List of municipalities in Colorado facts for kids

The location of the State of Colorado in the United States of America

Colorado has many different towns and cities, called municipalities. There are 273 active municipalities in the state. This includes 198 towns, 73 cities, and two special combined city and county governments. In 2020, about 74% of Colorado's 5.7 million residents lived in one of these municipalities. The rest lived in smaller communities or rural areas.

Colorado's municipalities vary greatly in size. The largest is the City and County of Denver, which is also the state capital. It had over 715,000 people in 2020. The smallest is the Town of Carbonate, which has had no year-round residents since 1890 because of its harsh winters and difficult access. Among cities, Black Hawk is the smallest with only 127 people. The Town of Castle Rock is the largest town, with over 73,000 residents.

Even though Colorado is a big state, only a small part of its land (less than 2%) is covered by these towns and cities. Colorado Springs is the largest municipality by land area, covering about 195 square miles. The smallest is the Town of Sawpit, which is tiny at only 0.03 square miles. The City of Glendale is the most crowded, with over 8,100 people per square mile. The Town of Bonanza is the least crowded (after Carbonate), with only 38 people per square mile.

How Colorado Towns and Cities are Governed
Municipalities in Multiple Counties
Images for kids
More Information
See also

How Colorado Towns and Cities are Governed

Colorado municipalities operate under five main types of government. These are:

Consolidated city and county
Home rule municipality
Statutory city
Statutory town
Territorial charter municipality

State law does not make a big difference between a "city" and a "town." A home rule municipality can choose to call itself either a city or a town. Generally, cities are larger than towns, but this isn't always true. For example, Black Hawk is a city but has very few people, while Castle Rock is a town but has many people.

Colorado does not have "villages" or "civil townships" as official types of local government. However, some places like Cherry Hills Village and Snowmass Village have "village" in their names.

Some Colorado municipalities even stretch across more than one county. Nineteen municipalities are in two counties, and two cities (Aurora and Littleton) are in three counties!

Consolidated City and County Governments

In Colorado, only two places have a combined city and county government: Denver and Broomfield. This means the city and county are governed as one unit.

Denver: The City and County of Denver has an elected mayor and a city council. The council has 13 members. Eleven members are elected from specific areas (districts), and two are elected from the city as a whole.
Broomfield: The City and County of Broomfield has an appointed city and county manager. It also has an elected mayor and a city council with 11 members. The mayor is part of the council, and two members are elected from each of its five areas (wards).

Home Rule Municipalities

Colorado has 62 cities and 38 towns that are "home rule" municipalities. This means they can largely govern themselves. They create their own local laws and rules, deciding what is best for their community. This gives them more control and reduces state interference in their local matters.

Statutory Cities

There are 11 statutory cities in Colorado. These cities follow specific laws set by the state. To become a statutory city, a place must have at least 2,000 people when it is formed. Statutory cities have an elected mayor and a city council. The council includes the mayor and two members from each area (ward). A statutory city can also choose to have an appointed city manager.

Statutory Towns

Colorado has 159 statutory towns. Like statutory cities, these towns follow state laws. Most statutory towns use "town" in their official name. However, a few, like Creede and Garden City, use "city" in their names even though they are statutory towns.

Statutory towns have an elected mayor and a board of trustees. The board includes the mayor and four or six other members elected from the town as a whole. These towns can only use the powers given to them by the state. They are similar to villages found in other states.

Territorial Charter Municipality

The Town of Georgetown is unique because it still operates under a special charter from when Colorado was a territory, before it became a state. This charter was granted on January 28, 1868. In Georgetown, the mayor is called the "police judge," and the town council is called the "board of selectmen."

