List of counties in Colorado

File:Colorado in United States.svg

The location of the Template:Nowrap in the Template:Nowrap

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 6o 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.

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, 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 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 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 the most recent county population estimates, see the List of Colorado counties by population.

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.

Template:Countyrow |}

2024 population estimates

For United States Census Bureau population estimates for Colorado counties as of July 1, 2024, see the List of Colorado counties by population.Template:Efn That list ranks the counties by 2024 population and includes population changes since the 2000 United States Census. That list also includes the county websites and the geographic coordinates of the counties.

As of July 1, 2024, El Paso County remains the most populous county in Colorado with a population estimate of 752,772, while Hinsdale County with a 2024 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

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

Counties formerly within the area of the State of Colorado

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.
Arapahoe 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 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.

The 13 highest mean elevation counties in the United States

RankTemplate:Efn	County	Mean elevationTemplate:Efn	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=pb /><ref name=nms>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Low point<ref name=nms />	Lowest elevation<ref name=nms />	Elevation rangeTemplate:Efn
1	Lake County	Template:Convert	Mount Elbert	Template:Convert	Arkansas RiverTemplate:Efn	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
2	Hinsdale County	Template:Convert	Uncompahgre Peak	Template:Convert	Lake Fork Gunnison River	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
3	Mineral County	Template:Convert	Phoenix Peak	Template:Convert	Rio Grande	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
4	San Juan County	Template:Convert	Vermilion Peak	Template:Convert	Animas River	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
5	Summit County	Template:Convert	Grays Peak	Template:Convert	Blue River	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
6	Alamosa County	Template:Convert	Blanca Peak	Template:Convert	Rio Grande	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
7	Saguache County	Template:Convert	Crestone Peak	Template:Convert	San Luis Creek	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
8	Costilla County	Template:Convert	Blanca Peak	Template:Convert	Rio Grande	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
9	Park County	Template:Convert	Mount Lincoln	Template:Convert	South Platte River	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
10	Chaffee County	Template:Convert	Mount Harvard	Template:Convert	Arkansas River	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
11	Clear Creek County	Template:Convert	Grays Peak	Template:Convert	Clear Creek	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
12	Rio Grande County	Template:Convert	Bennett Peak	Template:Convert	Rock Creek	Template:Convert	Template:Convert
13	Jackson County	Template:Convert	Clark Peak	Template:Convert	North Platte River	Template:Convert	Template:Convert

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 />

The 12 counties of the
Territory of Jefferson

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
Saint Vrain's CountySt. Vrain's County	Saint VrainSt. Vrain
Saratoga County	Breckinridge

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 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	Saint 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.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:

County	County Seat
Archuleta County	Town of Pagosa Springs
Bent County	City of Las Animas
City and County of Broomfield
City and County of Denver
Hinsdale County	Town of Lake City
Jackson County	Town of Walden
Lake County	City of Leadville
Mineral County	Town of Creede
San Juan County	Town 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.

9. Pitkin and Weld are the only home rule counties.

Gallery

• The ten most populous Colorado counties
• USAFA air gardens.jpg

  1. The United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado

• Denver Capitol.jpg

  2. The Colorado State Capitol in the City and County of Denver

• Key Savings and Loan Association Building.JPG

  3. A bank building in Arapahoe County, Colorado

• Colorado School of Mines (5893276634).jpg

  4. The Colorado School of Mines in Jefferson County, Colorado

• The Childrens Hospital of Denver Front.JPG

  5. The Anschutz Medical Campus in Adams County, Colorado

• Fountain Valley Trail (5974714678).jpg

  6. Roxborough State Park in Douglas County, Colorado

• CSU University Center for the Arts.jpg

  7. Colorado State University in Larimer County, Colorado

• Stampede Parade.jpg

  8. The Greeley Stampede Parade in Weld County, Colorado

• National Center for Atmospheric Research - Boulder, Colorado.jpg

  9. The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder County, Colorado

• Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo.JPG

  10. The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk in Pueblo County, Colorado

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

Further reading

• {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

External links

• United States Department of Commerce
  • United States Census Bureau
• State of Colorado
  • Department of Local Affairs
• Colorado County Clerks Association
• History Colorado