Coordinates: 39°37′16″N 106°08′15″W / 39.621023°N 106.137555°W / 39.621023; -106.137555

Summit County, Colorado

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For other counties with similar names, see Summit County.
Summit County, Colorado
County
The Summit County Courthouse in Breckenridge
The Summit County Courthouse in Breckenridge
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Seal
Map of Colorado highlighting Summit County
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
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CountryFile:Flag of the United States.svg United States
StateFile:Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado
FoundedNovember 1, 1861
Named afterContinental Divide
SeatBreckenridge
Largest townSilverthorne
Area
 • Total
619.259 sq mi (1,603.87 km2)
 • Land608.328 sq mi (1,575.56 km2)
 • Water10.931 sq mi (28.31 km2)  1.77%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
31,055
 • Estimate 
(2024)
30,882 Decrease
 • Density51.050/sq mi (19.710/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code970 and 748
Congressional district2nd
Websitesummitcountyco.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] and was estimated to be 30,882 in 2024.[2] The county seat of Breckenridge.[3] Summit County comprises the Breckenridge, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.[4][5]

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 United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 619.259 square miles (1,603.87 km2), of which 608.328 square miles (1,575.56 km2) is land and 10.931 square miles (28.31 km2) (1.77%) is water.[6] It is the 55th largest county in Colorado by total area.[7]

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.[8] 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%
2024 (est.)30,882[9]−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 31,055. Of the residents, 16.8% were under the age of 18 and 13.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females there were 119.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 120.7 males. 83.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 16.1% lived in rural areas.[14][15][16]

The racial makeup of the county was 79.7% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.8% from some other race, and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 17.2% of the population.[16]

There were 12,939 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 18.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]

There were 31,342 housing units, of which 58.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.9% were owner-occupied and 36.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 26.6%.[15]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 23,548 people, 9,120 households, and 4,769 families residing in the county. The population density was 39.0 inhabitants per square mile (15.1/km2). There were 24,201 housing units at an average density of 40.0 per square mile (15.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.84% White, 0.68% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.96% from some other races and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.79% of the population.

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.[17] 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.

File:Reservoir in the Rocky Mountains.jpg
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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20]

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 (between Frisco and 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. Since 1988 the county has trended strongly toward the Democratic Party, like many other counties in Colorado dominated by ski towns. In 2020, Joe Biden's performance was the best by a Democrat since 1916, and Kamala Harris' performance was only slightly worse in 2024.

United States presidential election results for Summit County, Colorado[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1880 1,289 48.81% 1,328 50.28% 24 0.91%
1884 609 51.92% 556 47.40% 8 0.68%
1888 701 55.63% 557 44.21% 2 0.16%
1892 279 25.60% 0 0.00% 811 74.40%
1896 28 2.20% 1,243 97.64% 2 0.16%
1900 394 28.59% 967 70.17% 17 1.23%
1904 561 48.15% 569 48.84% 35 3.00%
1908 366 31.99% 743 64.95% 35 3.06%
1912 179 18.55% 600 62.18% 186 19.27%
1916 268 26.27% 717 70.29% 35 3.43%
1920 418 50.36% 388 46.75% 24 2.89%
1924 354 47.52% 241 32.35% 150 20.13%
1928 362 53.16% 306 44.93% 13 1.91%
1932 224 34.78% 397 61.65% 23 3.57%
1936 268 34.85% 496 64.50% 5 0.65%
1940 479 46.78% 540 52.73% 5 0.49%
1944 326 57.60% 237 41.87% 3 0.53%
1948 292 43.26% 378 56.00% 5 0.74%
1952 442 61.90% 271 37.96% 1 0.14%
1956 429 64.61% 235 35.39% 0 0.00%
1960 424 51.27% 400 48.37% 3 0.36%
1964 344 41.55% 483 58.33% 1 0.12%
1968 536 57.39% 301 32.23% 97 10.39%
1972 1,082 59.03% 707 38.57% 44 2.40%
1976 1,826 58.15% 1,087 34.62% 227 7.23%
1980 2,027 46.54% 1,285 29.51% 1,043 23.95%
1984 3,253 66.14% 1,588 32.29% 77 1.57%
1988 2,893 51.44% 2,595 46.14% 136 2.42%
1992 2,256 26.95% 3,344 39.95% 2,770 33.09%
1996 3,261 38.73% 3,970 47.16% 1,188 14.11%
2000 4,497 40.63% 5,304 47.92% 1,267 11.45%
2004 5,370 39.10% 8,144 59.29% 221 1.61%
2008 4,883 32.77% 9,802 65.79% 214 1.44%
2012 5,571 36.38% 9,347 61.04% 394 2.57%
2016 5,100 31.53% 9,557 59.09% 1,517 9.38%
2020 5,322 28.80% 12,631 68.35% 526 2.85%
2024 5,244 29.89% 11,762 67.04% 539 3.07%

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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File:Gold-221311.jpg
Gold specimen from the Breckenridge Mining District
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  5. ^ See the Colorado census statistical areas.
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  8. ^ "Elevation distribution for all U.S. cities," http://www.city-data.com/top13.html, accessed August 2, 2017
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  19. ^ "County Profile: Summit County Colorado," http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Summit_County_Colorado.pdf, accessed August 2, 2017
  20. ^ Achenbach, Joel, "U.S. life expectancy varies more than 20 years from county to county," Washington Post, May 8, 2017
  21. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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