Municipalities in Multiple Counties

Twenty-one municipalities in Colorado are located in more than one county. Here are some examples:

Colorado Municipalities in Multiple Counties
Municipality	Counties	2020 Census population
Municipality	Counties	Total	by county	%
Arvada	Jefferson	124,402	121,510	98%
Arvada	Adams	124,402	2,892	2%
Aurora	Arapahoe	386,261	336,035	87%
	Adams		47,720	12%
	Douglas		2,506	1%
Basalt	Eagle	3,984	2,917	73%
Basalt	Pitkin	3,984	1,067	27%
Bennett	Adams	2,862	2,443	85%
Bennett	Arapahoe	2,862	419	15%
Berthoud	Larimer	10,332	10,071	97%
Berthoud	Weld	10,332	261	3%
Bow Mar	Arapahoe	853	587	69%
Bow Mar	Jefferson	853	266	31%
Brighton	Adams	40,083	39,718	99%
Brighton	Weld	40,083	365	1%
Center	Saguache	1,929	1,885	98%
Center	Rio Grande	1,929	44	2%
Central City	Gilpin	779	779	100%
Central City	Clear Creek	779	0	0%
Erie	Weld	30,038	17,387	58%
Erie	Boulder	30,038	12,651	42%
Green Mountain Falls	El Paso	646	622	96%
Green Mountain Falls	Teller	646	24	4%
Johnstown	Weld	17,303	12,547	73%
Johnstown	Larimer	17,303	4,756	27%
Littleton	Arapahoe	45,652	42,702	94%
	Jefferson		2,310	5%
	Douglas		640	1%
Lochbuie	Weld	8,088	8,087	99.99%
Lochbuie	Adams	8,088	1	0.01%
Longmont	Boulder	98,885	97,587	99%
Longmont	Weld	98,885	1,298	1%
Northglenn	Adams	38,131	38,106	99.93%
Northglenn	Weld	38,131	25	0.07%
Superior	Boulder	13,094	13,094	100%
Superior	Jefferson	13,094	0	0%
Thornton	Adams	141,867	141,867	100%
Thornton	Weld	141,867	0	0%
Timnath	Larimer	6,487	6,482	99.92%
Timnath	Weld	6,487	5	0.08%
Westminster	Adams	116,317	71,240	61%
Westminster	Jefferson	116,317	45,077	39%
Windsor	Weld	32,716	24,997	76%
Windsor	Larimer	32,716	7,719	24%

Images for kids

Aguilar, Colorado

Aguilar
Akron, Colorado

Akron
Alamosa, Colorado

Alamosa
Alma, Colorado

Alma
Antonito, Colorado

Antonito
Arriba, Colorado

Arriba
Arvada, Colorado

Arvada
Aspen, Colorado

Aspen
Ault, Colorado

Ault
Aurora, Colorado

Aurora
Avon, Colorado

Avon
Basalt, Colorado

Basalt
Bayfield, Colorado

Bayfield
Bennett, Colorado

Bennett
Berthoud, Colorado

Berthoud
Bethune, Colorado

Bethune
Black Hawk, Colorado

Black Hawk
Blanca, Colorado

Blanca
Blue River, Colorado

Blue River
Bonanza, Colorado

Bonanza
Boone, Colorado

Boone
Boulder, Colorado

Boulder
Bow Mar, Colorado

Bow Mar
Branson, Colorado

Branson
Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge
Brighton, Colorado

Brighton
Brookside, Colorado

Brookside
Broomfield, Colorado

Broomfield
Brush, Colorado

Brush
Buena Vista, Colorado

Buena Vista
Burlington, Colorado

Burlington
Calhan, Colorado

Calhan
Campo, Colorado

Campo
Cañon City, Colorado

Cañon City
Carbonate, Colorado

Carbonate
Carbondale, Colorado

Carbondale
Castle Pines, Colorado

Castle Pines
Castle Rock, Colorado

Castle Rock
Cedaredge, Colorado

Cedaredge
Centennial, Colorado

Centennial
Center, Colorado

Center
Central City, Colorado

Central City
Cheraw, Colorado

Cheraw
Cherry Hills Village, Colorado

Cherry Hills Village
Cheyenne Wells, Colorado

Cheyenne Wells
Coal Creek, Colorado

Coal Creek
Cokedale, Colorado

Cokedale
Collbran, Colorado

Collbran
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs
Columbine Valley, Colorado

