- Colorado counties
-
Main article: State of ColoradoSee also: List of counties in ColoradoThe U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships. Two of these counties, the City and County of Denver and the City and County of Broomfield, have consolidated city and county governments.
Contents
Table
An enlargeable map of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado
The following sortable table lists the 64 counties of the state of Colorado with the following information:
- The official name of the county,[1]
- The date the county was established,[2]
- The county seat,[3]
- The rank among the 64 counties of Colorado by population as of April 1, 2010, as counted by the 2010 United States Census,[4]
- The county population as of April 1, 2010, as counted by the 2010 United States Census,[4]
- The county population as of April 1, 2000, as counted by the 2000 United States Census,[4]
- The percent population change from April 1, 2000, to April 1, 2010,[4]
- A link to a detailed transportation map of the county.[5]
- The average population density of the county,[4]
- The land area of the county,[4]
- The water area of the county,[4]
- The total area of the county,[4]
- The maximum surface elevation in the county,[6][7][8]
- The minimum surface elevation in the county,[9][8][10]
- The reference latitude of the county,[4] and
- The reference longitude of the county.[4]
The 64 Counties of the State of Colorado
County Date Established County Seat Pop Rank 2010 Census 2000 Census Pop Change Map Pop Density Land Area Water Area Total Area Max Elev Min Elev Latitude Longitude Adams County[11] 1902-11-15 Brighton 5 441,603 363,857 +21.37% map 378.20 mi-2
146.02 km-21,167.653 mi2
3,024.208 km216.243 mi2
42.070 km21,183.897 mi2
3,066.278 km25,668 ft
1728 m4,432 ft
1351 m39.8743252° N 104.3318718° W Alamosa County 1913-03-08 Alamosa 31 15,445 14,966 +3.20% map 21.37 mi-2
8.25 km-2722.643 mi2
1,871.637 km20.698 mi2
1.808 km2723.341 mi2
1,873.445 km214,351 ft
4374 m6,387 ft
1947 m37.5684423° N 105.7880414° W Arapahoe County 1861-11-01 Littleton 3 572,003 487,967 +17.22% map 716.71 mi-2
276.72 km-2798.100 mi2
2,067.070 km27.337 mi2
19.004 km2805.438 mi2
2,086.074 km26,218 ft
1895 m4,730 ft
1442 m39.6446318° N 104.3317329° W Archuleta County 1885-04-14 Pagosa Springs 36 12,084 9,898 +22.09% map 8.95 mi-2
3.46 km-21,350.175 mi2
3,496.938 km25.339 mi2
13.828 km21,355.514 mi2
3,510.765 km213,308 ft
4056 m6,085 ft
1855 m37.2023952° N 107.0508634° W Baca County 1889-04-16 Springfield 55 3,788 4,517 −16.14% map 1.48 mi-2
0.57 km-22,554.967 mi2
6,617.334 km22.372 mi2
6.142 km22,557.338 mi2
6,623.476 km25,293 ft
1613 m3,458 ft
1054 m37.3031437° N 102.5354566° W Bent County 1870-02-11 Las Animas 46 6,499 5,998 +8.35% map 4.30 mi-2
1.66 km-21,512.861 mi2
3,918.292 km228.222 mi2
73.094 km21,541.083 mi2
3,991.386 km24,857 ft
1481 m3,671 ft
1119 m37.9318907° N 103.0775841° W Boulder County[11] 1861-11-01 Boulder 7 294,567 291,288 +1.13% map 405.58 mi-2
156.59 km-2726.289 mi2
1,881.080 km214.081 mi2
36.469 km2740.370 mi2
1,917.549 km214,259 ft
4346 m4,717 ft
1438 m40.0948262° N 105.3983824° W Broomfield City and County[11] 2001-11-15 Broomfield 13 55,889 0 NA map 1691.87 mi-2
653.23 km-233.034 mi2
