Retiring Guy's Digest: Population loss in Colorado: Lake County/Leadville

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Population loss in Colorado: Lake County/Leadville

It all started here.

Population loss as in major -- 50% or more. Final post in series.

Source: Wikipedia (Lake County, Leadville)

Leadville is the county seat of Lake County.

Population loss by degrees: 80-90%, 70-79%, 60-69%, 50-59%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts

Percentage of population 25 and older with a bachelor's degree:

31.2% - Lake County
39.4% - Colorado
30.9% - U.S.

Percentage of population 65 and older:

14.3% - Lake County
14.2% - Colorado
15.6% - U.S.

% of population living in poverty:

12.2% - Lake County
10.3% - Colorado
12.3% - U.S.

Lake County has consistently voted for the Democratic candidate for president since 1988.

Lake County Public Library, Leadville

Related reading:
Colorado mining town's past threatens its future. (The New York Times, 2/28/2008)

Like many of the 2,800 people in this old mining town, where wealthy prospectors and infamous gunslingers once flocked, Medina, a housekeeper at a hotel in Vail, is afraid of losing her property, or worse.

"They should get us out of here," she said. "They need to do something before it's too late." This month, the Lake County Commission declared a state of emergency over concerns that rising levels of contaminated water could burst from the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel and flood the town.

Altitude with Attitude in Colorado. (The New York Times, 7/25/2008)

A rugged mountain town perched at a lung-searing 10,152 feet — nearly two miles above sea level — Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States. Its main street is crammed with 1880s brick Victorians painted a kaleidoscope of colors: yellow, pink, purple and green. Even in summer, snowfields lace the soaring peaks that cradle the town.

Tourists and outdoorsy types are discovering the allure of this postcard of a town high in the Rockies. It’s 25 miles from the Interstate, it has only one stoplight, and the residents exchange phone numbers in four digits. Mountain bikers and horseback riders hit the trails; intrepid hikers scale Mounts Elbert and Massive, the two 14,000-foot peaks that dominate Leadville’s skyline; and anglers pull rainbows from high alpine lakes.