Chaffee County, Colorado
Chaffee County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,809. The county seat is Salida.
History
Chaffee County has a confusing origin. Between February 8 and February 10, 1879, Carbonate County was created by the Colorado legislature out of northern Lake County. On February 10 the two counties were renamed, with the southern part of Lake County becoming Chaffee County, and Carbonate County becoming Lake County. Chaffee County is known as the “Heart of the Rockies”. It was named for Jerome B. Chaffee, Colorado's first United States Senator.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,015 square miles (2,630 km2), of which 1,013 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.
National protected areas
Browns Canyon National Monument
Buffalo Peaks Wilderness
Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
San Isabel National Forest
Recreation area
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area