85.558 km20.566 mi2
1.466 km233.600 mi2
87.024 km25,848 ft
1783 m4,691 ft
1430 m39.9533825° N 105.0521250° W Chaffee County 1879-02-10 Salida 27 17,809 16,242 +9.65% map 17.57 mi-2
6.79 km-21,013.403 mi2
2,624.702 km21.550 mi2
4.013 km21,014.953 mi2
2,628.716 km214,427 ft
4397 m5,298 ft
1615 m38.7382457° N 106.3169723° W Cheyenne County 1889-03-25 Cheyenne Wells 59 1,836 2,231 −17.71% map 1.03 mi-2
0.40 km-21,778.276 mi2
4,605.713 km23.153 mi2
8.166 km21,781.429 mi2
4,613.879 km25,257 ft
1602 m3,740 ft
1140 m38.8353865° N 102.6045852° W Clear Creek County 1861-11-01 Georgetown 39 9,088 9,322 −2.51% map 22.99 mi-2
8.88 km-2395.227 mi2
1,023.633 km21.266 mi2
3.280 km2396.493 mi2
1,026.913 km214,278 ft
4352 m5,075 ft
1547 m39.6894025° N 105.6707908° W Conejos County 1861-11-07 Conejos 41 8,256 8,400 −1.71% map 6.41 mi-2
2.48 km-21,287.391 mi2
3,334.326 km23.566 mi2
9.235 km21,290.956 mi2
3,343.561 km213,179 ft
4017 m7,404 ft
2257 m37.2134065° N 106.1764473° W Costilla County 1861-11-01 San Luis 56 3,524 3,663 −3.79% map 2.87 mi-2
1.11 km-21,226.952 mi2
3,177.790 km23.409 mi2
8.829 km21,230.360 mi2
3,186.619 km214,351 ft
4374 m7,375 ft
2248 m37.2775474° N 105.4289399° W Crowley County 1911-05-29 Ordway 48 5,823 5,518 +5.53% map 7.40 mi-2
2.86 km-2787.421 mi2
2,039.411 km212.908 mi2
33.430 km2800.329 mi2
2,072.842 km25,228 ft
1593 m3,966 ft
1209 m38.3219558° N 103.7875617° W Custer County 1877-03-09 Westcliffe 54 4,255 3,503 +21.47% map 5.76 mi-2
2.22 km-2738.625 mi2
1,913.031 km21.299 mi2
3.365 km2739.925 mi2
1,916.396 km214,246 ft
4342 m4,547 ft
1386 m38.1019939° N 105.3735148° W Delta County 1883-02-11 Delta 18 30,952 27,834 +11.20% map 27.10 mi-2
10.46 km-21,142.050 mi2
2,957.897 km26.549 mi2
16.961 km21,148.599 mi2
2,974.858 km211,396 ft
3474 m4,763 ft
1452 m38.8617559° N 107.8647570° W Denver City and County 1902-11-15 Denver 2 600,158 554,636 +8.21% map 3922.60 mi-2
1514.52 km-2153.000 mi2
396.269 km21.631 mi2
4.225 km2154.632 mi2
400.494 km25,688 ft
1734 m4,803 ft
1464 m39.7618487° N 104.8806251° W Dolores County 1881-03-04 Dove Creek 58 2,064 1,844 +11.93% map 1.93 mi-2
0.75 km-21,067.051 mi2
2,763.650 km21.049 mi2
2.716 km21,068.100 mi2
2,766.366 km214,252 ft
4344 m4,911 ft
1497 m37.7476020° N 108.5303829° W Douglas County 1861-11-01 Castle Rock 8 285,465 175,766 +62.41% map 339.74 mi-2
131.17 km-2840.248 mi2
2,176.232 km22.621 mi2
6.789 km2842.869 mi2
2,183.022 km29,836 ft
2998 m5,242 ft
1598 m39.3264348° N 104.9261993° W Eagle County 1883-02-11 Eagle 14 52,197 41,659 +25.30% map 30.99 mi-2
11.96 km-21,684.530 mi2
4,362.912 km27.261 mi2
18.806 km21,691.791 mi2
4,381.718 km214,011 ft
4271 m6,220 ft
1896 m39.6306381° N 106.6929439° W El Paso County 1861-11-01 Colorado Springs 1 622,263 516,929 +20.38% map 292.58 mi-2
112.97 km-22,126.801 mi2
5,508.390 km22.746 mi2
7.112 km22,129.547 mi2
5,515.501 km214,115 ft
4302 m5,055 ft
1541 m38.8273831° N 104.5274718° W Elbert County 1874-02-02 Kiowa 24 23,086 19,872 +16.17% map 12.47 mi-2
4.82 km-21,850.847 mi2
4,793.671 km20.171 mi2
0.442 km21,851.018 mi2
4,794.113 km27,374 ft
2248 m4,580 ft
1396 m39.3108167° N 104.1179275° W Fremont County 1861-11-01 Cañon City 16 46,824 46,145 +1.47% map 30.54 mi-2
11.79 km-21,533.068 mi2
3,970.627 km20.863 mi2
