This is a list of the county seats of the U.S. State of Colorado and its two predecessors: the extralegal Territory of Jefferson and the official Territory of Colorado.
Territory of Jefferson
On August 24, 1859, voters of the Pike's Peak mining region approved the formation of the Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson and designated Denver City as the capital. On November 28, 1859, the territory established 12 counties which served as the de facto local government. The extralegal territory was unable to secure authorization from the United States Congress embroiled in the debate over slavery. On November 13, 1860, the territory moved its capital to Golden City. On February 28, 1861, after seven slave states seceded from the Union, U.S. President James Buchanan signed An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado. On June 6, 1861, the Jefferson Territory officially yielded to the new Territory of Colorado.
The 12 counties of the Territory of Jefferson and their county seats
- Arapahoe County‡
- Denver City (⁂Territorial capital August 24, 1859, to November 13, 1860)
- Cheyenne County‡
- No county seat designated.
- El Paso County‡
- Colorado City
- Fountain County‡
- Pueblo
- Heele County‡
- La Porte
- Jackson County‡
- Boulder City
- Jefferson County‡
- Arapahoe City/Arapahoe – November 28, 1859, to November 6, 1860
- Golden City – November 6, 1860, to June 6, 1861 (⁂Territorial capital November 13, 1860, to June 6, 1861)
- Mountain County‡
- Central City
- North County‡
- No county seat designated.
- Park County‡
- Tarryall City/Tarryall
- St. Vrain's County‡
- Saint Vrain
- Saratoga County‡
- Breckenridge/Breckinridge
Territory and State of Colorado
Adams
Alamosa
Arapahoe
Archuleta
Baca
Bent
Boulder
Broomfield
Chaffee
Cheyenne
Clear Creek
Conejos
Costilla
Crowley
Custer
Delta
Denver
Dolores
Douglas
Eagle
Elbert
El Paso
Fremont
Garfield
Gilpin
Grand
Gunnison
Hinsdale
Huerfano
Jackson
Jefferson
Kiowa
Kit
Carson
Carson
Lake
La Plata
Larimer
Las Animas
Lincoln
Logan
Mesa
Mineral
Moffat
Montezuma
Montrose
Morgan
Otero
Ouray
Park
Phillips
Pitkin
Prowers
Pueblo
Rio Blanco
Rio Grande
Routt
Saguache
San Juan
San Miguel
Sedgwick
Summit
Teller
Washington
Weld
Yuma
The 64 counties of the U.S. State of Colorado.
The free Territory of Colorado was officially organized on February 28, 1861. On November 1, 1861, the Colorado Territory 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 and Arapaho Reserve. The Colorado Territory later added 12 more counties for a total of 29, of which 26 still exist.
On August 1, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant issued Proclamation 230: Admission of Colorado into the Union. The State of Colorado has created 41 counties of which 38 still exist, for a total of 64 existing counties.
The 64 current and six extinct counties of Colorado and their county seats
- Adams County (November 15, 1902 to present)
- Brighton
- Alamosa County (March 8, 1913 to present)
- Alamosa
- Arapahoe County (November 1, 1861 to November 15, 1902; and April 11, 1903, to present)
- Denver City/Denver (⁂Territorial capital February 28, 1861, to July 7, 1862, and December 9, 1867, to August 1, 1876; # state capital since August 1, 1876)
- Between November 15 and December 1, 1902, Arapahoe County was split into the City and County of Denver, Adams County; and South Arapahoe County. On April 11, 1903, the name of South Arapahoe County was changed back to Arapahoe County.
