Colorado municipalities range in population from the City and County of Denver, the state capital,[4] with a 2020 population of 715,522, to the Town of Carbonate, which has had no year-round population since the 1890 Census due to its severe winter weather and difficult access.[3][5] The City of Black Hawk with a 2020 population of 127 is the least populous Colorado city, while the Town of Castle Rock with a 2020 population of 73,158 is the most populous Colorado town.[1][3]
In 2020, only 1,968 square miles (5,097 km2) of Colorado's 103,642 square miles (268,431 km2) of land area (1.90%) were incorporated in the 271 active municipalities. The City of Colorado Springs with 195 square miles (506 km2) of land area is the most extensive municipality, while the Town of Sawpit with 19 acres (0.078 km2) of land area is the least extensive.[6] The City of Glendale with a 2020 population density of 8,117 residents per square mile (3,134/km2) is the most densely populated municipality, while the Town of Bonanza with a 2020 population density of 38 residents per square mile (15/km2) is the least densely populated municipality after Carbonate.
Municipal government
Colorado municipalities operate under one of five types of municipal governing authority – consolidated city and county, home rule municipality, statutory city, statutory town, and territorial charter municipality.[1] State law makes relatively few distinctions between a city and a town. The charter of a home rule municipality may designate either a city or town municipal title. In general, cities are more populous than towns, although long-term population changes may skew this considerably, as illustrated by the City of Black Hawk and the Town of Castle Rock.
Nineteen Colorado municipalities extend into two counties, while two cities – Aurora and Littleton – extend into three counties.[1]
Consolidated city and county
In the State of Colorado, only Denver and Broomfield have consolidated city and county governments. The City and County of Denver operates under Article XX, Section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado; and Title 30, Article 11, Section 101 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Denver has an elected mayor and a city council of 13 members with 11 members elected from council districts and two members elected at large. The City and County of Broomfield operates under Article XX, Sections 10–13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. Broomfield has an appointed city and county manager, an elected mayor, and a city council of 11 members composed of the mayor and two members elected from each of five wards.
Home rule municipality
Colorado has 62 cities and 38 towns that are home rule municipalities, which are self-governing under Article 20 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado; Title 31, Article 1, Section 202 of the Colorado Revised Statutes; and the home rule charter of each municipality. The state-authorized home rule charter determines the form of government. Home rule gives local municipalities the power to make legislation relevant to their areas, exercising control over issues of local concern while minimizing state intervention in municipal affairs.[7]
Statutory city
Colorado has 11 statutory cities that operate under Title 31, Article 1, Section 203 and Article 4, Section 100 or Section 200 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.[8] A statutory city must have a population of at least 2,000 at the time of incorporation or reorganization, although three have lost population since.[9] Statutory cities have an elected mayor and a city council composed of the mayor and two members elected from each ward. A statutory city may petition to reorganize as a Section 200 statutory city with an appointed city manager and a city council with two members elected from each ward and one member elected at large. The mayor may be the city council member elected at large or the city council may appoint a mayor.
Statutory town
Colorado has 159 statutory towns that operate under Title 31, Article 1, Section 203 and Article 4, Part 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. The statutory town of Creede uses the official title "City of Creede".[1]Garden City, Lake City, Orchard City, and Sugar City are statutory towns but use city at the end of their names.[1]
Statutory towns have an elected mayor and a board of trustees composed of the mayor and four or six additional members elected at large. Colorado statutory cities and towns are limited to exercising powers that are granted by the state and are subject to provisions and limitations imposed by the state[7] and are similar to villages in other states such as the villages of the State of New York.
Territorial charter municipality
The Town of Georgetown is the only municipality that still operates under a charter granted by the Territory of Colorado. The town operates under Article 14, Section 13 of the Charter & Constitution of the Colorado Territory enacted on January 28, 1868. The town mayor is called the police judge and the town council is called the board of selectmen.[10]
^Located at an elevation of 10,361 feet (3,158 m), the Town of Alma, Colorado has been the highest elevation populated municipality in the United States since 1890.
^The City of Castle Pines North was incorporated on November 6, 2007. An election on November 2, 2010, changed the name to the City of Castle Pines.[1]
^On August 28, 1889, Yampa changed its name to Craig.[18] Craig has been the seat of Moffat County, Colorado since the county was created on February 27, 1911.
^Fremont changed its name to Morland on December 9, 1891; then changed it back to Fremont on February 4, 1892; then changed it to Cripple Creek on June 20, 1892.[18] Cripple Creek has been the seat of Teller County, Colorado since the county was created on March 23, 1899.
^On June 25, 1883, Defiance changed its name to Barlow, and several months later, county voters selected Barlow as the new seat of Garfield County, Colorado. On March 28, 1884, Barlow changed its name to Glenwood Springs,[18] and Glenwood Springs continues to serve as county seat.
^Grand Lake served as the seat of Grand County, Colorado from 1882 until 1888. On June 30, 1895, Grand Lake changed its name to Grandlake; then changed it back to Grand Lake on April 1, 1938.[18]
^On January 29, 1877, the state created Routt County, Colorado and designated Hayden as the original county seat. Hayden served as county seat until 1878.
^Hot Sulphur Springs served as the original seat of Grand County, Colorado Territory since the county was created on February 2, 1874, and with statehood on August 1, 1876, the seat of Grand County, Colorado until 1882 and then again from 1888 to present. On June 26, 1894, Hot Sulphur Springs changed its name to Sulphur Springs, then changed it back to Hot Sulphur Springs on February 15, 1912.[18]
^On February 11, 1870, the Territory of Colorado created Bent County, Colorado Territory, with Las Animas serving as the original county seat for only a few months. Las Animas served as county seat again from 1872 until 1875, when the county seat was moved to West Las Animas. With statehood on August 1, 1876, West Las Animas became the seat of Bent County, Colorado. On September 4, 1886, West Las Animas changed its name to Las Animas,[18] and Las Animas has served as the county seat since.
^Ouray has been the seat of Ouray County, Colorado since the county was created on January 18, 1877, although the name of the county was changed to Uncompahgre County for the three days from February 27 to March 2, 1883.
^Raymer is served by the New Raymer post office, creating some confusion about the town's name.[29]
^Red Cliff served as the original seat of Eagle County, Colorado since the county was created on February 11, 1883, until 1921. Red Cliff changed its name to Redcliff on February 7, 1895; then changed it back to Red Cliff on April 1, 1979.[18]
^Rico served as the original seat of Dolores County, Colorado since the county was created on March 4, 1881, until 1945.
^ abThe name "Saguache" is pronounced /səˈwætʃ/. This name comes from the Ute language noun "sawup" /səˈwʌp/ meaning "sand dunes". The Spanish language version of this name is usually spelled "Saguache", while the English language version is usually spelled "Sawatch".[30]
^On September 20, 1887, Bee changed its name to Sheridan Lake; then changed it back to Bee on October 15, 1887; then changed it back again to Sheridan Lake on October 27, 1887.[18] Sheridan Lake served as the original seat of Kiowa County, Colorado since the county was created on April 11, 1889, until 1902.
^"To Charter and Consolidate the Towns of Denver, Auraria and Highland". Provisional Laws and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of Jefferson Territory. General Assembly of the Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson. December 3, 1859. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
