List of counties in Colorado explained

The U.S. State of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Two of these counties, the City and County of Broomfield and the City and County of Denver, have consolidated city and county governments. Denver serves as the state capital. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since there are no civil townships or other minor civil divisions.

El Paso County, with a population of 730,395 in 2020, is the most populous county in Colorado, while San Juan County is the least populous, with a population of 705. Las Animas County, 12369km2 in area, is the most extensive county, while the City and County of Broomfield, 87km2 in area, is the least extensive. The City and County of Denver is the most densely populated Colorado county, with a population density of 4,674 residents per square mile (1,805/km2) as of 2020, while Hinsdale County is the least densely populated county with a population density of 0.71 resident per square mile (0.27/km2).

Mount Elbert, the highest summit of Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 4401.2m (14,439.6feet), is located in Lake County. The lowest point in Colorado is where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County and into Kansas, at 1011m (3,317feet) elevation. 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.[1] __TOC__

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.[2] [3] 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 consolidated as a city and county from portions of both newly formed counties on December 1, 1902.[4] By 1912, Jackson County, Moffat County, and Crowley County had been created. Alamosa was created in 1913, and in 2001, Broomfield was consolidated as a city and county, bringing the total to 64 counties.

List

Select the OpenStreetMap link at the right to view the location of these 64 counties.

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2023 population estimates

For United States Census Bureau population estimates for Colorado counties as of July 1, 2023, see the List of Colorado counties by population. That list ranks the counties by 2023 population and includes population changes since the 2000 United States Census. That list also includes the county websites, links to Colorado Department of Transportation county maps, and the geographic coordinates of the counties.

As of July 1, 2023, El Paso County remains the most populous county in Colorado with a population estimate of 744,215, while Hinsdale County with a 2023 population of 765 is now the least populous. Five of the 64 Colorado counties now have more than 500,000 residents, while 12 counties have fewer than 5,000 residents.

Former counties

See main article: History of Colorado. 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[5] 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.

County!scope=col
Territory or Statescope=colDate createdscope=colDate supersededscope=colHistory
scope=rowTaos CountyTerritory of New Mexico1852-01-091861-02-28Originally 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.
scope=rowGreat Salt Lake CountyTerritory of Utah1852-03-031861-02-28Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861.
scope=rowGreen River CountyTerritory of Utah1852-03-031861-02-28Created 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.
scope=rowIron CountyTerritory of Utah1852-03-031861-02-28Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861.
scope=rowSanpete CountyTerritory of Utah1852-03-031861-02-28Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861.
scope=rowUtah CountyTerritory of Utah1852-03-031861-02-28Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861.
scope=rowWashington CountyTerritory of Utah1852-03-031861-02-28Created in 1852. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861.
scope=rowArapahoe CountyTerritory of Kansas1855-08-251861-01-29Created in 1855, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
scope=rowBeaver CountyTerritory of Utah1856-01-051861-02-28Split from Iron and Millard counties in 1856. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861.
scope=rowBroderick CountyTerritory of Kansas1859-02-071861-01-29Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
scope=rowEl Paso CountyTerritory of Kansas1859-02-071861-01-29Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
scope=rowFremont CountyTerritory of Kansas1859-02-071861-01-29Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
scope=rowMontana CountyTerritory of Kansas1859-02-071861-01-29Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
scope=rowOro CountyTerritory of Kansas1859-02-071861-01-29Split from Arapahoe County in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
scope=rowPeketon CountyTerritory of Kansas1859-02-071861-01-29Created in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
scope=rowArapahoe CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowCheyenne CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowEl Paso CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowFountain CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowHeele CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowJackson CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowJefferson CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowMountain CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowNorth CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowPark CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowSt. Vrain CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowSaratoga CountyTerritory of Jefferson1859-11-281861-02-28One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
scope=rowMora CountyTerritory of New Mexico1860-02-011861-02-28Split from Taos County and San Miguel County in 1860. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861.
scope=rowGuadalupe CountyTerritory of Colorado1861-11-011861-11-07One of the 17 original counties created by the Territory of Colorado in 1861. The county was renamed Conejos County after only six days.
scope=rowGreenwood CountyTerritory of Colorado1870-02-111874-02-06Created 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.
scope=rowPlatte CountyTerritory of Colorado1872-02-091874-02-09Created 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.
scope=rowCarbonate CountyState of Colorado1879-02-081879-02-10Lake 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.
scope=rowUncompahgre CountyState of Colorado1883-02-271883-03-02Ouray County was renamed Uncompahgre County for only four days in 1883.
scope=rowSouth Arapahoe CountyState of Colorado1902-11-151903-04-11One of three counties created from Arapahoe County in 1902. The name was changed back to Arapahoe County after five months.