2.235 km21,533.931 mi2
3,972.863 km213,110 ft
3996 m4,573 ft
1394 m38.4556576° N 105.4214383° W Garfield County 1883-02-10 Glenwood Springs 12 56,389 43,791 +28.77% map 19.13 mi-2
7.39 km-22,947.563 mi2
7,634.154 km28.274 mi2
21.431 km22,955.838 mi2
7,655.584 km212,361 ft
3768 m4,471 ft
1363 m39.5993517° N 107.9097801° W Gilpin County 1861-11-01 Central City 50 5,441 4,757 +14.38% map 36.30 mi-2
14.01 km-2149.896 mi2
388.229 km20.364 mi2
0.942 km2150.260 mi2
389.171 km213,300 ft
4054 m4,983 ft
1519 m39.8610823° N 105.5289473° W Grand County 1874-02-02 Hot Sulphur Springs 33 14,843 12,442 +19.30% map 8.04 mi-2
3.10 km-21,846.330 mi2
4,781.972 km223.263 mi2
60.250 km21,869.592 mi2
4,842.222 km213,559 ft
4133 m6,040 ft
1841 m40.1232891° N 106.0958757° W Gunnison County 1877-03-09 Gunnison 32 15,324 13,956 +9.80% map 4.73 mi-2
1.83 km-23,239.099 mi2
8,389.229 km220.530 mi2
53.172 km23,259.629 mi2
8,442.401 km214,279 ft
4352 m7,178 ft
2188 m38.6696792° N 107.0781080° W Hinsdale County 1874-02-10 Lake City 62 843 790 +6.71% map 0.75 mi-2
0.29 km-21,117.251 mi2
2,893.668 km25.917 mi2
15.325 km21,123.168 mi2
2,908.992 km214,321 ft
4365 m7,299 ft
2225 m37.8116248° N 107.3834054° W Huerfano County 1861-11-01 Walsenburg 44 6,711 7,862 −14.64% map 4.22 mi-2
1.63 km-21,591.001 mi2
4,120.673 km22.236 mi2
5.792 km21,593.237 mi2
4,126.465 km214,326 ft
4366 m4,445 ft
1355 m37.6878154° N 104.9599278° W Jackson County 1909-05-05 Walden 61 1,394 1,577 −11.60% map 0.86 mi-2
0.33 km-21,613.723 mi2
4,179.523 km27.239 mi2
18.750 km21,620.962 mi2
4,198.273 km212,954 ft
3948 m4,865 ft
1483 m40.6634319° N 106.3292476° W Jefferson County[11] 1861-11-01 Golden 4 534,543 527,056 +1.42% map 699.47 mi-2
270.07 km-2764.208 mi2
1,979.290 km29.825 mi2
25.446 km2774.033 mi2
2,004.736 km211,589 ft
3532 m4,986 ft
1520 m39.5864595° N 105.2456005° W Kiowa County 1889-04-11 Eads 60 1,398 1,622 −13.81% map 0.79 mi-2
0.31 km-21,767.767 mi2
4,578.496 km218.160 mi2
47.033 km21,785.927 mi2
4,625.529 km24,697 ft
1432 m3,687 ft
1124 m38.3884664° N 102.7562096° W Kit Carson County 1889-04-11 Burlington 40 8,270 8,011 +3.23% map 3.83 mi-2
1.48 km-22,160.822 mi2
5,596.502 km20.869 mi2
2.252 km22,161.691 mi2
5,598.754 km25,297 ft
1615 m3,523 ft
1074 m39.3053399° N 102.6030226° W La Plata County 1874-02-10 Durango 15 51,334 43,941 +16.82% map 30.34 mi-2
11.71 km-21,692.078 mi2
4,382.463 km27.629 mi2
19.760 km21,699.708 mi2
4,402.223 km214,093 ft
4296 m4,268 ft
1301 m37.2873673° N 107.8397178° W Lake County 1861-11-01 Leadville 43 7,310 7,812 −6.43% map 19.39 mi-2
7.49 km-2376.911 mi2
976.194 km26.998 mi2
18.124 km2383.909 mi2
994.319 km214,440 ft
4401 m8,720 ft
2658 m39.2043161° N 106.3496959° W Larimer County 1861-11-01 Fort Collins 6 299,630 251,494 +19.14% map 115.42 mi-2
44.56 km-22,596.002 mi2
6,723.613 km237.952 mi2
98.295 km22,633.954 mi2
6,821.909 km213,573 ft
4137 m4,557 ft
1389 m40.6630912° N 105.4821309° W Las Animas County 1866-02-09 Trinidad 30 15,507 15,207 +1.97% map 3.25 mi-2
1.25 km-24,772.671 mi2
12,361.162 km22.676 mi2
6.930 km24,775.347 mi2
12,368.092 km213,631 ft
4155 m4,317 ft
1316 m37.3188308° N 104.0441103° W Lincoln County 1889-04-11 Hugo 49 5,467 6,087 −10.19% map 2.12 mi-2
0.82 km-22,577.626 mi2
6,676.021 km28.796 mi2
