Saguache County, Colorado (CO)

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County population in July 2007: 6,920 (all rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 1,597
Renter-occupied apartments: 703

% of renters here:	31%
State:	33%

Land area: 3168 sq. mi.
Water area: 1.8 sq. mi.

Population density: 2 people per square mile

(very low).

2008 cost of living index in Saguache County: 78.4 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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Industries providing employment: Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (22.0%), Educational,health and social services (17.9%).

Type of workers:

Private wage or salary: 64%
Government: 17%
Self-employed, not incorporated: 18%
Unpaid family work: 1%

Saguache County, Colorado business data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Races in Saguache County, Colorado:

White Non-Hispanic (51.6%)
Hispanic (45.3%)
Other race (23.0%)
American Indian (3.3%)
Two or more races (3.1%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Median resident age:	36.9 years
Colorado median age:	34.3 years

Males: 2,984	(50.4%)
Females: 2,933	(49.6%)

Average wage per job in 2003: $22,946
County population in 2003: 6,668
Jobs in 2003: 1,824

Recent posts about Saguache County, Colorado on our local forum with over 400,000 registered users:

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Saguache County,CO real estate house value trend

Total labor force in 2004: 3,095
Unemployment rate in 2004: 7.0%

Average household size:

Saguache County:	2.6 people
Colorado:	2.5 people

Estimated median household income in 2007: $29,820 ($25,495 in 1999)

This county:	$29,820
Colorado:	$55,212

2007 median house/condo value: $98,907 ($73,900 in 2000)

Saguache County:	$98,907
Colorado:	$233,900

Median contract rent in 2007 for apartments: $347 (lower quartile is $238, upper quartile is $484)

This county:	$347
State:	$693

Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,110
Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $179

Institutionalized population: 17

Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

Murders: 0
Rapes: 0
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 5
Burglaries: 8
Thefts: 23
Auto thefts: 2

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

Murders: 1
Rapes: 1
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 16
Burglaries: 15
Thefts: 19
Auto thefts: 2

Saguache County races chart

2004 Presidential Election results in Saguache County Colorado:

Kerry/Edwards (Democratic): 56.9%
Bush/Cheney (Republican): 41.5%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: $306 (0.5%)

Saguache County household income distribution in 2007

Saguache County home values distribution

Saguache County contract rent distribution in 2007

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2007:

This county:	22.6%
Whole state:	9.3%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2007:

This county:	9.2%
Whole state:	4.1%

Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Saguache County is $452 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $503 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $716 a month.

Cities in this county include: Center, Saguache, Moffat, Crestone, Bonanza, Cochetopa.

Neighboring counties: Alamosa County , Chaffee County , Custer County , Fremont County , Gunnison County , Hinsdale County , Huerfano County , Mineral County , Rio Grande County .

Click to draw/clear county borders

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Saguache County: Poso Campground (A), Post Homestead (B), Quarter Circle Ranch (C), Fremonts Camp (D), Rock Creek Cow Camp (E), Alpine Camp (F), Sand Camp (G), Sand Pasture Windmill (H), Brewery Creek Guard Station (I), Sheds Camp (J), Shelton Ranch (K), Shewalter Ranch (L), Cooper Ranch (M), Stone Cellar Campground (N), Stone Cellar Guard Station (O), Storm King Campground (P), Corson Place (Q), Superior Mill (R), Swede Corners (S), Cottonwood Camp (T). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Saguache County include: Rito Alto Church (A), Saint John Church (B). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: Whites Cemetery (1), Mirage Cemetery (2), Teton Cemetery (3), Campo Santo Cemetery (4), Iris Cemetery (5), Jacks Creek Cemetery (6), Villa Grove Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map

Lakes and reservoirs: Davey Lake (A), Trites Lake (B), Blind Lake (C), Salamander Lake (D), Mishak Lakes (E), Weisman Lake (F), Indian Spring (G), Cherry Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Quarry Creek (A), Agate Creek (B), Agua Azul (C), Alder Creek (D), Alkali Creek (E), Allen Creek (F), Alpine Creek (G), Alto Creek, Rito (H), Ant Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Parks in Saguache County include: Baca National Wildlife Refuge (1), Dome Lakes State Wildlife Area (2), Great Sand Dunes National Park (3). Display/hide their locations on the map

Unemployment in September 2007:

Here:	5.8%
Colorado:	3.7%

Unemployment by year (%)

County total employment by year

County average yearly wages by year ($)

Current college students: 166
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 70.0%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 19.6%

Number of foreign born residents: 857 (22% naturalized citizens)

