# Saguache County, Colorado

Saguache County (suh-WATCH /səˈwɑːtʃ/ ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,368. The county seat is Saguache.

## History

Saguache County was formed December 29, 1866, in the Territory of Colorado when it was extracted from the northern half of Costilla County. A partition from Lake County on February 9, 1872, added the northwest section of the present-day county.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,170 square miles (8,200 km$^2$), of which 3,169 square miles (8,210 km$^2$) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km$^2$) (0.05%) is water. It is the 7th largest of Colorado's 64 counties.

### Adjacent counties

* Chaffee County - north
* Fremont County - northeast
* Custer County - east
* Huerfano County - southeast
* Rio Grande County - south
* Alamosa County - south
* Mineral County - southwest
* Hinsdale County - southwest
* Gunnison County - northwest

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 285
* State Highway 17
* State Highway 112
* State Highway 114

### National protected areas

* Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
* Great Sand Dunes Wilderness
* Gunnison National Forest
* La Garita Wilderness
* Rio Grande National Forest
* Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

### Trails and byways

* Colorado Trail
* Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
* Great Parks Bicycle Route
* Liberty Road historic mail route open to foot, horse, and bicycle travel between Crestone and the ghost towns of Duncan and Liberty crossing the Baca Mountain Tract Rio Grande National Forest.
* Medano Pass Primitive Road
* Montville Nature Trail
* Mosca Pass Trail
* Old Spanish National Historic Trail
* Sand Ramp Trail, a hiking trail within the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve which skirts the east and north of the dune field.
* Western Express Bicycle Route

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,917 people, 2,300 households, and 1,557 families living in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km$^2$). There were 3,087 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 71.29% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 2.06% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 23.00% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 45.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,300 households, out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,495, and the median income for a family was $29,405. Males had a median income of $25,158 versus $18,862 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,121. About 18.70% of families and 22.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Like many Colorado counties with a strong Hispanic presence, Saguache leans Democratic in Presidential elections. The last Republican to carry the county was Ronald Reagan in 1984.
United States presidential election results for Saguache County, Colorado :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 1,577 | 46.37% | 1,704 | 50.10% | 120 | 3.53% |
| 2020 | 1,413 | 41.69% | 1,884 | 55.59% | 92 | 2.71% |
| 2016 | 1,147 | 40.46% | 1,417 | 49.98% | 271 | 9.56% |
| 2012 | 964 | 32.88% | 1,865 | 63.61% | 103 | 3.51% |
| 2008 | 956 | 34.76% | 1,730 | 62.91% | 64 | 2.33% |
| 2004 | 1,163 | 41.49% | 1,594 | 56.87% | 46 | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 1,078 | 42.63% | 1,145 | 45.27% | 306 | 12.10% |
| 1996 | 712 | 36.48% | 969 | 49.64% | 271 | 13.88% |
| 1992 | 675 | 31.05% | 1,011 | 46.50% | 488 | 22.45% |
| 1988 | 945 | 46.94% | 1,033 | 51.32% | 35 | 1.74% |
| 1984 | 1,201 | 57.63% | 867 | 41.60% | 16 | 0.77% |
| 1980 | 1,124 | 52.65% | 893 | 41.83% | 118 | 5.53% |
| 1976 | 1,094 | 49.50% | 1,059 | 47.92% | 57 | 2.58% |
| 1972 | 1,062 | 63.18% | 578 | 34.38% | 41 | 2.44% |
| 1968 | 824 | 52.45% | 648 | 41.25% | 99 | 6.30% |
| 1964 | 622 | 36.06% | 1,099 | 63.71% | 4 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 956 | 49.05% | 984 | 50.49% | 9 | 0.46% |
| 1956 | 1,149 | 58.03% | 823 | 41.57% | 8 | 0.40% |
| 1952 | 1,344 | 65.08% | 714 | 34.58% | 7 | 0.34% |
| 1948 | 914 | 47.19% | 1,009 | 52.09% | 14 | 0.72% |
| 1944 | 1,204 | 62.13% | 729 | 37.62% | 5 | 0.26% |
| 1940 | 1,462 | 55.57% | 1,142 | 43.41% | 27 | 1.03% |
| 1936 | 1,071 | 43.79% | 1,321 | 54.01% | 54 | 2.21% |
| 1932 | 931 | 37.88% | 1,427 | 58.06% | 100 | 4.07% |
| 1928 | 1,491 | 62.62% | 854 | 35.87% | 36 | 1.51% |
| 1924 | 1,205 | 58.33% | 591 | 28.61% | 270 | 13.07% |
| 1920 | 1,195 | 60.32% | 717 | 36.19% | 69 | 3.48% |
| 1916 | 681 | 34.22% | 1,254 | 63.02% | 55 | 2.76% |
| 1912 | 730 | 36.37% | 859 | 42.80% | 418 | 20.83% |
| 1908 | 811 | 49.06% | 817 | 49.43% | 25 | 1.51% |
| 1904 | 922 | 56.19% | 697 | 42.47% | 22 | 1.34% |
| 1900 | 731 | 39.84% | 1,085 | 59.13% | 19 | 1.04% |
| 1896 | 176 | 13.17% | 1,155 | 86.45% | 5 | 0.37% |
| 1892 | 326 | 36.51% | 0 | 0.00% | 567 | 63.49% |
| 1888 | 592 | 57.76% | 428 | 41.76% | 5 | 0.49% |
| 1884 | 543 | 54.08% | 454 | 45.22% | 7 | 0.70% |
| 1880 | 509 | 57.19% | 371 | 41.69% | 10 | 1.12% |

## Communities
### Towns

* Bonanza
* Center
* Crestone
* Moffat
* Saguache

### Unincorporated communities

* Alder
* Duncan
* La Garita
* Mineral Hot Springs
* Sargents
* Villa Grove

## National Register of Historic Places

Saguache County has nine locations listed in the National Register of Historic Places.