List of counties in Colorado
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The U.S. State of Colorado is divided into 64 counties.<ref name=COcounties>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Two of these, the City and County of Denver, which serves as the state capital, and the City and County of Broomfield, have consolidated city and county governments. In addition to Denver and Broomfield, Pitkin County and Weld County operate as home rule counties with their own county charters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The other 60 counties operate under state regulations per Dillon's Rule. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since there are no civil townships or other minor civil divisions.
The United States Census Bureau estimates that El Paso County remains the most populous county in Colorado with a population estimate of 752,772, as of July 1, 2024, while Hinsdale County with a population of 747 is now the least populous.Template:Efn Five of the 64 Colorado counties now have more than 500,000 residents, while 12 counties have fewer than 5,000 residents.Template:Efn
Las Animas County, Template:Convert in area, is the most extensive county, while the City and County of Broomfield, Template:Convert in area, is the least extensive. The City and County of Denver was the most densely populated Colorado county, with a 2024 population density of 4,918 residents per square mile of land area (1,899/km2), while Hinsdale County was the least densely populated county, with a 2024 population density of 0.67 resident per square mile of land area (0.26/km2).
Mount Elbert, the highest summit of Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountains at an elevation of Template:Convert, is located in Lake County. The lowest point in Colorado is where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County and into Kansas, at Template:Convert elevation.Template:Efn This point, which is the highest low point of any state, is higher than the highest points of 18 states and the District of Columbia.<ref name=USGS>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
On November 1, 1861, the new Territory of Colorado created 17 original counties: Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Costilla, Douglas, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Guadalupe, Huerfano, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Park, Pueblo, Summit, and Weld; plus the Cheyenne Reserve.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Six days later, the name of Guadelupe County was changed to Conejos County.
On February 9, 1866, the first new county, Las Animas, was created, followed by Saguache in December of that year. Bent County was created in February 1870, followed by Greenwood the following month. On February 2, 1874, Grand County and Elbert County were formed, and on February 10, La Plata, Hinsdale, and Rio Grande counties were created. Greenwood was absorbed into Bent on February 5. The last county to be created under the Colorado Territory name was San Juan County, created three months before statehood.
By the time Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876, it had only 26 counties. In January 1877, Routt and Ouray were formed, followed by Gunnison and Custer counties in March. In February 1879, Chaffee County was created. From February 8–10, 1879, Lake county was renamed Carbonate County. In 1881, Dolores County and Pitkin County were created. In 1883, Montrose, Mesa, Garfield, Eagle, Delta, and San Miguel counties were formed, leaving the total number of counties at 39. The number rose to 40 in 1885 with the creation of Archuleta County on April 14. Washington County and Logan County were both created in 1887. Between February 19 and April 16 in 1889, Morgan, Yuma, Cheyenne, Otero, Rio Blanco, Phillips, Sedgwick, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Prowers, Baca, and Montezuma counties were formed, bringing the total to 55. By 1900, Mineral County and Teller County had been added. On November 15, 1902, Arapahoe County was split into Adams and South Arapahoe Counties, and Denver was reconstituted as a consolidated city-county from portions of both newly formed counties on December 1, 1902.<ref name="DenvervAdams">Template:Cite court</ref> By 1912, Jackson County, Moffat County, and Crowley County had been created. Alamosa was created in 1913. In 2001, Broomfield was reconstituted as a consolidated city-county from parts of Adams, Boulder, Jefferson and Weld counties, bringing the total to 64 counties.
Colorado counties
Template:GeoGroup Select the OpenStreetMap link at the right to view the location of these 64 counties.
- For Colorado counties by statistical area, see the List of statistical areas in Colorado.
- For Colorado county seats, see the List of county seats in Colorado.
- For Colorado county courthouses, see the List of Colorado county courthouses.
- For Colorado county per capita income, see the List of Colorado counties by per capita income
- For Colorado county socioeconomics, see the List of Colorado counties by socioeconomic factors.
- For Colorado county highest elevation points, see the List of Colorado county high points.
- For Colorado municipalities by county, see the List of Colorado municipalities by county.
- For Colorado populated places by county, see the List of Colorado populated places by county.
- For Colorado county maps, see the State of Colorado Map Viewer.