Saguache County:	14.5%
Whole state:	8.6%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population
	1995 to March 2000: 218 1990 to 1994: 238 1985 to 1989: 116 1980 to 1984: 97 1975 to 1979: 83 1970 to 1974: 69 1970 to 1974: 19 1965 to 1969: 17

Mean travel time to work: 19.8 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 67.8%

Saguache County marital status for males

Saguache County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

One, detached: 1,994
One, attached: 56
Two: 60
3 or 4: 31
5 to 9: 55
10 to 19: 45
20 or more: 20
Mobile homes: 775
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 51

Housing units in Saguache County with a mortgage: 407 (17 second mortgage, 7 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 434

Here:	48.4% with mortgage
State:	79.2% with mortgage

Agriculture in Saguache County
Average size of farms: 1893 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $324810
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $820.28
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 13.23%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $239317
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 18.15%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 90.03%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $231809
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 76.98%
Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 5.61
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.13%
All wheat for grain: 7086 harvested acres
Vegetables: 2600 harvested acres

Saguache County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Colorado state average. It is 24.0 times below overall U.S. average.

Class of Workers

Most common industries for males:

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (31%)
Construction (14%)
Grocery and related product merchant wholesalers (8%)
Educational services (4%)
Public administration (3%)
Repair and maintenance (3%)
Accommodation and food services (3%)

Most common industries for females:

Educational services (18%)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (10%)
Health care (10%)
Grocery and related product merchant wholesalers (8%)
Public administration (6%)
Accommodation and food services (6%)
Food and beverage stores (4%)

Most common occupations for males

Agricultural workers including supervisors (16%)
Farmers and farm managers (11%)
Laborers and material movers, hand (6%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (4%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (3%)

Most common occupations for females

Agricultural workers including supervisors (11%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (7%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (6%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (5%)
Cashiers (5%)
Information and record clerks except customer service representatives (4%)
Other teachers and instructors, education, training, and library occupations (4%)

Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents:

Mexico (90%)
Germany (1%)
Philippines (1%)
Brazil (1%)
Australia (1%)
Canada (1%)
Other Northern Europe (0%)

Most common first ancestries reported in Saguache County:

German (12%)
English (7%)
United States or American (6%)
Irish (5%)
Scotch-Irish (2%)
French (except Basque) (2%)
Italian (2%)

Saguache County mode of transportation to work chart

Means of transportation to work

Drove a car alone: 1,507 (62%)
Carpooled: 472 (19%)
Bus or trolley bus: 1 (0%)
Bicycle: 20 (1%)
Walked: 161 (7%)
Other means: 50 (2%)
Worked at home: 229 (9%)

19 people in religious group quarters
17 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)

Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $36,356.

8.81% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($25,792 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	8.81%
Colorado average:	10.77%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
5.06% relocated from other counties in Colorado ($15,317 average AGI)
3.75% relocated from other states ($10,465 average AGI)
Saguache County: 3.75%
Colorado average: 4.67%

Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:

from Chaffee County, CO	1.05% ($33,000 average AGI)
from Alamosa County, CO	0.96% ($21,727)

9.59% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($21,387 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	9.59%
Colorado average:	10.03%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
5.88% relocated to other counties in Colorado ($16,432 average AGI)
3.72% relocated to other states ($4,955 average AGI)
Saguache County: 3.72%
Colorado average: 3.96%

Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:

to Rio Grande County, CO

0.86% ($24,200 average AGI)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 17.2
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 14.3

Births per 1000 population in Saguache County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 7.0
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 7.2

Deaths per 1000 population in Saguache County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 3.4
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2003: 5.8

Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Saguache County

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 800 (676 aged, 124 disabled)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 27%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 23%

Household type by relationship

Households: 5,880

In family households: 4,984 (1,197 male householders, 357 female householders)
1,225 spouses, 1,819 children (1,676 natural, 46 adopted, 97 stepchildren), 99 grandchildren, 58 brothers or sisters, 34 parents, 95 other relatives, 100 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 896 (426 male householders (339 living alone)), 331 female householders (288 living alone)), 139 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 37 (17 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 702 2-persons, 307 3-persons, 266 4-persons, 178 5-persons, 62 6-persons, 39 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 627 1-person, 113 2-persons, 15 3-persons, 2 4-persons.

63.5% of residents of Saguache County speak English at home.
34.9% of residents speak Spanish at home (53% speak English very well, 20% speak English well, 14% speak English not well, 13% don't speak English at all).
1.1% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (86% speak English very well, 12% speak English well, 2% speak English not well).
0.3% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (60% speak English very well, 20% speak English well, 20% speak English not well).
0.3% of residents speak other language at home (63% speak English very well, 38% speak English well).