22.781 km22,586.422 mi2
6,698.802 km25,973 ft
1821 m3,923 ft
1196 m38.9937401° N 103.5075545° W Logan County 1887-02-25 Sterling 25 22,709 20,504 +10.75% map 12.35 mi-2
4.77 km-21,838.546 mi2
4,761.813 km26.318 mi2
16.364 km21,844.864 mi2
4,778.177 km24,947 ft
1508 m3,428 ft
1045 m40.7280911° N 103.0904639° W Mesa County 1883-02-14 Grand Junction 11 146,723 116,255 +26.21% map 44.07 mi-2
17.02 km-23,328.974 mi2
8,622.003 km212.149 mi2
31.467 km23,341.123 mi2
8,653.470 km211,236 ft
3425 m4,337 ft
1322 m39.0194924° N 108.4618366° W Mineral County 1893-03-27 Creede 63 712 831 −14.32% map 0.81 mi-2
0.31 km-2875.666 mi2
2,267.966 km22.016 mi2
5.222 km2877.683 mi2
2,273.188 km213,902 ft
4237 m7,549 ft
2301 m37.6514782° N 106.9322997° W Moffat County 1911-02-27 Craig 34 13,795 13,184 +4.63% map 2.91 mi-2
1.12 km-24,743.290 mi2
12,285.065 km27.622 mi2
19.742 km24,750.912 mi2
12,304.807 km210,840 ft
3304 m4,993 ft
1522 m40.5739839° N 108.2045214° W Montezuma County 1889-04-16 Cortez 21 25,535 23,830 +7.15% map 12.58 mi-2
4.86 km-22,029.527 mi2
5,256.451 km210.624 mi2
27.517 km22,040.151 mi2
5,283.968 km213,237 ft
4035 m4,639 ft
1414 m37.3380246° N 108.5957863° W Montrose County 1883-02-11 Montrose 17 41,276 33,432 +23.46% map 18.42 mi-2
7.11 km-22,240.695 mi2
5,803.373 km21.901 mi2
4.923 km22,242.596 mi2
5,808.296 km211,453 ft
3491 m4,711 ft
1436 m38.4134267° N 108.2630424° W Morgan County 1889-02-19 Fort Morgan 19 28,159 27,171 +3.64% map 21.99 mi-2
8.49 km-21,280.433 mi2
3,316.305 km213.310 mi2
34.474 km21,293.743 mi2
3,350.779 km24,937 ft
1505 m3,989 ft
1216 m40.2623535° N 103.8070921° W Otero County 1889-03-25 La Junta 26 18,831 20,311 −7.29% map 14.92 mi-2
5.76 km-21,261.961 mi2
3,268.465 km27.742 mi2
20.052 km21,269.704 mi2
3,288.518 km25,273 ft
1607 m3,809 ft
1161 m37.8841698° N 103.7212597° W Ouray County 1877-01-18 Ouray 53 4,436 3,742 +18.55% map 8.19 mi-2
3.16 km-2541.593 mi2
1,402.719 km20.618 mi2
1.600 km2542.210 mi2
1,404.318 km214,158 ft
4315 m6,315 ft
1925 m38.1505999° N 107.7671334° W Park County 1861-11-01 Fairplay 29 16,206 14,523 +11.59% map 7.39 mi-2
2.85 km-22,193.846 mi2
5,682.034 km216.807 mi2
43.531 km22,210.653 mi2
5,725.565 km214,293 ft
4357 m5,826 ft
1776 m39.1189141° N 105.7176479° W Phillips County 1889-03-27 Holyoke 52 4,442 4,480 −0.85% map 6.46 mi-2
2.49 km-2687.928 mi2
1,781.725 km20.117 mi2
0.302 km2688.044 mi2
1,782.027 km24,117 ft
1255 m3,582 ft
1092 m40.5947117° N 102.3451047° W Pitkin County 1881-02-23 Aspen 28 17,148 14,872 +15.30% map 17.67 mi-2
6.82 km-2970.697 mi2
2,514.094 km22.498 mi2
6.469 km2973.195 mi2
2,520.564 km214,279 ft
4352 m5,695 ft
1736 m39.2175333° N 106.9159433° W Prowers County 1889-04-11 Lamar 35 12,551 14,483 −13.34% map 7.66 mi-2
2.96 km-21,638.394 mi2
4,243.422 km25.928 mi2
15.353 km21,644.322 mi2
4,258.775 km24,713 ft
1437 m3,346 ft
1020 m37.9581814° N 102.3921613° W Pueblo County 1861-11-01 Pueblo 10 159,063 141,472 +12.43% map 66.66 mi-2
25.74 km-22,386.104 mi2
6,179.981 km211.691 mi2
30.280 km22,397.795 mi2
6,210.261 km212,352 ft
3765 m4,291 ft
1308 m38.1706581° N 104.4898925° W Rio Blanco County 1889-03-25 Meeker 45 6,666 5,986 +11.36% map 2.07 mi-2
0.80 km-23,220.933 mi2
8,342.179 km21.880 mi2
4.868 km23,222.813 mi2
8,347.047 km212,033 ft