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County population
Former counties
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The following sortable table lists all the historic counties of the Territory of New Mexico, the Territory of Utah, the Territory of Kansas, and the extralegal Territory of Jefferson<ref name=JT>Template:Cite book</ref> that previously existed within the boundaries of the present State of Colorado, as well as the three defunct counties of the Territory of Colorado and the three defunct counties of the State of Colorado.Template:Efn
| County | Territory or State | Date created | Date superseded | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taos County | Territory of New Mexico | Template:NtshJan 09, 1852 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Originally one of the seven partidos of the Spanish, and later Mexican, province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. One of the nine original counties created by the Territory of New Mexico in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Great Salt Lake County | Territory of Utah | Template:NtshMar 03, 1852 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Green River County | Territory of Utah | Template:NtshMar 03, 1852 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Created in 1852, but never organized. Dissolved in 1857, but recreated in 1859. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861, and the Territory of Wyoming in 1868. Finally dissolved in 1872. |
| Iron County | Territory of Utah | Template:NtshMar 03, 1852 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Sanpete County | Territory of Utah | Template:NtshMar 03, 1852 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Utah County | Territory of Utah | Template:NtshMar 03, 1852 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Washington County | Territory of Utah | Template:NtshMar 03, 1852 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Arapahoe County | Territory of Kansas | Template:NtshAug 25, 1855 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Created in 1855, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. |
| Beaver County | Territory of Utah | Template:NtshJan 05, 1856 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Split from Iron and Millard counties in 1856. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Broderick County | Territory of Kansas | Template:NtshFeb 07, 1859 | Template:NtshJan 29, 1861 | Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. |
| El Paso County | Territory of Kansas | Template:NtshFeb 07, 1859 | Template:NtshJan 29, 1861 | Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. |
| Fremont County | Territory of Kansas | Template:NtshFeb 07, 1859 | Template:NtshJan 29, 1861 | Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. |
| Montana County | Territory of Kansas | Template:NtshFeb 07, 1859 | Template:NtshJan 29, 1861 | Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. |
| Oro County | Territory of Kansas | Template:NtshFeb 07, 1859 | Template:NtshJan 29, 1861 | Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. |
| Peketon County | Territory of Kansas | Template:NtshFeb 07, 1859 | Template:NtshJan 29, 1861 | Created in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. |
| Arrappahoe County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Cheyenne County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| El Paso County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Fountain County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Heele County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Jackson County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Jefferson County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Mountain County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| North County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Park County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| St. Vrain's County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Saratoga County | Territory of Jefferson | Template:NtshNov 28, 1859 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. |
| Mora County | Territory of New Mexico | Template:NtshFeb 01, 1860 | Template:NtshFeb 28, 1861 | Split from Taos County and San Miguel County in 1860. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. |
| Guadalupe County | Territory of Colorado | Template:NtshNov 01, 1861 | Template:NtshNov 07, 1861 | One of the 17 original counties created by the Territory of Colorado in 1861. The county was renamed Conejos County after only six days. |
| Greenwood County | Territory of Colorado | Template:NtshFeb 11, 1870 | Template:NtshFeb 02, 1874 | Created from expropriated Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal land and the eastern portion of Huerfano County in 1870. The county was abolished in 1874 and its territory split between Elbert County and Bent County. |
| Platte County | Territory of Colorado | Template:NtshFeb 09, 1872 | Template:NtshFeb 09, 1874 | Created from the eastern portion of Weld County in 1872. The county was abolished in 1874 after organizers failed to secure voter approval. The territory of the county was returned to Weld County. |
| Carbonate County | State of Colorado | Template:NtshFeb 08, 1879 | Template:NtshFeb 10, 1879 | Lake County was renamed Carbonate County in 1879. Only two days later, Carbonate County was split into the new Chaffee County and a recreated Lake County. |
| Uncompahgre County | State of Colorado | Template:NtshFeb 27, 1883 | Template:NtshMar 02, 1883 | Ouray County was renamed Uncompahgre County for only four days in 1883. |
| South Arapahoe County | State of Colorado | Template:NtshNov 15, 1902 | Template:NtshApr 11, 1903 | One of three counties created from Arapahoe County in 1902. The name was changed back to Arapahoe County after five months. |
County high points
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also Of the 64 Colorado counties, 20 counties extend above Template:Convert elevation, 32 counties extend above Template:Convert, 42 counties extend above Template:Convert, and all 64 Colorado counties extend above Template:Convert.
County mean elevation
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Of Colorado's 64 counties, 4 counties have a mean elevationTemplate:Efn above Template:Convert elevation, 22 counties have a mean elevation above Template:Convert, 32 counties have a mean elevation above Template:Convert, and all 64 counties have a mean elevation above Template:Convert.