In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $35,826,000 ($5097 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $605,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $11,142,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $5,628,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $3,857,000
Federal grants: $12,456,000
Federal procurement contracts: $623,000 ($13,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $2,120,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $522,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $1,094,000
Federal Government insurance: $18,393,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 450

Here:	64 per 1000 residents
State:	76 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 228

Here:	32 per 1000 residents
State:	32 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +145

Here:	+21 per 1000 residents
State:	+24 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: +761

Here:	+108 per 1000 residents
State:	+10 per 1000 residents

Population growth in Saguache County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.62 millions of gallons per day (73% from ground, 27% from surface)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:

Here:	5.3
State:	6.5

Median number of rooms in apartments:

Here:	4.2
State:	3.9

Year house built:

1999 to March 2000: 109
1995 to 1998: 389
1990 to 1994: 249
1980 to 1989: 432
1970 to 1979: 649
1960 to 1969: 267
1950 to 1959: 298
1940 to 1949: 186
1939 or earlier: 508

Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Saguache County, Colorado:
	1 room: 28 2 rooms: 60 3 rooms: 133 4 rooms: 262 5 rooms: 391 6 rooms: 333 7 rooms: 210 8 rooms: 95 9+ rooms: 85

Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Saguache County, Colorado:
	1 room: 24 2 rooms: 74 3 rooms: 124 4 rooms: 177 5 rooms: 143 6 rooms: 71 7 rooms: 56 8 rooms: 21 9+ rooms: 13

Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses and condos in Saguache County:
	no bedroom: 39 1 bedroom: 145 2 bedrooms: 552 3 bedrooms: 652 4 bedrooms: 170 5+ bedrooms: 39

Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Saguache County:
	no bedroom: 32 1 bedroom: 146 2 bedrooms: 290 3 bedrooms: 199 4 bedrooms: 29 5+ bedrooms: 7

Cars and other vehicles available in Saguache County in owner-occupied houses/condos:
	no vehicle: 79 1 vehicle: 430 2 vehicles: 641 3 vehicles: 297 4 vehicles: 113 5+ vehicles: 37

Cars and other vehicles available in Saguache County in renter-occupied apartments
	no vehicle: 126 1 vehicle: 334 2 vehicles: 196 3 vehicles: 29 4 vehicles: 7 5+ vehicles: 11

52% of Saguache County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago.
Out of people who lived in different houses, 39% lived in this county.
Out of people who lived in different counties, 59% lived in Colorado.

Saguache County:	52.2%
State average:	45.7%

Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

This state: 3133
Northeast: 243
Midwest: 571
South: 331
West: 739

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $61,300

Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 5%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 5%

Year Householders Moved Into Unit:

Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos:
	Bottled, tank, or LP gas (39%) Utility gas (28%) Wood (18%) Electricity (11%) Solar energy (2%) Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (1%)

Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments:
	Utility gas (33%) Bottled, tank, or LP gas (33%) Electricity (22%) Wood (6%) Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (3%) Solar energy (2%)

Private vs. public school enrollment:
Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 55

Here:	7.2%
Colorado:	8.8%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 16

Here:	3.9%
Colorado:	7.9%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 19

Here:	14.2%
Colorado:	16.7%

Educational Attainment

School Enrollment by Level of School

Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Residents with Employment Disability (Noninst.)

Saguache County government finances in 2002:

Current Operations - Regular Highways: $2,611,000
Police Protection: $428,000

Health Services - Other: $372,000

Financial Administration: $260,000

Central Staff Services: $215,000

Corrections - Other: $212,000

General Public Buildings: $151,000

Libraries: $106,000

Judicial and Legal Services: $71,000

Housing & Community Development: $62,000

Protective Inspection and Regulation, NEC: $30,000

Air Transportation: $3,000
Local Intergovernmental - Highways: $32,000
Miscellaneous - Interest Earnings: $41,000
Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $1,395,000
State Intergovernmental - Highways: $1,942,000
Tax - Property: $3,035,000
Total Salaries & Wages: $3,340,000

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Total Number Of Recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of aged recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of blind and disabled recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients under 18

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients between 18 and 64

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients older than 64

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients also receiving OASDI

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Amount of payments (thousands of dollars)

Saguache County Fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2006:

Fatal accident count (per 100,000 population)

Vehicles involved in fatal accidents (per 100,000 population)