Lake City Town History

Hinsdale County is the least populated county in Colorado. It was formed from portions of Conejos, Costilla, and Lake Counties in 1874. The county seat was moved from San Juan City to Lake City early in its history, the first cabin being erected by Enos Hotchkiss in 1874. By late 1875, Hotchkiss's cabin had been joined by another sixty seven structures.

Mining played a large role in the early economic development of Lake City, much of it being concentrated around the Burrows Park and Sherman areas. In 1900, the White Cross and Tellurium camps became active despite rugged road conditions. Carson and Capitol City were two camps which also proved profitable.

Like many mining districts in Colorado, Hinsdale County experienced a wide array of peculiar phenomena, such as snowslides which decimated bunkhouses and carried miners to their deaths and fires which leveled the town. These events were reported by the "The Silver World", the Lake City newspaper from 1875 to 1938.

The present day population of Hindsdale County is less than 500. The economy is tourism based and in the summer, visitors frequent the many eclectic restaurants, such as Poker Alice's, and revisit the past at the Hinsdale County Museum and the county courthouse. The winter attracts snowmobilers and cross-country skiing enthusiasts.

-History - Courtesy of Hindsdale County Website