Colorado counties

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The State of Colorado is divided into 64 counties that constitute the primary subdivisions of the U.S. state. The counties of Colorado are important components of government since the state has no secondary subdivisions such as townships.

Two counties, the City and County of Denver and the City and County of Broomfield, have consolidated city and county governments. Twenty Colorado municipalities currently extend into more than one county.

Contents 1 Colorado Counties 2 Counties formerly within Colorado 3 Colorado county trivia 4 References

[edit] Colorado Counties

The sortable table below lists the 64 counties of the State of Colorado with the following information:

• The official name of the county,^[1]
• The population of the county as of 2005-07-01, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau,^[2]
• The area of the county in square kilometers as calculated by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs^[3]
  (1 km² = 0.386102159 square mile = 247.105381 acres),
• The population density of the county in persons per square kilometer,^[2]
• The official County Seat,^[4]
• The date the county was created,^[5][6] and
• Historical notes.^[5][6][7]

The 64 Counties of the State of Colorado

County	Population	Area	Density	County Seat	Created	History
Adams County	399,426	03,062.12	0,130.44	Brighton	190211151902-11-15	Split from Arapahoe County.
Alamosa County	015,282	01,873.10	0,008.16	Alamosa	191303081913-03-08	Split from Costilla County and Conejos County counties.
Arapahoe County	529,090	02,083.40	0,253.95	Littleton	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado. Renamed South Arapahoe County for five months from 1902-11-15, to 1903-04-11.
Archuleta County	011,886	03,508.22	0,003.39	Pagosa Springs	188504141885-04-14	Split from Conejos County.
Baca County	004,069	06,626.43	0,000.61	Springfield	188904161889-04-16	Split from Las Animas County.
Bent County	005,558	03,991.36	0,001.39	Las Animas	187002111870-02-11	Split from Huerfano County and former Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal land.
Boulder County	280,440	01,917.83	0,146.23	Boulder	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
BroomfieldCity and County of Broomfield	043,478	00,086.93	0,500.12	Broomfield	200111152001-11-15	Split from Boulder, Adams, Jefferson, and Weld counties and reorganized as a consolidated city and county.
Chaffee County	016,968	02,626.55	0,006.46	Salida	187902101879-02-10	Split from Carbonate County.
Cheyenne County	001,953	04,615.09	0,000.42	Cheyenne Wells	188903251889-03-25	Split from Elbert and Bent counties.
Clear Creek County	009,197	01,027.00	0,008.96	Georgetown	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Conejos County	008,512	03,341.66	0,002.55	Conejos	186111011861-11-01	Guadalupe County, one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado, was renamed Conejos County after six days on 1861-11-07.
Costilla County	003,424	03,184.07	0,001.08	San Luis	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Crowley County	005,401	02,072.68	0,002.61	Ordway	191105291911-05-29	Split from Otero County.
Custer County	003,860	01,914.62	0,002.02	Westcliffe	187703091877-03-09	Split from Fremont County.
Delta County	029,947	02,977.05	0,010.06	Delta	188302111883-02-11	Split from Gunnison County.
DenverCity and County of Denver	557,917	00,403.15	1,383.90	Denver	190211151902-11-15	The original Arapahoe County Seat was split from Arapahoe County and reorganized as a consolidated city and county.
Dolores County	001,827	02,789.22	0,000.66	Dove Creek	188103041881-03-04	Split from Ouray County.
Douglas County	249,416	02,181.55	0,114.33	Castle Rock	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Eagle County	047,530	04,404.94	0,010.79	Eagle	188302111883-02-11	Split from Summit County.
El Paso County	565,582	05,513.05	0,102.59	Colorado Springs	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Elbert County	022,788	04,789.09	0,004.76	Kiowa	187402021874-02-02	Split from Douglas County.
Fremont County	047,766	03,970.67	0,012.03	Canon City	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Garfield County	049,810	07,661.78	0,006.50	Glenwood Springs	188302101883-02-10	Split from Summit County.
Gilpin County	004,932	00,388.88	0,012.68	Central City	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Grand County	013,211	04,839.46	0,002.73	Hot Sulphur Springs	187402021874-02-02	Split from Summit County.
Gunnison County	014,226	08,441.34	0,001.69	Gunnison	187703091877-03-09	Split from Lake County.
