List of counties in Colorado
List of counties in Colorado
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List of counties in Colorado

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List of counties in Colorado

The 64 counties of the U.S. State of Colorado.

The U.S. State of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. 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. 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. Five of the 64 Colorado counties now have more than 500,000 residents, while 12 counties have fewer than 5,000 residents.

Las Animas County, 4,776 square miles (12,369 km2) in area, is the most extensive county, while the City and County of Broomfield, 34 square miles (87 km2) 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 14,440 feet (4,401.2 m), is located in Lake County. The lowest point in Colorado is where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County and into Kansas, at 3,317 feet (1,011 m) 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.

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. 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. 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.

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