List of county seats in Colorado explained

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.

__TOC__

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.^[1] 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

The free Territory of Colorado was officially organized on February 28, 1861.^[2] 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.^[3] ^[4] The Colorado Territory later added 12 more counties for a total of 29, of which 26 still exist.^[3] ^[4]

On August 1, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant issued Proclamation 230: Admission of Colorado into the Union.^[5] The State of Colorado has created 41 counties of which 38 still exist, for a total of 64 existing counties.^[3] ^[4]

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
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 – 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
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Historic county seat
scope=row style="background:#FFCCCC;"	State capital
scope=row style="background:#DDDDFF;"	Territorial capital
scope=row style="background:#EEDDCC;"	Extinct county

County seat!scope=col
County	scope=col	Beginning	scope=col	End
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Akron	Washington County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1887-02-09	February 9, 1887	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Alamosa	Alamosa County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1913-03-08	March 8, 1913	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;" data-sort-value=Arapahoe	Arapahoe City Arapahoe	Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1860-11-06	November 6, 1860
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Aspen	Pitkin County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1881-02-23	February 23, 1881	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Autobees Plaza	Huerfano County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Badito	Huerfano County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868	align=right data-sort-value=1874-11-01	1874
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Boggsville	Bent County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1870-11-01	1870	align=right data-sort-value=1872-11-01	1872
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value=Boulder	Boulder City Boulder	Jackson County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Boulder County, Colorado Territory Boulder County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Breckenridge Breckinridge Breckenridge	Saratoga County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Summit County, Colorado Territory Summit County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1862-11-01	1862	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Brighton	Adams County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1902-11-15	November 15, 1902	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Broomfield	City and County of Broomfield	align=right data-sort-value=2001-11-15	November 15, 2001	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;" data-sort-value="Buckskin Joe"	Laurette Buckskin Buckskin Joe	Park County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1862-01-07	January 7, 1862	align=right data-sort-value=1867-11-07	November 7, 1867
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Buena Vista	Chaffee County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1888-11-01	1888	align=right data-sort-value=1928-11-01	1928
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Burlington	Kit Carson County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-04-11	April 11, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Cañon City	Fremont County, Colorado Territory Fremont County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Carbonate	Garfield County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-02-10	February 10, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=1883-11-01	1883
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Castle Rock	Douglas County, Colorado Territory Douglas County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1874-11-01	1874	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Central City	Mountain County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Gilpin County, Colorado Territory Gilpin County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Cheyenne Wells	Cheyenne County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-03-25	March 25, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=3 style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Colorado City	El Paso County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
El Paso County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1873-11-01	1873
Capital of the Territory of Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1862-07-07	July 7, 1862	align=right data-sort-value=1862-07-07	August 14, 1862
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Colorado Springs	El Paso County, Colorado Territory El Paso County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1873-11-01	1873	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Conejos	Conejos County, Colorado Territory Conejos County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1863-11-01	1863	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Cortez	Montezuma County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-04-16	April 16, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	San Miguel Costilla	Costilla County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1863-11-01	1863
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Craig	Moffat County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1911-02-27	February 27, 1911	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value=Creede	Amethyst Creede	Mineral County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1893-11-07	November 7, 1893	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Cripple Creek	Teller County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1899-03-23	March 23, 1899	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Dayton	Lake County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1866-11-01	1866	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Del Norte	Rio Grande County, Colorado Territory Rio Grande County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1874-02-10	February 10, 1874	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Delta	Delta County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-02-11	February 11, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=7 style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value=Denver	Denver City Denver	Capital of the Territory of Jefferson	align=right data-sort-value=1859-10-24	October 24, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1860-11-13	November 13, 1860
Arapahoe County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Capital of the Territory of Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1861-02-28	February 28, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1862-07-07	July 7, 1862
Arapahoe County, Colorado Territory Arapahoe County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1902-11-15	November 15, 1902
Capital of the Territory of Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1867-12-09	December 9, 1867	align=right data-sort-value=1876-08-01	August 1, 1876
Capital of the State of Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1876-08-01	August 1, 1876	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
