Colorado County Area & Size Rankings

Understanding Colorado’s county areas

The land-area range runs from Broomfield County at 33 mi² to Las Animas County at 4,772.9 mi². The largest has 144.8 times the land area of the smallest and accounts for 4.6% of the combined county land in Colorado. Compare with every state’s largest county.

The median county-equivalent land area is 1,431.5 mi², above the national median of 604.5 mi². The median describes the middle of the county size distribution; it does not describe how people or development are distributed. A state with a few very large counties can have a much smaller median than its largest entry suggests.

Where water changes the picture

Larimer County has the most assigned water area, at 38.2 mi². Boulder County has the highest water share, with water making up 1.9% of its total area. Water area and water percentage answer different questions: the first measures an amount, while the second measures the mix of land and water.

Across all 64 entries, water accounts for 0.4% of the combined total area. This is calculated from the summed land and water measurements, rather than averaging county percentages, which would give each small and large county equal weight.

Where people live

An estimated 6,012,561 people lived in Colorado on July 1, 2025 (+4.1% since 2020), or 1.7% of the national total in this dataset. El Paso County is the most populous county equivalent, with 757,040 residents — 12.6% of the state. The largest by land, Las Animas County, has 14,391.

Across the state there are 58 people per square mile of land. County densities range from 4,838 in Denver County to 0.67 in Hinsdale County; the median county equivalent has 11. Switch the map above to density to see where the state’s population concentrates.

Compare the largest and smallest county equivalents in Colorado to see land, water, and total area on the same scale.

These calculations use the 2026 Census county records listed below. County-equivalent boundaries vary between states; area alone does not measure population, density, or usable land. See coverage and calculation rules.