3668 m5,062 ft
1543 m39.9726062° N 108.2006849° W Rio Grande County 1874-02-10 Del Norte 37 11,982 12,413 −3.47% map 13.14 mi-2
5.07 km-2911.958 mi2
2,361.960 km20.380 mi2
0.984 km2912.338 mi2
2,362.944 km213,209 ft
4026 m7,467 ft
2276 m37.4857631° N 106.4532135° W Routt County 1877-01-29 Steamboat Springs 22 23,509 19,690 +19.40% map 9.95 mi-2
3.84 km-22,362.026 mi2
6,117.619 km26.110 mi2
15.826 km22,368.136 mi2
6,133.445 km212,185 ft
3714 m6,266 ft
1910 m40.4831597° N 106.9852885° W Saguache County 1866-12-29 Saguache 47 6,108 5,917 +3.23% map 1.93 mi-2
0.74 km-23,168.524 mi2
8,206.441 km21.720 mi2
4.455 km23,170.244 mi2
8,210.895 km214,300 ft
4359 m6,013 ft
1833 m38.0339518° N 106.2466749° W San Juan County 1876-01-31 Silverton 64 699 558 +25.27% map 1.80 mi-2
0.70 km-2387.488 mi2
1,003.588 km20.786 mi2
2.036 km2388.274 mi2
1,005.624 km213,900 ft
4237 m7,683 ft
2342 m37.7810745° N 107.6702566° W San Miguel County 1883-03-02 Telluride 42 7,359 6,594 +11.60% map 5.72 mi-2
2.21 km-21,286.611 mi2
3,332.308 km22.013 mi2
5.214 km21,288.625 mi2
3,337.522 km214,023 ft
4274 m5,308 ft
1618 m38.0093735° N 108.4273260° W Sedgwick County 1889-04-09 Julesburg 57 2,379 2,747 −13.40% map 4.34 mi-2
1.68 km-2548.041 mi2
1,419.419 km21.363 mi2
3.531 km2549.404 mi2
1,422.950 km24,127 ft
1258 m3,477 ft
1060 m40.8715679° N 102.3553579° W Summit County 1861-11-01 Breckenridge 20 27,994 23,548 +18.88% map 46.02 mi-2
17.77 km-2608.358 mi2
1,575.639 km210.920 mi2
28.283 km2619.278 mi2
1,603.922 km214,278 ft
4352 m7,460 ft
2274 m39.6210227° N 106.1375545° W Teller County 1899-03-23 Cripple Creek 23 23,350 20,555 +13.60% map 41.92 mi-2
16.18 km-2557.055 mi2
1,442.767 km21.909 mi2
4.945 km2558.965 mi2
1,447.712 km213,065 ft
3982 m5,236 ft
1596 m38.8719937° N 105.1825519° W Washington County 1887-02-09 Akron 51 4,814 4,926 −2.27% map 1.91 mi-2
0.74 km-22,518.031 mi2
6,521.670 km25.872 mi2
15.207 km22,523.903 mi2
6,536.878 km25,433 ft
1656 m3,910 ft
1192 m39.9654130° N 103.2096046° W Weld County[11] 1861-11-01 Greeley 9 252,825 180,936 +39.73% map 63.41 mi-2
24.48 km-23,987.238 mi2
10,326.899 km229.558 mi2
76.554 km24,016.796 mi2
10,403.453 km26,388 ft
1947 m3,959 ft
1207 m40.5557944° N 104.3836487° W Yuma County 1889-03-15 Wray 38 10,043 9,841 +2.05% map 4.25 mi-2
1.64 km-22,364.405 mi2
6,123.780 km24.299 mi2
11.135 km22,368.704 mi2
6,134.915 km24,447 ft
1355 m3,317 ft
1011 m40.0006314° N 102.4226490° W State of Colorado 1876-08-01 5,029,196 4,301,261 +16.92% map 48.52 mi-2
18.74 km-2103,641.884 mi2
268,431.246 km2451.779 mi2
1,170.101 km2104,093.662 mi2
269,601.348 km214,440 ft
4401 m3,317 ft
1011 m38.9935752° N 105.5077737° W Historic counties
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 extralegal Territory of Jefferson[12] 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. 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 new Territory of Colorado, and
- Historical notes.
Counties formerly within the area of the State of Colorado
