Welcome to San Miguel County
San Miguel County is located in southwest Colorado and covers 1,289 square miles. Named for the San Miguel River that flows along its eastern border, the county was originally part of Ouray County before it was split into two in 1883. From being a miner's hub in the late 1800s, San Miguel County has grown into a nationally recognized recreational and cultural destination today.
The county has an estimated population of 8,076, with 2,608 living in its county seat of Telluride and another 1500 or so in Mountain Village. Telluride is located in the San Juan Mountains and is most famous for its ski resort and arts festivals.
In addition to Telluride, San Miguel County also includes Mountain Village, a resort community located 9,540 feet above Telluride, and home to the popular Telluride Ski Resort. The county also encompasses four other towns and two unincorporated communities, as follows:
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Ophir
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Tomboy (a ghost town)
The population in the inhabited municipalities outside Telluride and Mountain Village ranges from 40 to less than 500, resulting in a population density throughout the entire county of only five per square mile, one of the lowest in the United States.
Home to national protected areas, fantastic trails, and famous ski slopes, San Miguel County is where you’ll find some of Colorado’s rawest natural beauty – a quality that has made it one of the most sought-after outdoor destinations in the United States today.
