Saguache County, Colorado, CO. - information, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Saguache County, Colorado

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Saguache County Government Website
P.O. Box 655
Saguache, CO 81149
Phone: 719-655-2231

The county seat is Saguache

Colorado Division of Wildlife

Bureau of Land Management
Saguache Field Office
BLM/USFS
46525 Highway 114
Saguache, Colorado 81149
Phone: 719-655-2547

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Population:

1990 - 4,619
2000 - 5,917
2004 - 7,029
2007 - 6,920
2009 - 7,097

Population Density:
2000 - 2 persons per square mile

Median resident age:
2007 - 36.9 years

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Location:

Saguache County is located in south-central Colorado in the northern half of the San Luis Valley.

Neighboring Counties:
North - Chaffee County
Northeast - Fremont County
East - Custer County
Southeast - Huerfano County
South - Rio Grande County
South - Alamosa County
Southwest - Mineral County
Southwest - Hinsdale County
North west - Gunnison County

Try this map of the area

The county is located in the Mountain Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.

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Climate:

Summers are wonderful with temperatures in the 70's during the day. Evenings are cool most of the summer. Winters are cold, but normally there is not a lot of snow.

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Other Facts and Figures:

Number of Housing Units:
2000 - 3,087

Median Household income:
2000 - $25,495
2007 - $29,820
2008 - $30,782

Per Capita Income:
2000 - $13,121

Median house value
2000 - $67,700
2007 - $109,782
2008 - $113,511

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History:

Saguache is a Ute Indian name that means "Water at the Blue Earth." It is pronounced Sa-watch.

The county was settled in 1867 by Otto Mears. He ran a successful business at the top of Poncha Pass with the first toll road there. He then invested in various industries including transportation to extend his large fortune. Many of the early settlers were Civil War veterans who were promised 40 acres and a mule by the government as an incentive to "join up" and come to America from Europe to fight.

Ghost Towns of Saguache County
Places in Saguache County on the National Register of Historical Places
Agricultural Census for county

Here is a history page for the county.

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Geography:

The northern entrance to the county is at Poncha Pass with an elevation of 9,000+ feet above sea level. The average elevation is about 7800 feet above sea level.
The Sangre de Cristo range is on the east side of the county while the San Juan range is on the west. High peaks in these areas can go as high as 14,000 feet above sea level.

Total Area: 3,170 square miles
Total Land Area: 3,168 square miles
Total Water Area: 2 square miles

Gunnison National Forest
Rio Grande National Forest

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Genealogy:

World War II Casualties from the county

US GenWeb project page for Saguache County
Linkpendium page for the county
Political Graveyard for Saguache County

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Libraries:

Saguache County Public Library
702 Pitkin Ave.
Saguache, CO. 81149
Phone: 719-655-2551

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Schools:

Center Consolidated School District 26 JT
Moffat Consolidated School District

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Economy:

The main sector of the local economy is ranching. Cattle and sheep are predominant with Cattle outnumbering the sheep. There is some logging done in higher elevations as well as farming in the valley areas. Major industries also include educational services, construction, food wholesalers, health care, government, lodging and food services, repair & maintenance and retail services.

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Organizations & Groups

Crestone and Saguache County Visitor's Agency - CAVA
P.O. Box 28
Crestone, Colorado 81131
Toll-free: 866-351-2282
Local: 719-256-5210

San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council
537 Main Street
P.O. Box 223
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone: 719-589-1518

Center Chamber of Commerce
POB 576
Center, CO 81125
Phone: (719) 754-3137

Villa Grove Area Merchant's Association
Phone: 719-655-2343

The Baca Grande Property Owners Association
P.O. Box 237
68595 Cty Road T
Crestone, Colorado 81131

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Attractions & Other Information

Saguache County Museum
Highway 285
Saguache, CO 81149
Phone: 719-655-2557
Please call ahead for hours of operation - not open all year.
The Saguache County Museum is a pioneer museum with historic displays depicting the lifestyle of the area. The museum has seven rooms plus a 1908 jail which was used for 50 years.

The Biedell Mine
The mine is located on Crystal Hill just north of La Garita. Founded in 1881, the mine brought in a thousand workers. Later on the operation was changed from a tunnel to an open pit type. There is an interpretive sign at the mine. More historical information about the mine and the area.

The Hazard House Museum
807 Pitkin Avenue
Saguache, CO 81149
Phone: 719-655-2805
See howthe affluent lived in the 1920s and 1930s
Please call ahead for hours of operation

Crestone Area Visitor's Guide

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Visitor's Center: 719-378-6399

Located within the county are many recreational sites including: Portions of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, the Great Parks Bicycle Route and the Western Express Bicycle Route

An attraction for some would be that as of 2010, there are NO traffic lights in the county.

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This page was last updated on 27 July 2011 at 10:59 pm

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