City and County of Denver, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1902-12-01	December 1, 1902	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Dove Creek	Dolores County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1945-11-01	1945	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Durango	La Plata County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1881-11-01	1881	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Eads	Kiowa County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1902-11-01	1902	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Eagle	Eagle County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1921-11-01	1921	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Evans	Weld County, Colorado Territory Weld County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1870-11-01	1870	align=right data-sort-value=1874-11-01	1874
align=right data-sort-value=1875-11-01	1875	Weld County, Colorado Territory Weld County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1877-11-01	1877
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value=Fairplay	Fair Play Fairplay	Park County, Colorado Territory Park County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1867-11-07	November 7, 1867	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Fort Collins	Larimer County, Colorado Territory Larimer County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Fort Morgan	Morgan County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-02-19	February 19, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Frankstown	Douglas County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1864-11-01	1864
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;" data-sort-value=Franktown	California Ranch Franktown	Douglas County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1864-11-01	1864	align=right data-sort-value=1874-11-01	1874
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Georgetown	Clear Creek County, Colorado Territory Clear Creek County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1867-11-01	1867	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value="Glenwood Springs"	Barlow Glenwood Springs	Garfield County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-11-01	1883	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=4 style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value=Golden	Golden City Golden	Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1860-11-06	November 6, 1860	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Capital of the Territory of Jefferson	align=right data-sort-value=1860-11-13	November 13, 1860	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Jefferson County, Colorado Territory Jefferson County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
Capital of the Territory of Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1862-07-07	August 14, 1862	align=right data-sort-value=1867-12-09	December 9, 1967
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Grand Junction	Mesa County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-02-11	February 11, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Grand Lake	Grand County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1882-11-01	1882	align=right data-sort-value=1888-11-01	1888
scope=row rowspan=3 style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Granite	Lake County, Colorado Territory Lake County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868	align=right data-sort-value=1879-02-08	February 8, 1879
Carbonate County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1879-02-08	February 8, 1879	align=right data-sort-value=1879-02-10	February 10, 1879
Chaffee County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1879-02-10	February 10, 1879	align=right data-sort-value=1888-11-01	1888
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Greeley	Weld County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1874-11-01	1874	align=right data-sort-value=1875-11-01	1875
Weld County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1877-11-01	1877	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Guadaloupe	Guadaloupe County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-07	November 7, 1861
Conejos County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-07	November 7, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1863-11-01	1863
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Gunnison	Gunnison County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1877-03-09	March 9, 1877	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Hahns Peak	Routt County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1878-11-01	1878	align=right data-sort-value=1912-11-01	1912
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Hayden	Routt County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1877-01-29	January 29, 1877	align=right data-sort-value=1878-11-01	1878
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Holyoke	Phillips County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-03-27	March 27, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Hot Sulphur Springs Sulphur Springs Hot Sulphur Springs	Grand County, Colorado Territory Grand County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1874-02-02	February 2, 1874	align=right data-sort-value=1882-11-01	1882
align=right data-sort-value=1888-11-01	1888	Grand County, Colorado Territory Grand County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Howardsville	La Plata County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1874-02-10	February 10, 1874	align=right data-sort-value=1876-01-31	January 31, 1876
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Hugo	Lincoln County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-04-11	April 11, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Idaho	Clear Creek County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1867-11-01	1867
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Julesburg	Sedgwick County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-04-09	April 9, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Kiowa	Elbert County, Colorado Territory Elbert County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1874-02-02	February 2, 1874	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Kit Carson	Greenwood County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1870-02-11	February 11, 1870	align=right data-sort-value=1874-02-06	February 6, 1874
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	La Junta	Otero County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-03-25	March 25, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#EEEEEE;"	La Porte	Heele County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Larimer County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Lake City	Hinsdale County, Colorado Territory Hinsdale County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1875-11-01	1875	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Lamar	Prowers County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-04-11	April 11, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#EEEEEE;" data-sort-value="Las Animas 1"	Las Animas (east)	Bent County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1870-02-11	February 11, 1870	align=right data-sort-value=1870-11-01	1870
align=right data-sort-value=1872-11-01	1872	Bent County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1875-11-01	1875
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value="Las Animas 2"	West Las Animas Las Animas	Bent County, Colorado Territory Bent County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1875-11-01	1875	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Latham	Weld County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868	align=right data-sort-value=1870-11-01	1870
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Leadville	Lake County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1879-02-10	February 10, 1879	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Littleton	South Arapahoe County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1902-11-15	November 15, 1902	align=right data-sort-value=1903-04-03	April 11, 1903