- Littleton – April 11, 1903 to present
- Denver City/Denver (⁂Territorial capital February 28, 1861, to July 7, 1862, and December 9, 1867, to August 1, 1876; # state capital since August 1, 1876)
- Archuleta County (April 14, 1885 to present)
- Pagosa Springs
- Baca County (April 16, 1889 to present)
- Springfield
- Bent County (February 11, 1870 to present)
- Las Animas (east) – February 11, 1870 to 1870
- Boggsville – 1870 to 1872
- Las Animas (east) – 1872 to 1875
- West Las Animas/Las Animas – 1875 to present
- Boulder County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Boulder City/Boulder
- City and County of Broomfield (November 15, 2001 to present)
- Broomfield
- Carbonate County‡ (February 8, 1879 to February 10, 1879)
- Granite
- Chaffee County (February 10, 1879 to present)
- Granite – February 10, 1879 to 1888
- Buena Vista – 1888 to 1928
- Salida – 1928 to present
- Cheyenne County (March 25, 1889 to present)
- Cheyenne Wells
- Clear Creek County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Idaho - November 1, 1861 to 1867
- Georgetown – 1867 to present
- Conejos County (November 7, 1861 to present)
- Guadaloupe - November 7, 1861 to 1863
- Conejos - 1863 to present
- Costilla County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- San Miguel/Costilla – November 1, 1861 to 1863
- San Luis – 1863 to present
- Crowley County (May 29, 1911 to present)
- Ordway
- Custer County (March 9, 1877 to present)
- Ula – March 9, 1877 to 1878
- Rosita – 1878 to 1886
- Silver Cliff – 1886 to 1928
- Westcliffe – 1928 to present
- Delta County (February 11, 1883 to present)
- Delta
- City and County of Denver (December 1, 1902 to present)
- Denver (# State capital since August 1, 1876)
- Dolores County (March 4, 1881 to present)
- Rico – March 4, 1881 to 1945
- Dove Creek – 1945 to present
- Douglas County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Frankstown – November 1, 1861 to 1864
- California Ranch/Franktown – 1864 to 1874
- Castle Rock – 1874 to present
- Eagle County (February 11, 1883 to present)
- Red Cliff/Redcliff – February 11, 1883 to 1921
- Eagle – 1921 to present
- El Paso County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Colorado City – November 1, 1861 to 1873 (⁂Territorial capital July 7, 1862, to August 14, 1862)
- Colorado Springs – 1873 to present
- Elbert County (February 2, 1874 to present)
- Kiowa
- Fremont County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Cañon City
- Garfield County (February 10, 1883 to present)
- Carbonate – February 10, 1883 to 1883
- Barlow/Glenwood Springs – 1883 to present
- Gilpin County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Central City
- Grand County (February 2, 1874 to present)
- Hot Sulphur Springs – February 2, 1874 to 1882
- Grand Lake – 1882 to 1888
- Hot Sulphur Springs/Sulphur Springs/Hot Sulphur Springs – 1888 to present
- Greenwood County‡ (February 11, 1870 to February 6, 1874)
- Kit Carson
- Guadaloupe County‡ (November 1, 1861 until renamed Conejos County six days later)
- Guadaloupe
- Gunnison County (March 9, 1877 to present)
- Gunnison
- Hinsdale County (February 10, 1874 to present)
- San Juan City/San Juan – February 10, 1874 to February 23, 1875
- Lake City – February 23, 1875 to present
- Huerfano County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Autobees Plaza – November 1, 1861 to 1868
- Badito – 1868 to 1874
- Walsenburgh/Tourist/Walsenburgh/Walsenburg – 1874 to present
- Jackson County (May 5, 1909 to present)
- Walden
- Jefferson County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Golden City/Golden (⁂Territorial capital August 14, 1862, to December 9, 1867)
- Kiowa County (April 11, 1889 to present)
- Sheridan Lake – April 11, 1889 to 1902
- Eads – 1902 to present
- Kit Carson County (April 11, 1889 to present)
- Burlington
- La Plata County (February 10, 1874 to present)
- Howardsville – February 10, 1874 to January 31, 1876
- Parrott City – January 31, 1876 to 1881
- Durango – 1881 to present
- Lake County (November 1, 1861 to February 8, 1879; and February 10, 1879, to present)
- Oro City – November 1, 1861 to 1866
- Dayton – 1866 to 1868
- Granite – 1868 to February 8, 1879
- Lake County was renamed Carbonate County for two days before being split into a new Chaffee County and a re-created Lake County.
- Leadville – February 10, 1879 to present
- Larimer County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- La Porte – November 1, 1861 to 1868
- Fort Collins – 1868 to present
- Las Animas County (February 9, 1866 to present)
- Trinidad
- Lincoln County (April 11, 1889 to present)
- Hugo
- Logan County - February 25, 1887 to present)
- Sterling
- Mesa County (February 14, 1883 to present)
- Grand Junction
- Mineral County - (March 27, 1893 to present)
- Wason – March 27, 1893 to November 7, 1893
- Amethyst/Creede – November 7, 1893 to present
- Moffat County (February 27, 1911 to present)
- Craig
- Montezuma County (April 16, 1889 to present)
- Cortez
- Montrose County (February 11, 1883 to present)
- Montrose
- Morgan County (February 19, 1889 to present)
- Fort Morgan
- Otero County (March 25, 1889 to present)
- La Junta
- Ouray County (January 18, 1877 to February 27, 1883; and March 2, 1883, to present)
- Ouray
- Park County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Tarryall City/Tarryall – November 1, 1861 to January 7, 1862
- Laurette/Bucksin/Buckskin Joe – January 7, 1862 to November 7, 1867
- Fair Play/Fairplay – November 7, 1867 to present
- Phillips County (March 27, 1889 to present)
- Holyoke
- Pitkin County (February 23, 1881 to present)
- Aspen
- Platte County‡ (February 9, 1872 to February 9, 1874)
- Platte County failed to organize and reverted to the eastern portion of Weld County.