#	County / equivalent	Land	Water	Water share	Population	Per mi²
1	Las Animas CountyGEOID 08071	4,772.9 mi²	2.7 mi²	0.1%	14,391	3
2	Moffat CountyGEOID 08081	4,743.3 mi²	7.6 mi²	0.2%	13,122	2.8
3	Weld CountyGEOID 08123	3,985 mi²	31.8 mi²	0.8%	378,426	95
4	Mesa CountyGEOID 08077	3,328.7 mi²	12.4 mi²	0.4%	162,845	49
5	Gunnison CountyGEOID 08051	3,239.1 mi²	20.5 mi²	0.6%	17,439	5.4
6	Rio Blanco CountyGEOID 08103	3,221 mi²	1.9 mi²	0.1%	6,683	2.1
7	Saguache CountyGEOID 08109	3,168.6 mi²	1.7 mi²	0.1%	6,732	2.1
8	Garfield CountyGEOID 08045	2,947.4 mi²	8.4 mi²	0.3%	63,474	22
9	Larimer CountyGEOID 08069	2,595.7 mi²	38.2 mi²	1.5%	377,292	145
10	Lincoln CountyGEOID 08073	2,577.7 mi²	8.8 mi²	0.3%	5,645	2.2
11	Baca CountyGEOID 08009	2,555 mi²	2.4 mi²	0.1%	3,347	1.3
12	Washington CountyGEOID 08121	2,518.1 mi²	5.9 mi²	0.2%	4,732	1.9
13	Pueblo CountyGEOID 08101	2,386.6 mi²	11.2 mi²	0.5%	169,277	71
14	Yuma CountyGEOID 08125	2,364.4 mi²	4.3 mi²	0.2%	9,896	4.2
15	Routt CountyGEOID 08107	2,362 mi²	6.1 mi²	0.3%	25,329	11
16	Montrose CountyGEOID 08085	2,240.9 mi²	1.9 mi²	0.1%	44,591	20
17	Park CountyGEOID 08093	2,193.5 mi²	16.8 mi²	0.8%	18,314	8.3
18	Kit Carson CountyGEOID 08063	2,160.8 mi²	0.9 mi²	0%	7,069	3.3
19	El Paso CountyGEOID 08041	2,126.4 mi²	2.7 mi²	0.1%	757,040	356
20	Montezuma CountyGEOID 08083	2,029.3 mi²	10.5 mi²	0.5%	26,678	13
21	Elbert CountyGEOID 08039	1,850.8 mi²	0.2 mi²	0%	30,534	16
22	Grand CountyGEOID 08049	1,846.6 mi²	23 mi²	1.2%	16,496	8.9
23	Logan CountyGEOID 08075	1,838.6 mi²	6.3 mi²	0.3%	20,654	11
24	Cheyenne CountyGEOID 08017	1,778.3 mi²	3.2 mi²	0.2%	1,713	0.96
25	Kiowa CountyGEOID 08061	1,767.8 mi²	18.2 mi²	1%	1,412	0.8
26	La Plata CountyGEOID 08067	1,689.7 mi²	9.9 mi²	0.6%	56,898	34
27	Eagle CountyGEOID 08037	1,684.5 mi²	7.3 mi²	0.4%	54,291	32
28	Prowers CountyGEOID 08099	1,638.4 mi²	5.9 mi²	0.4%	11,884	7.3
29	Jackson CountyGEOID 08057	1,613.7 mi²	7.2 mi²	0.4%	1,211	0.75
30	Huerfano CountyGEOID 08055	1,591 mi²	2.2 mi²	0.1%	7,011	4.4
31	Fremont CountyGEOID 08043	1,533.8 mi²	0.9 mi²	0.1%	50,039	33
32	Bent CountyGEOID 08011	1,512.8 mi²	28.2 mi²	1.8%	5,716	3.8
33	Archuleta CountyGEOID 08007	1,350.1 mi²	5.3 mi²	0.4%	14,306	11
34	Conejos CountyGEOID 08021	1,287.4 mi²	3.6 mi²	0.3%	7,529	5.8
35	San Miguel CountyGEOID 08113	1,286.7 mi²	2 mi²	0.2%	7,753	6
36	Morgan CountyGEOID 08087	1,280.5 mi²	13.4 mi²	1%	30,306	24
37	Otero CountyGEOID 08089	1,261.9 mi²	7.8 mi²	0.6%	17,683	14
38	Costilla CountyGEOID 08023	1,227.6 mi²	3.4 mi²	0.3%	3,679	3
39	Adams CountyGEOID 08001	1,166.8 mi²	16.8 mi²	1.4%	554,668	475
40	Delta CountyGEOID 08029	1,142.1 mi²	6.5 mi²	0.6%	32,178	28
41	Hinsdale CountyGEOID 08053	1,117.2 mi²	5.9 mi²	0.5%	753	0.67
42	Dolores CountyGEOID 08033	1,067.2 mi²	1 mi²	0.1%	2,466	2.3
43	Chaffee CountyGEOID 08015	1,013.4 mi²	1.5 mi²	0.2%	20,831	21
44	Pitkin CountyGEOID 08097	970.7 mi²	2.5 mi²	0.3%	16,625	17
45	Rio Grande CountyGEOID 08105	912 mi²	0.4 mi²	0%	11,087	12
46	Mineral CountyGEOID 08079	875.8 mi²	2 mi²	0.2%	910	1
47	Douglas CountyGEOID 08035	840.1 mi²	2.6 mi²	0.3%	399,396	475
48	Arapahoe CountyGEOID 08005	797.9 mi²	7.6 mi²	0.9%	673,820	845
49	Crowley CountyGEOID 08025	787.4 mi²	12.9 mi²	1.6%	5,677	7.2
50	Jefferson CountyGEOID 08059	764.4 mi²	9.7 mi²	1.3%	580,451	759
51	Custer CountyGEOID 08027	738.6 mi²	1.3 mi²	0.2%	5,590	7.6
52	Boulder CountyGEOID 08013	726.4 mi²	14.1 mi²	1.9%	328,560	452
53	Alamosa CountyGEOID 08003	722.6 mi²	0.6 mi²	0.1%	16,688	23
54	Phillips CountyGEOID 08095	687.9 mi²	0.1 mi²	0%	4,420	6.4
55	Summit CountyGEOID 08117	608.3 mi²	10.9 mi²	1.8%	31,517	52
56	Teller CountyGEOID 08119	557.1 mi²	1.9 mi²	0.3%	24,756	44
57	Sedgwick CountyGEOID 08115	548 mi²	1.4 mi²	0.2%	2,247	4.1
58	Ouray CountyGEOID 08091	540.7 mi²	1.5 mi²	0.3%	5,265	9.7
59	Clear Creek CountyGEOID 08019	395.1 mi²	1.3 mi²	0.3%	8,994	23
60	San Juan CountyGEOID 08111	387.5 mi²	0.8 mi²	0.2%	813	2.1
61	Lake CountyGEOID 08065	376.9 mi²	7 mi²	1.8%	7,552	20
62	Denver CountyGEOID 08031	153.1 mi²	1.7 mi²	1.1%	740,613	4,838
63	Gilpin CountyGEOID 08047	150 mi²	0.4 mi²	0.2%	6,073	40
64	Broomfield CountyGEOID 08014	33 mi²	0.6 mi²	1.7%	79,174	2,402

