891.7%
201027,99418.9%
202031,05510.9%
2023 (est.)30,465[7]−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 23,548 people, 9,120 households, and 4,769 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 24,201 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.84% White, 0.68% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.96% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 9.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,120 households, out of which 24.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.70% were non-families. 21.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.40% under the age of 18, 15.70% from 18 to 24, 44.30% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 3.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. As of 2014, the life expectancy in Summit County was 86.83 years, the longest average life expectancy of any county in the United States.[13] For every 100 females there were 139.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 144.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $56,587, and the median income for a family was $66,914 (these figures had risen to $65,281 and $80,441 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $33,741 versus $27,017 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,676. About 3.10% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.30% of those under age 18 and 3.40% of those age 65 or over.

The 2019 average real estate prices in Summit County were $1,262,929 for a single family home, $559,776 for a condo, townhome or duplex and $344,945 for a vacant piece of land (YTD through December 2019).[14]

Snowmelt runoff fills Lake Dillon in Summit County

Life expectancy

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According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, residents of Summit County had a 2014 life expectancy from birth of 86.83 years in 2014, the longest in the United States.[15] Both men and women live longer in Summit County than in any other county in the United States: 85.5 years for men and 88.0 years for women is the life expectancy at birth.[16] Two contiguous counties, Pitkin and Eagle counties, rank numbers two and three in the nation in life expectancy. Factors contributing to the high life expectancy in Summit County 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 Dr. Ali Mokdad, one of the study's co-authors.[17]

Education

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K–12 schools

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Elementary schools

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  • Breckenridge Elementary School
  • Dillon Valley Elementary School (Dillon)
  • Frisco Elementary School
  • Silverthorne Elementary School
  • Summit Cove Elementary School (Dillon)
  • Upper Blue Elementary School (Breckenridge)

Middle school

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  • Summit Middle School (Frisco)

High schools

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  • Snowy Peaks Junior/Senior High School (Frisco)
  • Summit High School (Breckenridge)

Higher education

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Colorado Mountain College operates campuses in Breckenridge and Dillon.

Politics

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Summit County is liberal in most elections. As of the 2020 presidential election, Summit County has not voted for the Republican candidate since 1988.

United States presidential election results for Summit County, Colorado[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,244 29.89% 11,762 67.05% 536 3.06%
2020 5,322 28.80% 12,631 68.35% 526 2.85%
2016 5,100 31.53% 9,557 59.09% 1,517 9.38%
2012 5,571 36.38% 9,347 61.04% 394 2.57%
2008 4,883 32.77% 9,802 65.79% 214 1.44%
2004 5,370 39.10% 8,144 59.29% 221 1.61%
2000 4,497 40.63% 5,304 47.92% 1,267 11.45%
1996 3,261 38.73% 3,970 47.16% 1,188 14.11%
1992 2,256 26.95% 3,344 39.95% 2,770 33.09%
1988 2,893 51.44% 2,595 46.14% 136 2.42%
1984 3,253 66.14% 1,588 32.29% 77 1.57%
1980 2,027 46.54% 1,285 29.51% 1,043 23.95%
1976 1,826 58.15% 1,087 34.62% 227 7.23%
1972 1,082 59.03% 707 38.57% 44 2.40%
1968 536 57.39% 301 32.23% 97 10.39%
1964 344 41.55% 483 58.33% 1 0.12%
1960 424 51.27% 400 48.37% 3 0.36%
1956 429 64.61% 235 35.39% 0 0.00%
1952 442 61.90% 271 37.96% 1 0.14%
1948 292 43.26% 378 56.00% 5 0.74%
1944 326 57.60% 237 41.87% 3 0.53%
1940 479 46.78% 540 52.73% 5 0.49%
1936 268 34.85% 496 64.50% 5 0.65%
1932 224 34.78% 397 61.65% 23 3.57%
1928 362 53.16% 306 44.93% 13 1.91%
1924 354 47.52% 241 32.35% 150 20.13%
1920 418 50.36% 388 46.75% 24 2.89%
1916 268 26.27% 717 70.29% 35 3.43%
1912 179 18.55% 600 62.18% 186 19.27%
1908 366 31.99% 743 64.95% 35 3.06%
1904 561 48.15% 569 48.84% 35 3.00%
1900 394 28.59% 967 70.17% 17 1.23%
1896 28 2.20% 1,243 97.64% 2 0.16%
1892 279 25.60% 0 0.00% 811 74.40%
1888 701 55.63% 557 44.21% 2 0.16%
1884 609 51.92% 556 47.40% 8 0.68%
1880 1,289 48.81% 1,328 50.28% 24 0.91%

Communities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Ghost towns

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Recreation

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National protected areas

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Ski areas

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Trails and byways

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Lakes

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The county has three reservoirs, Lake Dillon, Green Mountain Reservoir, and Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir that are also popular recreation sites.

Islands

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Concert venues

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See also

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References

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Gold specimen from the Breckenridge Mining District
  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. December 1, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2012 – via National Archives.
  4. ^ See the Colorado census statistical areas.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Elevation distribution for all U.S. cities," http://www.city-data.com/top13.html, accessed August 2, 2017
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  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. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ University of Washington. "US Health Map". Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Brewer, Brewer; Ben Brewer (March 6, 2020). "Summit County Real Estate". Breckenridge Real Estate Experts Blog. Ben Brewer. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "County Profile: Summit County Colorado," http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Summit_County_Colorado.pdf, accessed 2 Aug 2017
  17. ^ Achenbach, Joel, "U.S. life expectancy varies more than 20 years from county to county," Washington Post, May 8, 2017
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
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