- Prowers County (April 11, 1889 to present)
- Lamar
- Pueblo County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Pueblo
- Rio Blanco County (March 25, 1889 to present)
- Meeker
- Rio Grande County (February 10, 1874 to present)
- Del Norte
- Routt County (January 29, 1877 to present)
- Hayden – January 29, 1877 to 1878
- Hahns Peak – 1878 to 1912
- Steamboat Springs – 1912 to present
- Saguache County (December 29, 1866 to present)
- Saguache
- San Juan County (January 31, 1876 to present)
- Silverton
- San Miguel County (March 2, 1883 to present)
- Columbia/Telluride
- Sedgwick County (April 9, 1889 to present)
- Julesburg
- South Arapahoe County‡ (November 15, 1902 to April 11, 1903)
- Littleton
- Summit County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Parkville – November 1, 1861 to 1862
- Breckenridge – 1862 to present
- Teller County (March 23, 1899 to present)
- Cripple Creek
- Uncompahgre County‡ (February 27, 1883 to March 2, 1883)
- Ouray
- Washington County (February 9, 1887 to present)
- Akron
- Weld County (November 1, 1861 to present)
- Saint Vrain – November 1, 1861 to 1868
- Latham – 1868 to 1870
- Evans – 1870 to 1874
- Greeley – 1874 to 1875
- Evans – 1875 to 1877
- Greeley – 1877 to present
- Yuma County (March 15, 1889 to present)
- Yuma – March 15, 1889 to 1902
- Wray – 1902 to present
Table of county seats
| Current county seat |
|---|
| Historic county seat |
| State capital # |
| Historic territorial capital ⁂ |
| Extinct county * |
| County seat | County | Beginning | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | Washington County, Colorado | February 9, 1887 | present |
| Alamosa | Alamosa County, Colorado | March 8, 1913 | present |
| Arapahoe City Arapahoe | Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | November 6, 1860 |
| Aspen | Pitkin County, Colorado | February 23, 1881 | present |
| Autobees Plaza | Huerfano County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1868 |
| Badito | Huerfano County, Colorado Territory | 1868 | 1874 |
| Boggsville | Bent County, Colorado Territory | 1870 | 1872 |
| Boulder City Boulder | Jackson County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| Boulder County, Colorado Territory Boulder County, Colorado | November 1, 1861 | present | |
| Breckenridge Breckinridge Breckenridge | Saratoga County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| Summit County, Colorado Territory Summit County, Colorado | 1862 | present | |
| Brighton | Adams County, Colorado | November 15, 1902 | present |
| Broomfield | City and County of Broomfield | November 15, 2001 | present |
| Laurette Buckskin Buckskin Joe | Park County, Colorado Territory | January 7, 1862 | November 7, 1867 |
| Buena Vista | Chaffee County, Colorado | 1888 | 1928 |
| Burlington | Kit Carson County, Colorado | April 11, 1889 | present |
| Cañon City | Fremont County, Colorado Territory Fremont County, Colorado | November 1, 1861 | present |
| Carbonate | Garfield County, Colorado | February 10, 1883 | 1883 |
| Castle Rock | Douglas County, Colorado Territory Douglas County, Colorado | 1874 | present |
| Central City | Mountain County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| Gilpin County, Colorado Territory Gilpin County, Colorado | November 1, 1861 | present | |
| Cheyenne Wells | Cheyenne County, Colorado | March 25, 1889 | present |
| Colorado City | El Paso County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| El Paso County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1873 | |
| Capital of the Territory of Colorado ⁂ | July 7, 1862 | August 14, 1862 | |
| Colorado Springs | El Paso County, Colorado Territory El Paso County, Colorado | 1873 | present |
| Conejos | Conejos County, Colorado Territory Conejos County, Colorado | 1863 | present |
| Cortez | Montezuma County, Colorado | April 16, 1889 | present |
| San Miguel Costilla | Costilla County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1863 |
| Craig | Moffat County, Colorado | February 27, 1911 | present |
| Amethyst Creede | Mineral County, Colorado | November 7, 1893 | present |
| Cripple Creek | Teller County, Colorado | March 23, 1899 | present |
| Dayton | Lake County, Colorado Territory | 1866 | 1868 |
