Formed February 10, 1874 (23rd county)
Hinsdale County (784), Lake City (435)
The wood Federalist style structure for Hinsdale County is appropriate for this small, mountain county. It was built in 1877 using the designs of Jonathan Ogden. The structure is located on Henson Street between 3rd and 4th streets. Colorado State Highway 149 is one block west of the location. The county was created on February 10, 1874 from Conejos County as the 23rd county with Lake City as the only county seat. The county is named for Lieutenant Governor George A. Hinsdale. Lake San Cristobal provided the inspiration for the county seat’s name.
Hinsdale County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, manager, coroner, and treasurer (executive). It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.) Five District Court Judges serve Hinsdale, Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties and a Trial Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve Hinsdale County (judicial.) The Continental Divide winds through the county. The source of the Rio Grande is in Hinsdale County. The center of the county is 38.8 miles South-Southeast of Lake City. The county is surrounded clockwise by Gunnison, Saguache, Mineral, Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan, and Ouray counties.
The area of the county is 1123.4 square miles. The county is 41 out of 64 in the state. It ranks 63 out of 64 in population in the state. It has a density of 0.7 persons per square mile making it 64 out of 64 in the state. Hinsdale County has 55.5% of its population in its incorporated areas. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county. The county shape is a hook. Lake City is in the extreme northern quarter of the county. Lake City is the county seat and the largest city and the only incorporated city. It is 55.5% of the county population. The county’s name is pronounced HINS-DAEL.
Lake City