The following 13 Colorado counties have highest mean elevation of any county in the United States, exceeding even the Denali Borough of Alaska.
County firsts
- 1. Costilla County was the first area within the present State of Colorado to be settled by Europeans in 1851.
- 2. Taos County, created by the Territory of New Mexico in 1852, was the first organized county to extend into the area of the present State of Colorado.
- 3. Arapahoe County, created by the Territory of Kansas in 1855, was the first county created exclusively within the area of the present State of Colorado.
- 4. On November 28, 1859, the extralegal Territory of Jefferson created 12 counties:<ref name=JT />
| County | County Seat |
|---|---|
| Arapahoe County | Denver City |
| Cheyenne County | |
| El Paso County | Colorado City |
| Fountain County | Pueblo |
| Heele County | La Porte |
| Jackson County | Boulder City |
| Jefferson County | Arapahoe City Golden City |
| Mountain County | Central City |
| North County | |
| Park County | Tarryall City |
| St. Vrain's County | St. Vrain |
| Saratoga County | Breckinridge |
- 5. On November 1, 1861, the Territory of Colorado created the 17 original Colorado counties:
| County | First County Seat |
|---|---|
| Arapahoe County | Denver City |
| Boulder County | Boulder City |
| Clear Creek County | Idaho |
| Costilla County | San MiguelTemplate:Efn |
| Douglas County | Frankstown |
| El Paso County | Colorado City |
| Fremont County | Cañon City |
| Gilpin County | Central City |
| Guadaloupe County | Guadaloupe |
| Huerfano County | Autobees Plaza |
| Jefferson County | Golden City |
| Lake County | Oro City |
| Larimer County | La Porte |
| Park County | Tarryall City |
| Pueblo County | Pueblo |
| Summit County | Parkville |
| Weld County | St. Vrain |
- 6. Of the 17 original Colorado counties created in 1861, only Gilpin County and Clear Creek County have retained their original boundaries with only minor survey changes.
- 7. Guadaloupe County was the first Colorado county to be renamed after only six days in 1861.
- 8. Las Animas County was the first new Colorado county to be created (in 1866) after the original 17 counties.
- 9. Greenwood County was the longest lived former Colorado county, existing four years from 1870 to 1874.
- 10. In 1876, San Juan County became the last county created by the Territory of Colorado, bringing the total number of territorial counties to 26.
- 11. In 1877, Ouray County became the first county created by the new State of Colorado.
- 12. Carbonate County was the shortest lived former Colorado county, existing only two days in 1879 before being dissolved.
- 13. The City and County of Broomfield became the newest Colorado county in 2001, bring the total number of counties to 64.
County distinctions
- 1. El Paso County (88) and the City and County of Denver (93) and are among the 100 most populous counties of the United States.
- 2. San Juan County (16), Hinsdale County (25), Mineral County (32), Jackson County (55), Kiowa County (59), and Cheyenne County (80) are among the 100 least populous counties of the United States.
- 3. Jefferson County borders ten adjacent counties, the most of any Colorado county.Template:Efn
- 4. Delta County and the City and County of Denver each border only three adjacent counties, the fewest of Colorado counties.Template:Efn
- 5. Weld County has the most incorporated municipalities of any Colorado county with 31.
- 6. The following nine Colorado counties have no incorporated municipalities other than their county seat:
- 7. Of all 64 Colorado counties, only Conejos County has a county seat that is not an incorporated municipality.
- 8. The City and County of Denver and the City and County of Broomfield are the only two Colorado counties with enclaves. Arapahoe County, Boulder County, and Jefferson County are the only three Colorado counties with exclaves.
- 9. Pitkin and Weld are the only home rule counties.
Gallery
- The ten most populous Colorado counties
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2. The Colorado State Capitol in the City and County of Denver
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3. A bank building in Arapahoe County, Colorado
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8. The Greeley Stampede Parade in Weld County, Colorado
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See also
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- List of Colorado counties by per capita income
- List of Colorado counties by population
- List of Colorado counties by socioeconomic factors
- List of Colorado counties by statistical area
- List of Colorado county high points
- List of Colorado municipalities by county
- List of Colorado populated places by county
- List of county courthouses in Colorado
- List of county seats in Colorado
- Outline of Colorado
Notes
References
Further reading
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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External links
- United States Department of Commerce
- State of Colorado
- Colorado County Clerks Association
- History Colorado
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