Chaffee County is centrally located in Colorado on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. The population of the County in 2015 was 18,521. The county is 1,014 square miles with a population density of 16.9 per square mile. The average elevation is 7,500 feet.
Established in 1879, the county was named after the first Colorado U.S. Senator, Jerome Chaffee. Chaffee County is sometimes referred to as one of the “Fourteener” Regions because it features fifteen peaks reaching 14,000 feet. Over 80% of the County is in public ownership, with the Pike National Forest on the east and the San Isabel National Forest on the west. The huge tracts of public land in the form of long-established national forests and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area have resulted in an economy with a strong focus on outdoor recreation, retail sales and services.
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Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
2021 - 2026 CEDS Our 2021 - 2026 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) has been approved by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). CEDS FINAL with Appendix F The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) contributes to effective economic development in our communities and regions through a locally based, regionally driven economic development planning process. Economic development
County Economic Profiles
2017 Chaffee County Profile
Economic Overview – Chaffee County, Colorado
CEDS Chaffee County SWOT Analysis