STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Routt County has once again been identified as one of the healthiest counties in the United States, according to U.S. News Healthiest Communities rankings released this week.

According to the ranking, Routt County is the eighth healthiest county in the country, based on 80 indicators across 10 categories that drive health outcomes.

The top 500 counties were scored on population health, equity, education, economy, housing, food and nutrition, environment, public safety, community vitality and infrastructure.

The top-ranked county was Falls Church City, Virginia; followed by Douglas County, Colorado, in second; and Broomfield County, Colorado, in third. Ouray County, Colorado, was ninth. For a complete list of the rankings, click here.

Routt County has been recognized for its health before.

In 2017, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recognized Routt County as the fourth healthiest of Colorado counties, up from seventh place in 2016, fifth in 2015 and 11th in 2014.

In 2013, survey results released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified Routt County as the fittest county in Colorado, the fittest state in the U.S.

Steamboat Today reporter Joel Reichenberger traveled to Holmes County, Mississippi, that year to report on the differences in lifestyle between Routt County and Holmes County, then identified as the county with the highest rate of obesity in the state with the highest rate.