County high points

See main article: List of Colorado county high points.

See also: List of highest U.S. county high points. Of the 64 Colorado counties, 20 counties extend above 14000feet elevation, 32 counties extend above 13000feet, 42 counties extend above 10000feet, and all 64 Colorado counties extend above 4116feet.

County mean elevation

See main article: List of highest counties in the United States. Of Colorado's 64 counties, 4 counties have a mean elevation above 11000feet elevation, 22 counties have a mean elevation above 10000feet, 32 counties have a mean elevation above 9000feet, and all 64 counties have a mean elevation above 3880feet.

The following 13 Colorado counties have highest mean elevation of any county in the United States, exceeding even the Denali Borough of Alaska.

The 13 highest mean elevation counties in the United States

!Rank!County!Mean elevation!High point[6] !Highest elevation[7] [8] !Low point!Lowest elevation!Elevation range
1Lake County11702.5feetMount Elbert14440feetArkansas River8965feet5475feet
2Hinsdale County11300feetUncompahgre Peak14315feetLake Fork Gunnison River8285feet6030feet
3Mineral County11116feetPhoenix Peak13902feetRio Grande8330feet5572feet
4San Juan County11085feetVermilion Peak13900feetAnimas River8270feet5630feet
5Summit County10935.5feetGrays Peak14276feetBlue River7595feet6681feet
6Alamosa County10928.5feetBlanca Peak14351feetRio Grande7506feet6845feet
7Saguache County10915feetCrestone Peak14300feetSan Luis Creek7530feet6770feet
8Costilla County10865.5feetBlanca Peak14351feetRio Grande7380feet6971feet
9Park County10705.5feetMount Lincoln14293feetSouth Platte River7118feet7175feet
10Chaffee County10661feetMount Harvard14427feetArkansas River6895feet7532feet
11Clear Creek County10608feetGrays Peak14276feetClear Creek6940feet7336feet
12Rio Grande County10402feetBennett Peak13209feetRock Creek7595feet5614feet
13Jackson County10353feetClark Peak12956feetNorth Platte River7750feet5206feet

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:

The 12 counties of the
Territory of Jefferson!County!County Seat
Arapahoe CountyDenver City
Cheyenne County
El Paso CountyColorado City
Fountain CountyPueblo
Heele CountyLa Porte
Jackson CountyBoulder City
Jefferson CountyArapahoe City
Golden City
Mountain CountyCentral City
North County
Park CountyTarryall City
Saint Vrain's CountySt. Vrain's CountySaint VrainSt. Vrain
Saratoga CountyBreckinridge

5. On November 1, 1861, the Territory of Colorado created the 17 original Colorado counties:

The 17 original counties of the
Territory of Colorado! County! First County Seat
Arapahoe CountyDenver City
Boulder CountyBoulder City
Clear Creek CountyIdaho
Costilla CountySan Miguel
Douglas CountyFrankstown
El Paso CountyColorado City
Fremont CountyCañon City
Gilpin CountyCentral City
Guadaloupe CountyGuadaloupe
Huerfano CountyAutobees Plaza
Jefferson CountyGolden City
Lake CountyOro City
Larimer CountyLa Porte
Park CountyTarryall City
Pueblo CountyPueblo
Summit CountyParkville
Weld CountySaint VrainSt. 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.

4. Delta County and the City and County of Denver each border only three adjacent counties, the fewest of Colorado counties.

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:
CountyCounty Seat
Archuleta CountyTown of Pagosa Springs
Bent CountyCity of Las Animas
City and County of Broomfield
City and County of Denver
Hinsdale CountyTown of Lake City
Jackson CountyTown of Walden
Lake CountyCity of Leadville
Mineral CountyTown of Creede
San Juan CountyTown of Silverton

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.

See also

Outline of Colorado

External links

38.9972°N -105.5478°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Highest and Lowest Elevations. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. August 27, 2022.
  2. Web site: Colorado County History . COGenWeb Project . April 29, 2011 . July 21, 2021.
  3. Web site: Stanwyck . Don . 2003 . Colorado County Evolution . COGenWeb Project . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070205102713/http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html . February 5, 2007 . July 21, 2021.
  4. City Council of the City and County of Denver v. Board of Commissioners of Adams County . 77 . P. . 858, 861 . 1904 . https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4428747;view=1up;seq=880;size=200 .
  5. Book: Provisional Laws and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of Jefferson Territory. General Assembly of the Territory of Jefferson. 1859–1860. 2011-05-05.
  6. Web site: Peak List. Peakbagger.com. June 20, 2022.
  7. Web site: Elevation Point Query Service. United States Geological Survey. June 20, 2022.
  8. Web site: National Map Search. United States Geological Survey. June 20, 2022.