Sawpit, Colorado, 2019
Sawpit’s story
130 years in pictures
Census counts: 94 in 1900, a peak of 121 in 1910, 38 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
- 1896Sawpit is settled
SawpitCO
A town of 34, settled in 1896.
Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
Is Sawpit a good place to live?
Sawpit’s July high is 78°F, against 89°F in Colorado’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns. Among 160 Colorado towns, just 1 have a higher share of households owning their home than Sawpit. Sawpit has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
34 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sawpit: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sawpit, and how to reach them.
PowerSan Miguel Power Assn16.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Sawpit water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Sawpit’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Colorado you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSan Miguel County Clerk and RecorderSan Miguel County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8143081430 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sawpit.
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Sawpit, with avalanches at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 80% of U.S. communities.
80risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Sawpit, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Sawpit has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Sawpit’s January low is 9°F, where Colorado’s towns sit at 17°F and U.S. towns at 22°F.
76″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–38°
Spring26–54°
Summer44–76°
Fall28–57°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 21
typical last frost
+2.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Sawpit is
Sawpit beats the Colorado average on 8 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 27% of Sawpit adults sleep under 7 hours. Only 7 of the 160 Colorado towns we compare have a lower share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Sawpit.
| Sawpit | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 19% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
8 better17 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Sawpit | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5% | 11.1% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.3% | 9.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10% | 7.8% |
Montrose Regional Health
34.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 13 attractions →Telluride Ski Area and 6 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sawpit. Close and well known come first.
11 mi Ski areaTelluride Ski Area161 runs · 3,803 ft vertical
12 mi National forestUncompahgre National Forest
14 mi WaterfallBridal Veil Falls27 mi Ski areaPurgatory Resort92 runs · 1,963 ft vertical
38 mi National Recreation AreaCurecanti National Recreation Area807K visitors a year30 mi Ski areaCimarron Mountain Club45 runs · 1,542 ft vertical
12 mi National forestUncompahgre National Forest14 mi WaterfallBridal Veil Falls27 mi Ski areaPurgatory Resort92 runs · 1,963 ft vertical38 mi National Recreation AreaCurecanti National Recreation Area807K visitors a year30 mi Ski areaCimarron Mountain Club45 runs · 1,542 ft verticalSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Uncompahgre National Forest: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bridal Veil Falls: Terry Foote (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Curecanti National Recreation Area: The original uploader was Nationalparks at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sawpit
14pages on Sawpit
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Sawpit; the nearest are
Fort Lewis CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Durango50.2 mi$9,958 in-state tuitionSan Juan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Farmington, NM85.1 mi$1,928 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Sawpit residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
About Sawpit
Town in San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Sawpit is a statutory town in San Miguel County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 38 at the 2020 census, making Sawpit the fifth least populous incorporated town in the state of Colorado. The Telluride Post Office (ZIP Code 81435) serves Sawpit.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Elevation
- 7,592 ft
- Area code
- 970
Questions about Sawpit
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sawpit, CO a good place to live?
Sawpit has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.