Hinsdale County	000,765	02,909.47	0,000.26	Lake City	187402101874-02-10	Split from Lake, Conejos, and Costilla counties.
Huerfano County	007,771	04,124.22	0,001.88	Walsenburg	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Jackson County	001,448	04,195.13	0,000.35	Walden	190905051909-05-05	Split from Larimer County.
Jefferson County	526,801	02,001.67	0,263.18	Golden	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Kiowa County	001,422	04,625.46	0,000.31	Eads	188904111889-04-11	Split from Bent County.
Kit Carson County	007,642	05,600.67	0,001.36	Burlington	188904111889-04-11	Split from Elbert County.
La Plata County	047,452	04,404.13	0,010.77	Durango	187402101874-02-10	Split from Lake and Conejos counties.
Lake County	007,738	00,993.40	0,007.79	Leadville	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado. Renamed Carbonate County for two days from 1879-02-08, to 1879-02-10.
Larimer County	271,927	06,816.20	0,039.89	Fort Collins	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Las Animas County	015,446	12,362.71	0,001.25	Trinidad	186602091866-02-09	Split from Huerfano County.
Lincoln County	005,618	06,695.65	0,000.84	Hugo	188904111889-04-11	Split from Elbert and Bent counties.
Logan County	020,719	04,779.33	0,004.34	Sterling	188702251887-02-25	Split from Weld County.
Mesa County	129,872	08,665.29	0,014.99	Grand Junction	188302141883-02-14	Split from Gunnison County.
Mineral County	000,932	02,274.42	0,000.41	Creede	189303271893-03-27	Split from Hinsdale, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties.
Moffat County	013,417	12,317.62	0,001.09	Craig	191102271911-02-27	Split from Routt County.
Montezuma County	024,778	05,272.70	0,004.70	Cortez	188904161889-04-16	Split from La Plata County.
Montrose County	037,482	05,818.21	0,006.44	Montrose	188302111883-02-11	Split from Gunnison County.
Morgan County	027,995	03,350.99	0,008.35	Fort Morgan	188902191889-02-19	Split from Weld County.
Otero County	019,495	03,283.23	0,005.94	La Junta	188903251889-03-25	Split from Bent County.
Ouray County	004,260	01,404.56	0,003.03	Ouray	187701181877-01-18	Split from Hinsdale and Lake counties. Renamed Uncompaghre County for four days from 1883-02-27, to 1883-03-02.
Park County	016,949	05,722.21	0,002.96	Fairplay	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Phillips County	004,586	01,782.71	0,002.57	Holyoke	188903271889-03-27	Split from Logan County.
Pitkin County	014,914	02,513.24	0,005.93	Aspen	188102231881-02-23	Split from Gunnison County.
Prowers County	013,892	04,261.49	0,003.26	Lamar	188904111889-04-11	Split from Bent County.
Pueblo County	151,322	06,207.60	0,024.38	Pueblo	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Rio Blanco County	005,973	08,355.91	0,000.71	Meeker	188903251889-03-25	Split from Garfield County.
Rio Grande County	012,227	02,364.91	0,005.17	Del Norte	187402101874-02-10	Split from Costilla County and Conejos County counties.
Routt County	021,313	06,117.84	0,003.48	Steamboat Springs	187701291877-01-29	Spilt from Grand County.
Saguache County	007,031	08,205.91	0,000.86	Saguache	196612291966-12-29	Split from Lake and Costilla counties.
San Juan County	000,577	01,007.48	0,000.57	Silverton	187601311876-01-31	Split from Lake County.
San Miguel County	007,213	03,343.05	0,002.16	Telluride	188303021883-03-02	Split from San Juan County.
Sedgwick County	002,529	01,421.47	0,001.78	Julesburg	188904091889-04-09	Split from Logan County.
Summit County	024,892	01,602.98	0,015.53	Breckenridge	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Teller County	021,918	01,446.71	0,015.15	Cripple Creek	189903231899-03-23	Split from El Paso and Fremont counties.
Washington County	004,633	06,534.28	0,000.71	Akron	188702091887-02-09	Split from Weld County.
Weld County	228,943	10,395.79	0,022.02	Greeley	186111011861-11-01	Created as one of the 17 original counties of the Territory of Colorado.
Yuma County	009,789	06,137.26	0,001.60	Wray	188903151889-03-15	Split from Washington County.

[edit] Counties formerly within Colorado

The sortable table below lists all the historic counties of the Territory of New Mexico, the Territory of Utah, the Territory of Kansas, and the Territory of Jefferson that previously existed within the boundaries of the present State of Colorado and the six defunct counties of the Territory of Colorado and the State of Colorado. The table includes the following information:

• The official name of the county,
• The territory or state,
• The date the county was created,
• The date the county was abolished or excluded from the Territory of Colorado, and
• Historical notes.