Columbine Valley
Commerce City, Colorado

Commerce City
Cortez, Colorado

Cortez
Craig, Colorado

Craig
Crawford, Colorado

Crawford
Creede, Colorado

Creede
Crested Butte, Colorado

Crested Butte
Crestone, Colorado

Crestone
Cripple Creek, Colorado

Cripple Creek
Crook, Colorado

Crook
Crowley, Colorado

Crowley
Dacono, Colorado

Dacono
De Beque, Colorado

De Beque
Deer Trail, Colorado

Deer Trail
Del Norte, Colorado

Del Norte
Delta, Colorado

Delta
Denver

Denver
Dillon, Colorado

Dillon
Dinosaur, Colorado

Dinosaur
Dolores, Colorado

Dolores
Dove Creek, Colorado

Dove Creek
Durango, Colorado

Durango
Eads, Colorado

Eads
Eagle, Colorado

Eagle
Eaton, Colorado

Eaton
Eckley, Colorado

Eckley
Edgewater, Colorado

Edgewater
Elizabeth, Colorado

Elizabeth
Empire, Colorado

Empire
Englewood, Colorado

Englewood
Erie, Colorado

Erie
Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park
Evans, Colorado

Evans
Fairplay, Colorado

Fairplay
Federal Heights, Colorado

Federal Heights
Firestone, Colorado

Firestone
Flagler, Colorado

Flagler
Fleming, Colorado

Fleming
Florence, Colorado

Florence
Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins
Fort Lupton, Colorado

Fort Lupton
Fort Morgan, Colorado

Fort Morgan
Fountain, Colorado

Fountain
Fowler, Colorado

Fowler
Foxfield, Colorado

Foxfield
Fraser, Colorado

Fraser
Frederick, Colorado

Frederick
Frisco, Colorado

Frisco
Fruita, Colorado

Fruita
Garden City, Colorado

Garden City
Genoa, Colorado

Genoa
Georgetown, Colorado

Georgetown
Gilcrest, Colorado

Gilcrest
Glendale, Colorado

Glendale
Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Glenwood Springs
Golden, Colorado

Golden
Granada, Colorado

Granada
Granby, Colorado

Granby
Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction
Grand Lake, Colorado

Grand Lake
Greeley, Colorado

Greeley
Green Mountain Falls, Colorado

Green Mountain Falls
Greenwood Village, Colorado

Greenwood Village
Grover, Colorado

Grover
Gunnison, Colorado

Gunnison
Gypsum, Colorado

Gypsum
Hartman, Colorado

Hartman
Haswell, Colorado

Haswell
Haxtun, Colorado

Haxtun
Hayden, Colorado

Hayden
Hillrose, Colorado

Hillrose
Holly, Colorado

Holly
Holyoke, Colorado

Holyoke
Hooper, Colorado

Hooper
Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado

Hot Sulphur Springs
Hotchkiss, Colorado

Hotchkiss
Hudson, Colorado

Hudson
Hugo, Colorado

Hugo
Idaho Springs, Colorado

Idaho Springs
Ignacio, Colorado

Ignacio
Iliff, Colorado

Iliff
Jamestown, Colorado

Jamestown
Johnstown, Colorado

Johnstown
Julesburg, Colorado

Julesburg
Keenesburg, Colorado

Keenesburg
Kersey, Colorado

Kersey
Keystone, Colorado

Keystone
Kim, Colorado

Kim
Kiowa, Colorado

Kiowa
Kit Carson, Colorado

Kit Carson
Kremmling, Colorado

Kremmling
La Jara, Colorado

La Jara
La Junta, Colorado

La Junta
La Veta, Colorado

La Veta
Lafayette, Colorado

Lafayette
Lake City, Colorado

Lake City
Lakeside, Colorado

Lakeside
Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood
Lamar, Colorado

