Colorado has 64 counties. The 17 original counties were established in 1861, when Colorado was still a territory. The most recent county, Broomfield, was established in 2001. Most of the counties’ names can be grouped into a few categories:
Presidents: Garfield, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington
Governors: Adams, Elbert, Gilpin, Pitkin, Routt
Explorers: Fremont, Gunnison, Kit Carson
Other historical figures: Archuleta, Chaffee, Crowley, Custer, Denver, Douglas, Larimer, Logan, Moffat, Montezuma, Ouray, Teller, Weld
Early settlers and landowners: Baca, Hinsdale, Otero, Phillips, Prowers
Indian tribes: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Yuma
Forts: Bent, Morgan, Sedgwick
Rivers: Costilla, Dolores, Eagle, Grand, Las Animas, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande
Other geographical features: Boulder, Clear Creek, Delta, El Paso, Lake, Mesa, Park, Summit
Spanish words: Alamosa (“cottonwood grove”), Conejos (“rabbit”), Huerfano (“orphan”), La Plata (“silver”), Pueblo (“town” or “village”)
Indian words: Saguache (“water at blue earth”, Ute)
Saints: San Juan, San Miguel
Local economic resources: Broomfield, Mineral
Literary: Montrose
Colorado State Archives has compiled a list of all 64 counties noting the story behind where their names came from, as well as the year each county was established. The Colorado Encyclopedia also features articles on each county. Search our library catalog for resources on individual counties and places throughout Colorado.
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