County Territory or State Created Superseded History Taos County Territory of New Mexico 1852-01-09 1861-02-28 Originally one of the seven partidos of the Spanish, and later Mexican, province of 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 1852-03-03 1861-02-28 Created in 1852, and excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. Iron County Territory of Utah 1852-03-03 1861-02-28 Created in 1852, and excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. Sanpete County Territory of Utah 1852-03-03 1861-02-28 Created in 1852, and excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. Utah County Territory of Utah 1852-03-03 1861-02-28 Created in 1852, and excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. Washington County Territory of Utah 1852-03-03 1861-02-28 Created in 1852, and excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. Green River County Territory of Utah 1852-03-03 1861-02-28 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. Arapahoe County Territory of Kansas 1855-08-25 1861-01-29 Created in 1855, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. Beaver County Territory of Utah 1856-01-05 1861-02-28 Split from Iron and Millard counties in 1856. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. Broderick County Territory of Kansas 1859-02-07 1861-01-29 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 1859-02-07 1861-01-29 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 1859-02-07 1861-01-29 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 1859-02-07 1861-01-29 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 1859-02-07 1861-01-29 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 1859-02-07 1861-01-29 Created in 1859, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union in 1861. Arrappahoe County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Cheyenne County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. El Paso County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Fountain County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Heele County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Jackson County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Jefferson County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Mountain County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. North County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Park County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. St. Vrain County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Saratoga County Territory of Jefferson 1859-11-28 1861-02-28 One of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson in 1859. Mora County Territory of New Mexico 1860-02-01 1861-02-28 Split from Taos County and San Miguel County in 1860. Excluded from the new Territory of Colorado in 1861. Guadalupe County Territory of Colorado 1861-11-01 1861-11-07 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 1870-02-11 1874-02-06 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 1872-02-09 1874-02-09 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 1879-02-08 1879-02-10 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 1883-02-27 1883-03-02 Ouray County was renamed Uncompaghre County for only four days in 1883. South Arapahoe County State of Colorado 1902-11-15 1903-04-11 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, the extralegal State of Deseret, or the Territory of Nebraska existed within the present boundaries of the state of Colorado.