Lamar
Larkspur, Colorado

Larkspur
Las Animas, Colorado

Las Animas
LaSalle, Colorado

LaSalle
Leadville, Colorado

Leadville
Limon, Colorado

Limon
Littleton, Colorado

Littleton
Lochbuie, Colorado

Lochbuie
Log Lane Village, Colorado

Log Lane Village
Lone Tree, Colorado

Lone Tree
Longmont, Colorado

Longmont
Louisville, Colorado

Louisville
Loveland, Colorado

Loveland
Lyons, Colorado

Lyons
Manassa, Colorado

Manassa
Mancos, Colorado

Mancos
Manitou Springs, Colorado

Manitou Springs
Manzanola, Colorado

Manzanola
Marble, Colorado

Marble
Mead, Colorado

Mead
Meeker, Colorado

Meeker
Merino, Colorado

Merino
Milliken, Colorado

Milliken
Minturn, Colorado

Minturn
Moffat, Colorado

Moffat
Monte Vista, Colorado

Monte Vista
Montezuma, Colorado

Montezuma
Montrose, Colorado

Montrose
Monument, Colorado

Monument
Morrison, Colorado

Morrison
Mount Crested Butte, Colorado

Mount Crested Butte
Mountain View, Colorado

Mountain View
Mountain Village, Colorado

Mountain Village
Naturita, Colorado

Naturita
Nederland, Colorado

Nederland
New Castle, Colorado

New Castle
Northglenn, Colorado

Northglenn
Norwood, Colorado

Norwood
Nucla, Colorado

Nucla
Nunn, Colorado

Nunn
Oak Creek, Colorado

Oak Creek
Olathe, Colorado

Olathe
Olney Springs, Colorado

Olney Springs
Ophir, Colorado

Ophir
Orchard City, Colorado

Orchard City
Ordway, Colorado

Ordway
Otis, Colorado

Otis
Ouray, Colorado

Ouray
Ovid, Colorado

Ovid
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Pagosa Springs
Palisade, Colorado

Palisade
Palmer Lake, Colorado

Palmer Lake
Paoli, Colorado

Paoli
Paonia, Colorado

Paonia
Parachute, Colorado

Parachute
Parker, Colorado

Parker
Peetz, Colorado

Peetz
Pierce, Colorado

Pierce
Pitkin, Colorado

Pitkin
Platteville, Colorado

Platteville
Poncha Springs, Colorado

Poncha Springs
Pritchett, Colorado

Pritchett
Pueblo, Colorado

Pueblo
Ramah, Colorado

Ramah
Rangely, Colorado

Rangely
Raymer, Colorado

Raymer
Red Cliff, Colorado

Red Cliff
Rico, Colorado

Rico
Ridgway, Colorado

Ridgway
Rifle, Colorado

Rifle
Rockvale, Colorado

Rockvale
Rocky Ford, Colorado

Rocky Ford
Romeo, Colorado

Romeo
Rye, Colorado

Rye
Saguache, Colorado

Saguache
Salida, Colorado

Salida
San Luis, Colorado

San Luis
Sanford, Colorado

Sanford
Sawpit, Colorado

Sawpit
Sedgwick, Colorado

Sedgwick
Seibert, Colorado

Seibert
Severance, Colorado

Severance
Sheridan, Colorado

Sheridan
Sheridan Lake, Colorado

Sheridan Lake
Silt, Colorado

Silt
Silver Cliff, Colorado

Silver Cliff
Silver Plume, Colorado

Silver Plume
Silverthorne, Colorado

Silverthorne
Silverton, Colorado

Silverton
Simla, Colorado

Simla
Snowmass Village, Colorado

Snowmass Village
South Fork, Colorado

South Fork
Springfield, Colorado

Springfield
Starkville, Colorado

Starkville
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Steamboat Springs
Sterling, Colorado

Sterling
Stratton, Colorado

Stratton
Sugar City, Colorado

Sugar City
Superior, Colorado

Superior
Swink, Colorado

Swink
Telluride, Colorado

Telluride
Thornton, Colorado

Thornton
Timnath, Colorado

Timnath
Trinidad, Colorado

Trinidad
Two Buttes, Colorado

Two Buttes
Vail, Colorado

Vail
Victor, Colorado

Victor
Vilas, Colorado

Vilas
Vona, Colorado

Vona
Walden, Colorado

Walden
Walsenburg, Colorado

Walsenburg
Walsh, Colorado

Walsh
Ward, Colorado

Ward
Wellington, Colorado

Wellington
Westcliffe, Colorado

Westcliffe
Westminster, Colorado

Westminster
Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Wheat Ridge
Wiggins, Colorado

Wiggins
Wiley, Colorado

Wiley
Williamsburg, Colorado

Williamsburg
Windsor, Colorado

Windsor
Winter Park, Colorado

Winter Park
Woodland Park, Colorado

Woodland Park
Wray, Colorado

Wray
Yampa, Colorado

Yampa
Yuma, Colorado

Yuma

More Information

If you want to learn more about how many people live in Colorado's towns and cities, you can check out the List of Colorado municipalities by population. This list shows population changes since the year 2000. You can also find maps of the municipalities and pictures of the 20 largest ones.