| Del Norte | Rio Grande County, Colorado Territory Rio Grande County, Colorado | February 10, 1874 | present |
| Delta | Delta County, Colorado | February 11, 1883 | present |
| Denver City Denver | Capital of the Territory of Jefferson ⁂ | October 24, 1859 | November 13, 1860 |
| Arapahoe County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 | |
| Capital of the Territory of Colorado ⁂ | February 28, 1861 | July 7, 1862 | |
| Arapahoe County, Colorado Territory Arapahoe County, Colorado | November 1, 1861 | November 15, 1902 | |
| Capital of the Territory of Colorado ⁂ | December 9, 1867 | August 1, 1876 | |
| Capital of the State of Colorado # | August 1, 1876 | present | |
| City and County of Denver, Colorado | December 1, 1902 | present | |
| Dove Creek | Dolores County, Colorado | 1945 | present |
| Durango | La Plata County, Colorado | 1881 | present |
| Eads | Kiowa County, Colorado | 1902 | present |
| Eagle | Eagle County, Colorado | 1921 | present |
| Evans | Weld County, Colorado Territory Weld County, Colorado | 1870 | 1874 |
| 1875 | 1877 | ||
| Fair Play Fairplay | Park County, Colorado Territory Park County, Colorado | November 7, 1867 | present |
| Fort Collins | Larimer County, Colorado Territory Larimer County, Colorado | 1868 | present |
| Fort Morgan | Morgan County, Colorado | February 19, 1889 | present |
| Frankstown | Douglas County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1864 |
| California Ranch Franktown | Douglas County, Colorado Territory | 1864 | 1874 |
| Georgetown | Clear Creek County, Colorado Territory Clear Creek County, Colorado | 1867 | present |
| Barlow Glenwood Springs | Garfield County, Colorado | 1883 | present |
| Golden City Golden | Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory * | November 6, 1860 | June 6, 1861 |
| Capital of the Territory of Jefferson ⁂ | November 13, 1860 | June 6, 1861 | |
| Jefferson County, Colorado Territory Jefferson County, Colorado | November 1, 1861 | present | |
| Capital of the Territory of Colorado ⁂ | August 14, 1862 | December 9, 1967 | |
| Grand Junction | Mesa County, Colorado | February 11, 1883 | present |
| Grand Lake | Grand County, Colorado | 1882 | 1888 |
| Granite | Lake County, Colorado Territory Lake County, Colorado | 1868 | February 8, 1879 |
| Carbonate County, Colorado * | February 8, 1879 | February 10, 1879 | |
| Chaffee County, Colorado | February 10, 1879 | 1888 | |
| Greeley | Weld County, Colorado Territory | 1874 | 1875 |
| Weld County, Colorado | 1877 | present | |
| Guadaloupe Guadalupe | Guadaloupe County, Colorado Territory * | November 1, 1861 | November 7, 1861 |
| Conejos County, Colorado Territory | November 7, 1861 | 1863 | |
| Gunnison | Gunnison County, Colorado | March 9, 1877 | present |
| Hahns Peak | Routt County, Colorado | 1878 | 1912 |
| Hayden | Routt County, Colorado | January 29, 1877 | 1878 |
| Holyoke | Phillips County, Colorado | March 27, 1889 | present |
| Hot Sulphur Springs Sulphur Springs Hot Sulphur Springs | Grand County, Colorado Territory Grand County, Colorado | February 2, 1874 | 1882 |
| 1888 | present | ||
| Howardsville | La Plata County, Colorado Territory | February 10, 1874 | January 31, 1876 |
| Hugo | Lincoln County, Colorado | April 11, 1889 | present |
| Idaho | Clear Creek County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1867 |
| Julesburg | Sedgwick County, Colorado | April 9, 1889 | present |
| Kiowa | Elbert County, Colorado Territory Elbert County, Colorado | February 2, 1874 | present |
| Kit Carson | Greenwood County, Colorado Territory * | February 11, 1870 | February 6, 1874 |
| La Junta | Otero County, Colorado | March 25, 1889 | present |
| La Porte | Heele County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| Larimer County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1868 | |
| Lake City | Hinsdale County, Colorado Territory Hinsdale County, Colorado | 1875 | present |
| Lamar | Prowers County, Colorado | April 11, 1889 | present |
| Las Animas (east) | Bent County, Colorado Territory | February 11, 1870 | 1870 |
| 1872 | 1875 | ||
| West Las Animas Las Animas | Bent County, Colorado Territory Bent County, Colorado | 1875 | present |