County distinctions
- 1. Larimer County is the home of the most ancient known archaeological site in the Rocky Mountain region. Artifacts more than 13,000 years old have been found at the Lindenmeier Site.
- 2. Costilla County was the first area within the present State of Colorado to be settled by Europeans in 1851.
- 3. 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.
- 4. 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.
- 5. On November 28, 1859, the extralegal Territory of Jefferson created 12 counties:[12]
Counties of the Jefferson Territory County County Seat Arrappahoe 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 CityMountain County Central City North County Park County Tarryall City St. Vrain's County St. Vrain Saratoga County Breckinridge - 6. On November 1, 1861, the Territory of Colorado created the 17 original Colorado counties:[2]
Original Colorado Territory Counties County First County Seat Arapahoe County Denver City Boulder County Boulder City Clear Creek County Idaho Costilla County San Miguel Douglas County Franktown El Paso County Colorado City Fremont County Canon City Gilpin County Central City Guadaloupe County Guadaloupe Huerfano County Autobees 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 - 7. 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.
- 8. Guadalupe County was the first Colorado county to be renamed in 1861.
- 9. Las Animas County was the first new Colorado county to be created (in 1866) after the original 17 counties.
- 10. Greenwood County was the longest lived former Colorado county, existing four years from 1870 to 1874.
- 11. Carbonate County was the shortest lived former Colorado county, existing only two days in 1879 before being dissolved.
- 12. The City and County of Broomfield became the newest Colorado county in 2001.
- 13. Las Animas County is the most extensive Colorado county.
- 14. The City and County of Broomfield is the least extensive Colorado county.
- 15. The El Paso County is the most populous Colorado county.
- 16. San Juan County is the least populous Colorado county.
- 17. The El Paso County, City and County of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Jefferson County each have a population in excess of 500,000.
- 18. San Juan County, Mineral County, and Hinsdale County each have a population of less than 1000.
- 19. The City and County of Denver is the most densely populated Colorado county.
- 20. Hinsdale County is the least densely populated Colorado county.
- 21. Hinsdale County, Kiowa County, Mineral County, and Jackson County have fewer than one resident per square mile (0.386 km−2).
- 22. Lake County has the highest point in Colorado at the summit of Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) elevation (the highest point in the entire Rocky Mountains).
- 23. Yuma County has the lowest point in Colorado where the Arikaree River flows into Kansas at 3,317 feet (1,011 m) elevation (the highest low point of any U.S. state).
- 24. Jefferson County borders ten other counties, the most of any Colorado county.
- 25. Delta County and the City and County of Denver each border only three other counties, the fewest of Colorado counties.
- 26. The following twelve Colorado counties have a county seat with the same name as the county:
- 27. The name of each of the following two Colorado counties forms one part of the name of its county seat:
County County Seat Cheyenne County Town of Cheyenne Wells Morgan County City of Fort Morgan - 28. Weld County has the most incorporated municipalities of any Colorado county with 31.
- 29. The following nine Colorado counties have no incorporated municipalities other than the county seat:
- 30. Of all 64 Colorado counties, only Conejos County has a county seat that is not an incorporated municipality.
- 31. Only three Colorado county seats extend into other counties:
County County Seat Other Counties Adams County City of Brighton Weld County Arapahoe County City of Littleton Douglas County and Jefferson County Gilpin County Central City Clear Creek County - 32. The City and County of Denver and the City and County of Broomfield are the only two Colorado counties with enclaves.
