Formed March 2, 1883 (39th county)
San Miguel County (8,071), Telluride (2,630)
The very unique dark red brick Romanesque style structure was built 1888. The courthouse is on Main at Oak Street. Colorado State Highway 145 is Main Street. The architect for the building is W. H. Nelson. The building was restored in 2002. San Miguel County split from Ouray County on March 2, 1883 as the 39th county with Telluride as the only county seat. San Miguel River is the namesake for the county which is Spanish for “Saint Michael.” The county seat gets its name from the mineral tellurium. The San Miguel River flows in the eastern part of the county. The center of the county is 26.6 miles West of Telluride nearer Placerville.
San Miguel County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, manager, coroner, and treasurer (executive). It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.) Five District Court Judges serve San Miguel, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, and Ouray counties and a Trial Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve San Miguel County (judicial.) The county is in the southwest part of the state on the border with Utah. The county is surrounded clockwise by Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and Dolores counties and Utah. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.
The area of the county is 1290.8 square miles. The county is 35 out of 64 in the state. It ranks 40 out of 64 in population in the state. It has a density of 6.3 persons per square mile making it 42 out of 64 in the state. San Miguel County has 57.8% of its population in its incorporated areas. The county’s shape is a small letter r lying face down. Telluride is in the extreme eastern part of the county. Telluride is the county seat and the largest city. It is 32.6% of the county population. The county is pronounced SAN MEE-GEL.
Mountain Village
Norwood
Ophir
Sawpit
Telluride
Mountain Village
Norwood
