Eagle County, Colorado

Infobox U.S. County
county = Eagle County
state = Colorado


founded year = 1883
founded date = February 11
seat wl = Eagle
largest city wl = Edwards
city type = CDP
area_total_sq_mi = 1692
area_total_km2 = 4382
area_land_sq_mi = 1688
area_land_km2 = 4372
area_water_sq_mi = 4
area_water_km2 = 10
area percentage = 0.23%
census yr = 2000
pop = 41659
density_sq_mi = 25
density_km2 = 10
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.eaglecounty.us
named for = Eagle River

Eagle County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county is named for the Eagle River. The county population was 41,659 at U.S. Census 2000.cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/files/CO-EST2006-ALLDATA.csv | title = Annual County Population Estimates and Estimated Components of Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CO-EST2006-alldata) | format = CSV | work = 2006 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2007-03-22 | accessdate = 2007-05-17] The county seat is the Town of Eagle. The Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area comprises Eagle County and Lake County.

History

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.

In 2003, Kate Faber, a local woman accused Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant of sexual assault, putting the county and the town of Eagle on the map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,692 square miles (4,382 km²), of which, 1,688 square miles (4,372 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (10 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.

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. Fryingpan River and the Roaring Fork River intersect the southwest corner of the county.

Adjacent counties

*Grand County, Colorado - northeast
*Summit County, Colorado - east
*Lake County, Colorado - south
*Pitkin County, Colorado - southwest
*Garfield County, Colorado - west
*Routt County, Colorado - northwest

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 41,659 people, 15,148 households, and 9,013 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 22,111 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.35% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 10.80% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. 23.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,148 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.50% were non-families. 20.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.90% 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 23.50% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 42.10% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 3.00% 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 3.90% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.80% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Avon
*Basalt
*Eagle
*Eagle-Vail
*Edwards
*El Jebel
*Gypsum
*Minturn
*Red Cliff
*Vail

tate park

*Sylvan Lake State Park

National forest and wilderness

*White River National Forest
*Eagles Nest Wilderness
*Flat Tops Wilderness
*Holy Cross Wilderness

Trails

*Colorado Trail
*Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
*Two Elk National Recreation Trail
*Vail Pass National Recreation Trail

cenic byways

*Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway
*Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway

ee also

*Colorado census statistical areas
*Colorado counties
*Colorado municipalities
*Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area
*Flight of Craig D. Button

References

External links

* [http://www.eaglecounty.us/ Eagle County Government website]
* [http://www.visitvailvalley.com Vail Valley Partnership - The Chamber and Tourism Bureau]
* [http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
* [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]