It was named for Jerome B. Chaffee,[4] Colorado's first United States Senator.

[5] At the 2000 census there were 16,242 people, 6,584 households, and 4,365 families living in the county.

There were 8,392 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km2).

The racial makeup of the county was 90.94% White, 1.58% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.21% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races.

[12] Chaffee County was long a Republican stronghold, but has recently trended towards the Democrats.

Kamala Harris won the county by a larger margin in 2024, becoming the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the county while losing the presidential election since 1908.