Counties formerly within the State of Colorado

County	Territory or State	Created	Superseded	History
Taos County	Territory of New Mexico	185201091852-01-09	186102281861-02-28	One of the seven partidos of the province of Nuevo México. One of the nine original counties created by the Territory of New Mexico in 1852. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Great Salt Lake County	Territory of Utah	185203031852-03-03	186102281861-02-28	Created by the Territory of Utah in 1852. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Iron County	Territory of Utah	185203031852-03-03	186102281861-02-28	Created by the Territory of Utah in 1852. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Sanpete County	Territory of Utah	185203031852-03-03	186102281861-02-28	Created by the Territory of Utah in 1852. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Utah County	Territory of Utah	185203031852-03-03	186102281861-02-28	Created by the Territory of Utah in 1852. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Washington County	Territory of Utah	185203031852-03-03	186102281861-02-28	Created by the Territory of Utah in 1852. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Green River County	Territory of Utah	185203031852-03-03	186102281861-02-28	Created by the Territory of Utah in 1852. Dissolved in 1857, but recreated in 1859. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861 and the Territory of Wyoming in 1868. Finally dissolved in 1872.
Arapahoe County	Territory of Kansas	185508251855-08-25	186101291861-01-29	Created by the Territory of Kansas in 1855, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
Beaver County	Territory of Utah	185601051856-01-05	186102281861-02-28	Split from Iron and Millard counties in 1856. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Broderick County	Territory of Kansas	185902071859-02-07	186101291861-01-29	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	185902071859-02-07	186101291861-01-29	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	185902071859-02-07	186101291861-01-29	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	185902071859-02-07	186101291861-01-29	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	185902071859-02-07	186101291861-01-29	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	185902071859-02-07	186101291861-01-29	Created by the Territory of Kansas in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861.
Arrappahoe County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Cheyenne County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
El Paso County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Fountain County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Heele County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Jackson County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Jefferson County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Montana County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
North County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Park County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Saratoga County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
St. Vrains County	Territory of Jefferson	18591199November 1859	186102281861-02-28	One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859.
Mora County	Territory of New Mexico	186002011860-02-01	186102281861-02-28	Split from Taos County in 1860. Excluded from the Territory of Colorado in 1861.
Guadalupe County	Territory of Colorado	186111011861-11-01	186111071861-11-07	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	187002111870-02-11	187402061874-02-06	Created from former 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	187202091872-02-09	187402091874-02-09	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	187902081879-02-08	187902101879-02-10	Lake County was renamed Carbonate County in 1879. Only two days later, Carbonate County was split into the new Chaffee County and the renamed Lake County.
Uncompaghre County	State of Colorado	188302271883-02-27	188303021883-03-02	Ouray County was renamed Uncompaghre County for only four days in 1883.
South Arapahoe County	State of Colorado	190211151902-11-15	190304111903-04-11	One of three counties created from Arapahoe County in 1902. The name was changed back to Arapahoe County after five months.

No organized counties of the District of Louisiana, the Territory of Missouri, or the Territory of Nebraska existed within the present boundaries of the State of Colorado.

[edit] Colorado county trivia

• Costilla County was the first area of the present State of Colorado to be settled by Europeans in 1851.
• 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.
• Of the 17 original counties created by the Territory of Colorado in 1861, only Gilpin County and Clear Creek County have retained their original boundaries.
• Guadalupe County was the first Colorado county to be renamed in 1861.
• Las Animas County was the first Colorado county to be created in 1866 after the original 17 counties.
• Greenwood County was the longest lived former Colorado county, existing four years from 1870 to 1874.
• Carbonate County was the shortest lived former Colorado county, existing only two days in 1879 before being dissolved.
• Las Animas County is the most extensive Colorado county with 12,363 square kilometers and the City and County of Broomfield is the least extensive county with 87 square kilometers.
• El Paso County is the most populous Colorado county with 565,582 residents and San Juan County is the least populous county with 577 residents.
• The City and County of Denver is the most densely populated Colorado county with 1384 residents per square kilometer and Hinsdale County is the least densely populated county with 0.255 residents per square kilometer.
• The highest point in Colorado is Mount Elbert in Lake County at 4402 meters and the lowest point is the Arikaree River at the eastern boundary of Yuma County at 1010 meters.
• Arapahoe County and Boulder County are the only two dismembered Colorado counties.
• Of all 64 Colorado counties, only Conejos County has a county seat that is not an incorporated municipality, the unincoporated town of Conejos.
• Weld County, Colorado has the most incorporated municipalities of any Colorado county with 31.
• Nine Colorado counties have no incorporated municipalities other than the county seat:

County	County Seat
Archuleta County	Pagosa SpringsTown of Pagosa Springs
Bent County	Las AnimasCity of Las Animas
BroomfieldCity and County of Broomfield	BroomfieldCity and County of Broomfield
DenverCity and County of Denver	DenverCity and County of Denver
Hinsdale County	Lake CityTown of Lake City
Jackson County	WaldenTown of Walden
Lake County	LeadvilleCity of Leadville
Mineral County	CreedeTown of Creede
San Juan County	SilvertonTown of Silverton

[edit] References