Arapahoe County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1903-04-03	April 11, 1903	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Meeker	Rio Blanco County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-03-25	March 25, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Montrose	Montrose County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-02-11	February 11, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Ordway	Crowley County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1911-05-29	May 29, 1911	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Oro City	Lake County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1866-11-01	1866
scope=row rowspan=3 style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Ouray	Ouray County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1877-01-18	January 18, 1877	align=right data-sort-value=1883-02-27	February 27, 1883
Uncompahgre County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-02-27	February 27, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=1883-03-02	March 2, 1883
Ouray County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-03-02	March 2, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Pagosa Springs	Archuleta County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1885-04-14	April 14, 1885	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Parkville	Summit County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1862-11-01	1862
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Parrott City	La Plata County, Colorado Territory La Plata County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1876-01-31	January 31, 1876	align=right data-sort-value=1881-11-01	1881
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Pueblo	Fountain County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Pueblo County, Colorado Territory Pueblo County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;" data-sort-value=Redcliff	Red Cliff Redcliff	Eagle County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-02-11	February 11, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=1921-11-01	1921
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Rico	Dolores County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1881-03-04	March 4, 1881	align=right data-sort-value=1945-11-01	1945
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Rosita	Custer County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1878-11-01	1878	align=right data-sort-value=1886-11-01	1886
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Saguache	Saguache County, Colorado Territory Saguache County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1866-12-29	December 29, 1866	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Saint Vrain	St. Vrain County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Weld County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1868-11-01	1868
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Salida	Chaffee County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1928-11-01	1928	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;" data-sort-value="San Juan"	San Juan City San Juan	Hinsdale County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1874-02-10	February 10, 1874	align=right data-sort-value=1875-02-23	February 23, 1875
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	San Luis	Costilla County, Colorado Territory Costilla County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1863-11-01	1863	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Sheridan Lake	Kiowa County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-04-11	April 11, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=1902-11-01	1902
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Silver Cliff	Custer County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1886-11-01	1886	align=right data-sort-value=1928-11-01	1928
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Silverton	San Juan County, Colorado Territory San Juan County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1876-01-31	January 31, 1876	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Springfield	Baca County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-04-16	April 16, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Steamboat Springs	Routt County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1912-11-01	1912	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Sterling	Logan County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1887-02-25	February 25, 1887	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row rowspan=2 style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Tarryall City Tarryall	Park County, Jefferson Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1859-11-28	November 28, 1859	align=right data-sort-value=1861-06-06	June 6, 1861
Park County, Colorado Territory	align=right data-sort-value=1861-11-01	November 1, 1861	align=right data-sort-value=1862-01-07	January 7, 1862
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Columbia Telluride	San Miguel County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1883-03-02	March 2, 1883	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Trinidad	Las Animas County, Colorado Territory Las Animas County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1866-02-09	February 9, 1866	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Ula	Custer County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1877-03-09	March 9, 1877	align=right data-sort-value=1878-11-01	1878
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Walden	Jackson County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1909-05-05	May 5, 1909	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;" data-sort-value="Walsenburg"	Walsenburgh Tourist Walsenburgh Walsenburg	Huerfano County, Colorado Territory Huerfano County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1874-11-01	1874	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Wason	Mineral County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1893-03-27	March 27, 1893	align=right data-sort-value=1893-11-07	November 7, 1893
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Westcliffe	Custer County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1928-11-01	1928	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#DDFFDD;"	Wray	Yuma County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1902-11-01	1902	align=right data-sort-value=9999-99-99	present
scope=row style="background:#EEEEEE;"	Yuma	Yuma County, Colorado	align=right data-sort-value=1889-03-15	March 15, 1889	align=right data-sort-value=1902-11-01	1902

County seat distinctions

The five cities of Boulder, Cañon City, Central City, 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.
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.

External links

38.9972°N -105.5478°W

Notes and References

Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=kBc4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA190. An Act Defining the Boundaries of Counties and for other purposes. Provisional Laws and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of Jefferson Territory. General Assembly of the Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson. November 28, 1859. November 7, 2024.
Web site: An Act To provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado. Thirty-sixth United States Congress. Library of Congress. 36th United States Congress. February 28, 1861. November 7, 2024.
Web site: Colorado County History . COGenWeb Project . April 29, 2011 . July 21, 2021 . July 23, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080723222500/http://www.cogenweb.com/coplaces/county-div.html . dead .
Web site: Colorado County Evolution. Don. Stanwyck. Lee. Zion. COGenWeb Project. 2003. October 12, 2024.
Web site: Proclamation 230—Admission of Colorado into the Union. . August 1, 1876. The American Presidency Project . July 21, 2021.