| Latham | Weld County, Colorado Territory | 1868 | 1870 |
| Leadville | Lake County, Colorado | February 10, 1879 | present |
| Littleton | South Arapahoe County, Colorado * | November 15, 1902 | April 11, 1903 |
| Arapahoe County, Colorado | April 11, 1903 | present | |
| Meeker | Rio Blanco County, Colorado | March 25, 1889 | present |
| Montrose | Montrose County, Colorado | February 11, 1883 | present |
| Ordway | Crowley County, Colorado | May 29, 1911 | present |
| Oro City | Lake County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1866 |
| Ouray | Ouray County, Colorado | January 18, 1877 | February 27, 1883 |
| Uncompahgre County, Colorado * | February 27, 1883 | March 2, 1883 | |
| Ouray County, Colorado | March 2, 1883 | present | |
| Pagosa Springs | Archuleta County, Colorado | April 14, 1885 | present |
| Parkville | Summit County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1862 |
| Parrott City | La Plata County, Colorado Territory La Plata County, Colorado | January 31, 1876 | 1881 |
| Pueblo | Fountain County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| Pueblo County, Colorado Territory Pueblo County, Colorado | November 1, 1861 | present | |
| Red Cliff Redcliff | Eagle County, Colorado | February 11, 1883 | 1921 |
| Rico | Dolores County, Colorado | March 4, 1881 | 1945 |
| Rosita | Custer County, Colorado | 1878 | 1886 |
| Saguache | Saguache County, Colorado Territory Saguache County, Colorado | December 29, 1866 | present |
| Saint Vrain | St. Vrain County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| Weld County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | 1868 | |
| Salida | Chaffee County, Colorado | 1928 | present |
| San Juan City San Juan | Hinsdale County, Colorado Territory | February 10, 1874 | February 23, 1875 |
| San Luis | Costilla County, Colorado Territory Costilla County, Colorado | 1863 | present |
| Sheridan Lake | Kiowa County, Colorado | April 11, 1889 | 1902 |
| Silver Cliff | Custer County, Colorado | 1886 | 1928 |
| Silverton | San Juan County, Colorado Territory San Juan County, Colorado | January 31, 1876 | present |
| Springfield | Baca County, Colorado | April 16, 1889 | present |
| Steamboat Springs | Routt County, Colorado | 1912 | present |
| Sterling | Logan County, Colorado | February 25, 1887 | present |
| Tarryall City Tarryall | Park County, Jefferson Territory * | November 28, 1859 | June 6, 1861 |
| Park County, Colorado Territory | November 1, 1861 | January 7, 1862 | |
| Columbia Telluride | San Miguel County, Colorado | March 2, 1883 | present |
| Trinidad | Las Animas County, Colorado Territory Las Animas County, Colorado | February 9, 1866 | present |
| Ula | Custer County, Colorado | March 9, 1877 | 1878 |
| Walden | Jackson County, Colorado | May 5, 1909 | present |
| Walsenburgh Tourist Walsenburgh Walsenburg | Huerfano County, Colorado Territory Huerfano County, Colorado | 1874 | present |
| Wason | Mineral County, Colorado | March 27, 1893 | November 7, 1893 |
| Westcliffe | Custer County, Colorado | 1928 | present |
| Wray | Yuma County, Colorado | 1902 | present |
| Yuma | Yuma County, Colorado | March 15, 1889 | 1902 |
County seat distinctions
- The six cities of Boulder, Cañon City, Central City, Denver, Golden, and Pueblo are the longest serving Colorado county seats having been designated by the Territory of Colorado on November 1, 1861.
- Of the 64 current counties of Colorado, 38 have retained their original county seat.
- Weld County has changed its county seat five times: in 1868, 1870, 1874, 1875, and 1877.
- Granite has served as the county seat of three counties: Lake County, Carbonate County, and Chaffee County.
- Conejos is the only remaining unincorporated county seat in Colorado.
- San Miguel (later Costilla) was designated the original county seat of Costilla County, Colorado Territory despite lying unbeknownst across the border in the Territory of New Mexico.
See also
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- List of counties in Colorado
- 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 counties in Colorado
- Outline of Colorado
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