Saguache County, Colorado

Adjacent counties

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.^[6]
• 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.^[7]
• Western Express Bicycle Route

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,368. Of the residents, 20.0% were under the age of 18 and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.0 years. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.7 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[13][14][15]

The racial makeup of the county was 66.1% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 3.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.2% from some other race, and 20.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 37.6% of the population.^[15]

There were 2,835 households in the county, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[14]

There were 3,739 housing units, of which 24.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.1% were owner-occupied and 29.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.6%.^[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 5,917 people, 2,300 households, and 1,557 families living in the county.^[19] The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km²). There were 3,087 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km²). 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.

Towns

• Bonanza
• Center
• Crestone
• Moffat
• Saguache

Unincorporated communities