The U.S.

State of Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the ...

has 272 active incorporated municipalities, comprising 197 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments. At the

2020 United States Census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...

, 4,299,942 of the 5,773,714 Colorado residents (74.47%) lived in one of these 272 municipalities. Another 714,417 residents (12.37%) lived in one of the 210

census-designated places A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...

, while the remaining 759,355 residents (13.15%) lived in the many rural and mountainous areas of the state. Colorado municipalities range in population from the

City and County of Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unite ...

, the state capital, with a 2020 population of 715,522, to the Town of Carbonate, which has had no year-round population since the

1890 Census The United States census of 1890 was taken beginning June 2, 1890, but most of the 1890 census materials were destroyed in 1921 when a building caught fire and in the subsequent disposal of the remaining damaged records. It determined the reside ...

due to its severe winter weather and difficult access. 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. Only of Colorado's of land area (1.90%) are incorporated in the 272 municipalities. The City of Colorado Springs with of land area is the most extensive municipality, while the Town of Sawpit with of land area is the least extensive. 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 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. The City of Central is the only Colorado municipality that does not have its full place name at the end of its municipal title. The towns of Garden City, Lake City, Orchard City, and Sugar City are statutory towns despite the word "city" at the end of their names. The municipality of Creede uses the official title "City of Creede" despite its status as a Colorado statutory town. Neither village nor

civil township A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States that is subordinate to a county, most often in the northern and midwestern parts of the country. The term town is used in New England, New York, and Wisconsin to ...

is a type of civil division in the State of Colorado, although the cities of Cherry Hills Village and

Greenwood Village The City of Greenwood Village is a home rule municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 15,691 at the 2020 United States Census. Greenwood Village is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Met ...

and the towns of Log Lane Village, Mountain Village, and

Snowmass Village Snowmass Village is a home rule municipality in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,826 at the 2010 census. A popular winter resort location for skiing and snowboarding, the town is well known as the location of the Sn ...

have the word "village" at the end of their names. Several resort communities use the word "village" to describe their

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...

. Nineteen Colorado municipalities extend into two counties, but only the cities of Aurora and Littleton extend into three counties. Colorado municipalities operate under one of the following five types of municipal governing authority: Colorado Revised Statutes Constitution of the State of Colorado

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 A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

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 37 towns that are home rule municipalities that 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.

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. 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 A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a "Mayor–council government" council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief execu ...

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. Statutory towns have an elected mayor and a

board of trustees A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

composed of the mayor and four or six additional members elected at large. Colorado statutory towns 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.

Municipalities

Municipalities in multiple counties

The following table contains the 2020 population of each of the 21 active incorporated municipalities that currently extend into more than one

Colorado county Colorado County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 20,557. Its county seat is Columbus. It is named for the Colorado River of Texas. The county was founded in 1836 and organized the next y ...

Population estimates

United States Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2021 are in included in the Population history of Colorado municipalities. With a 2021 population of 711,463 residents, the City and County of Denver remains the most populous municipality in Colorado, while the Town of Carbonate still has no year-round residents. Colorado now has 13 municipalities with more than 100,000 residents, and 17 with fewer than 100 residents.

Gallery

Denver skyline.jpg, 1. Denver, the “Mile-High City”, is the state capital and the most populous regional city., alt=The evening skyline of Denver CC COSPRINGS.jpg, 2. Colorado Springs is the center of a military, technical, and recreational complex at the foot of Pikes Peak., alt=The skyline of Colorado Springs Aurora, CO, USA - panoramio (1).jpg, 3. Aurora, Denver's twin city, is home of the regional Anschutz Medical Campus., alt=A shopping district in Aurora, Colorado Downtown Fort Collins Colorado.jpg, 4.

Fort Collins A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facer ...

is a research center and home of

Colorado State University Colorado State University (Colorado State or CSU) is a public land-grant research university in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the flagship university of the Colorado State University System. Colorado State University is classified among "R ...

., alt=Downtown Fort Collins, Colorado LakewoodCivicCenter.JPG, 5.

Lakewood Lakewood may refer to: Places Australia * Lakewood, Western Australia, an abandoned town in Western Australia Canada * Lakewood, Edmonton, Alberta * Lakewood Suburban Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Philippines * Lakewood, Zamboanga del S ...

is home of the Denver Federal Center, the largest federal complex outside Washington, D.C., alt=The Lakewood, Colorado Civic Center Thornton, CO, welcome sign IMG 5209.JPG, 6. Thornton is a residential community that is the northern gateway to

Metropolitan Denver Denver, Colorado, Denver is the central city of a conurbation region in the U.S. state of Colorado. The conurbation includes one continuous region consisting of the six central counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jeffers ...

., alt=A Thornton, Colorado welcome sign Aerial image of Arvada, Colorado.jpg, 7.

Arvada Arvada () is a home rule municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties, Colorado, United States. The city population was 124,402 at the 2020 United States Census, with 121,510 residing in Jefferson County and 2,892 residing in Adams Co ...

is the site of the first recorded gold discovery in the Rocky Mountain region., alt=An aerial view of Arvada, Colorado Sunset over Stanley Lake.jpeg, 8. Westminster is a northwestern Denver suburb with a trail and open space system., alt=A sunset over Stanley Lake in Westminster, Colorado Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo.JPG, 9. The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk in downtown Pueblo., alt=The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk in downtown in Pueblo, Colorado Neighborhood view of Greeley, Colorado LCCN2011634687.tif, 10. Greeley was settled as part of the agricultural Union Colony of Colorado., alt=A historic neighborhood in Greeley, Colorado Denver LDSTemple.JPG, 11. Centennial is home of the Denver Area Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints., alt=The Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Centennial, Colorado DSCN5800 bouderbelowflatirons e.jpg, 12.

Boulder In geology, a boulder (or rarely bowlder) is a rock fragment with size greater than in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In c ...

is a research center and home of the University of Colorado., alt=The Flatirons rock formations above Boulder, Colorado Longmont, CO, Safety and Justice Center IMG 5217.JPG, 13. Longmont is a farm town turned high-tech center., alt=The Longmont, Colorado cityhall Benson Park Sculpture Garden 03.jpg, 14. Loveland, the “Sweetheart City”, is the gateway to

Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and ...

., alt=The Benson Park Sculpture Garden in Loveland, Colorado Castle Rock trail signs.jpg, 15. Castle Rock is a residential community between Denver and Colorado Springs., alt=The Castle Rock formation in Castle Rock, Colorado Broomfield colorado interlocken offices.jpg, 16. Broomfield is a high-tech center located midway between Denver and Boulder., alt=Office buildings in 17. Grand Junction is the most populous city of western Colorado and the entire alt=Grand Junction, Colorado with the Colorado River in the foreground and Mount Garfield in the background Dick's Park.jpg, 18. Commerce City is a residential community near alt=Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado Parker, Colorado.JPG, 19. Parker, Colorado, Parker is a residential community southeast of Denver., alt=Main Street in Parker, Colorado Littleton Main Street.JPG, 20. Littleton is a farm town turned Denver suburb., alt=Main Street in Littleton, Colorado

Notes

References

External links

United States Department of Commerce

United States Census BureauState of Colorado

Department of Local AffairsColorado Municipal LeagueHistory Colorado
{{DEFAULTSORT:Municipalities in Colorado, List of Lists of places in Colorado Lists of populated places in Colorado Local government in Colorado Colorado, List of municipalities in Colorado, List of municipalities in de:Gemeindeformen Colorados