Colorado

Chaffee

19,476
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Chaffee

Chaffee, Colorado, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 6,512. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 19,476.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 49 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202019,476
201017,809
200016,242
199012,684
198013,227
197010,162
19608,298
19507,168
19408,109
19308,126
19207,753
19107,622
19007,085
18906,612
18806,512
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Chaffee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Chaffee, Colorado.

Poncha Springs Schoolhouse
Poncha Springs
Grace Episcopal Church
Buena Vista
Maysville School
Maysville
Bridge over Arkansas River
Buena Vista
Valley View School
Salida
Vicksburg Mining Camp
Buena Vista
Jacobs Building
Buena Vista
Bonney, J. M., House
Buena Vista
St. Elmo Historic District
St. Elmo
Winfield Mining Camp
Buena Vista
Morley Bridge
Romley
Nachtrieb-Kelly Ranch
Buena Vista
Gas Creek School
Nathrop
Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings (Additional Documentation)
Buena Vista
Maxwell Park School
Buena Vista
McFadden Barn
Buena Vista
Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings (Boundary Increase)
Buena Vista
Brown's Canyon Bridge
Salida
Manhattan Hotel
Salida
Browse all Coloradohistoric sites ›

Other counties in Colorado

Explore census history and historic records for more Colorado counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Chaffee County, Colorado

This page charts the census history of Chaffee County, Colorado. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Chaffee

When does Chaffee first appear in the US census?
Chaffee, Colorado first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 6,512.
What is the population of Chaffee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Chaffee had a recorded population of 19,476.
How many historic places are in Chaffee?
49 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chaffee, Colorado.
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