Mineral County
History and Geography
Mineral County, founded in 1893, is the third least
populous county in the State of Colorado and features 95
percent of its 877 square miles as public lands.
Residents and visitors find untouched mountain scenery,
abundant opportunities for hiking, camping, skiing,
fishing, and hunting, and remote mines and ghost towns
to explore. The City of Creede is the only town in
Mineral County. Established in 1892, Creede's history
and economy were built on silver mining and tourism. For
a century, mining camps at the headwaters of the Rio
Grande and its tributaries pumped millions of dollars
into Colorado’s economy. In 1985, when the price of
silver dropped again, the last mine, the Homestake,
closed permanently. Today Mineral County is returning to
its tourism roots. Creede, the little mining camp that
refused to die, shares not only its beautiful natural
setting, but also its colorful heritage with thousands
of visitors every year. Art galleries, shopping, fine
dining, historical tours, and the Creede Reperatory
Theatre attract tourists year round. The tenacious
spirit of the locals and the versatility of the
community have enabled Creede to thrive at 8500 feet for
over 110 years.
Demographics
Exactly 966 people call Mineral County home, roughly
half of whom live in the City of Creede. Unlike the rest
of the San Luis Valley, only two percent of the
population identify as Hispanic/Latino. There are an
estimated 1,446 housing units in the County, 406 of
which are owner-occupied, 63 are renter-occupied and 977
are vacant. This high level of vacancy can be attributed
to the seasonal economy, harsh winter climate, and lack
of jobs.
Economy
Since the last silver mine closed in 1985, the
primary economy has been tourism, with housing
construction and various government jobs filling the
other top payroll slots. In the mid-1960’s, a group of
enthusiastic drama students from Kansas University,
aided by the Creede JayCees, initiated a summer
repertory theater program that has developed into the
nationally recognized Creede Repertory Theatre, a major
attraction that brings tourists to Creede from
throughout the United States. Employment is highly
seasonal. Local wage scales are lower than many other
areas, but with a per capita income of $24,475, Mineral
County ranks far above other San Luis Valley counties
for wealth. With limited private land, the residential
market, especially rentals, is tight. While real estate
prices are climbing, they are still very reasonable
compared to many other Rocky Mountain markets.
Residential development and home building are "major"
activities.
Education
Located at an altitude of 8,852 feet, the Creede School
District serves a small community. Silver mining was the
industry that created Creede and, consequently, the high
school mascot became the Miner. Several one-room school
houses were scattered in the surrounding mountains at
the turn of the century. Over time, they banded together
to form one consolidated district. Class sizes have
remained small providing a quality education for all of
its students. Today, the Creede School District stands
among the highest performing districts in the region on
state academic assessments.
Other Resources
http://mineralcountycolorado.com
http://www.creede.com
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