- 33. Arapahoe County, Boulder County, and Jefferson County are the only three dismembered Colorado counties with exclaves.
- 34. San Juan County has the highest mean elevation of any U.S. county at 11,240 feet (3,426 m). The 25 highest U.S. counties by mean elevation are:[13]
Highest Counties in the United States Rank County State Mean Elevation 1 San Juan County 
Colorado11,240 feet (3,430 m) 2 Hinsdale County Colorado10,826 feet (3,300 m) 3 Lake County Colorado10,790 feet (3,290 m) 4 Mineral County Colorado10,411 feet (3,173 m) 5 Summit County Colorado10,365 feet (3,159 m) 6 Clear Creek County Colorado10,264 feet (3,128 m) 7 Pitkin County Colorado9,940 feet (3,030 m) 8 Chaffee County Colorado9,915 feet (3,022 m) 9 Park County Colorado9,572 feet (2,918 m) 10 Gunnison County Colorado9,488 feet (2,892 m) 11 Gilpin County Colorado9,236 feet (2,815 m) 12 Grand County Colorado9,204 feet (2,805 m) 13 Saguache County Colorado9,193 feet (2,802 m) 14 Teller County Colorado9,052 feet (2,759 m) 15 Rio Grande County Colorado9,011 feet (2,747 m) 16 Custer County Colorado8,988 feet (2,740 m) 17 Eagle County Colorado8,987 feet (2,739 m) 18 Ouray County Colorado8,951 feet (2,728 m) 19 Jackson County Colorado8,863 feet (2,701 m) 20 Conejos County Colorado8,774 feet (2,674 m) 21 Costilla County Colorado8,681 feet (2,646 m) 22 Taos County 
New Mexico8,510 feet (2,590 m) 23 Summit County 
Utah8,388 feet (2,557 m) 24 Dolores County Colorado8,280 feet (2,520 m) 25 Archuleta County Colorado8,101 feet (2,469 m) See also
United States census statistical areas by state, district, or territoryASMPGUVI- State of Colorado
- Colorado census designated places
- Colorado census statistical areas
- Colorado counties
- Colorado metropolitan areas
- Colorado municipalities
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- List of cities and towns in Colorado
- List of forts in Colorado
- List of ghost towns in Colorado
- List of places in Colorado
- Outline of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- Wikimedia Commons: Colorado
- United States Census Bureau
References
- ^ "Colorado Counties as of May 1, 2011". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. May 1, 2011. http://dola.colorado.gov/dlg/local_governments/counties.html. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "Colorado Government History". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. April 18, 2001. http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/arcgov.html. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ^ "Colorado County Seats". State of Colorado, Department of Public Health and Environment. http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/cntyseat.html. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "American Factfinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/main.html. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ^ "Colorado Department of Transportation Maps". State of Colorado, Department of Transportation. http://apps.coloradodot.info/dataaccess/Maps/index.cfm?fuseaction=MapsMain&MenuType=Maps. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ^ See the Table of the highest major summits of Colorado
- ^ "Colorado County High Points". peakbagger.com. http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=13210. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Elevations include an adjustment from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). For further information, please see this United States National Geodetic Survey note.
- ^ "Colorado County Maps". anyplaceamerica.com. http://www.anyplaceamerica.com/county_maps/colorado/. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ^ Only a few of these county low points have been verified.
- ^ a b c d e The City and County of Broomfield was created on November 15, 2001, from portions of Boulder County, Adams County, Jefferson County, and Weld County, Colorado.
- ^ a b Provisional Laws and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of Jefferson Territory. General Assembly of the Territory of Jefferson. 1859-1860. http://books.google.com/books?id=kBc4AAAAIAAJ&ots=jReCf0jHdG&pg=PP5. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
- ^ "Mean County Elevation Lists". County Highpointers. http://www.cohp.org/records/mean_elevation/mean_elevations.html. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
External links
Categories:- Colorado counties
- Colorado-related lists
- Lists of U.S. counties by state
- Local government in Colorado
- Colorado Territory
- Jefferson Territory
- Kansas Territory
- New Mexico Territory
- Utah Territory
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