County / equivalent

Land

Water

Water share

Population

Per mi²

Las Animas CountyGEOID 08071

4,772.9 mi²

2.7 mi²

0.1%

14,391

Moffat CountyGEOID 08081

4,743.3 mi²

7.6 mi²

0.2%

13,122

2.8

Weld CountyGEOID 08123

3,985 mi²

31.8 mi²

0.8%

378,426

Mesa CountyGEOID 08077

3,328.7 mi²

12.4 mi²

0.4%

162,845

Gunnison CountyGEOID 08051

3,239.1 mi²

20.5 mi²

0.6%

17,439

5.4

Rio Blanco CountyGEOID 08103

3,221 mi²

1.9 mi²

0.1%

6,683

2.1

Saguache CountyGEOID 08109

3,168.6 mi²

1.7 mi²

0.1%

6,732

2.1

Garfield CountyGEOID 08045

2,947.4 mi²

8.4 mi²

0.3%

63,474

Larimer CountyGEOID 08069

2,595.7 mi²

38.2 mi²

1.5%

377,292

145

Lincoln CountyGEOID 08073

2,577.7 mi²

8.8 mi²

0.3%

5,645

2.2

Baca CountyGEOID 08009

2,555 mi²

2.4 mi²

0.1%

3,347

1.3

Washington CountyGEOID 08121

2,518.1 mi²

5.9 mi²

0.2%

4,732

1.9

Pueblo CountyGEOID 08101

2,386.6 mi²

11.2 mi²

0.5%

169,277

Yuma CountyGEOID 08125

2,364.4 mi²

4.3 mi²

0.2%

9,896

4.2

Routt CountyGEOID 08107

2,362 mi²

6.1 mi²

0.3%

25,329

Montrose CountyGEOID 08085

2,240.9 mi²

1.9 mi²

0.1%

44,591

Park CountyGEOID 08093

2,193.5 mi²

16.8 mi²

0.8%

18,314

8.3

Kit Carson CountyGEOID 08063

2,160.8 mi²

0.9 mi²

7,069

3.3

El Paso CountyGEOID 08041

2,126.4 mi²

2.7 mi²

0.1%

757,040

356

Montezuma CountyGEOID 08083

2,029.3 mi²

10.5 mi²

0.5%

26,678

Elbert CountyGEOID 08039

1,850.8 mi²

0.2 mi²

30,534

Grand CountyGEOID 08049

1,846.6 mi²

23 mi²

1.2%

16,496

8.9

Logan CountyGEOID 08075

1,838.6 mi²

6.3 mi²

0.3%

20,654

Cheyenne CountyGEOID 08017

1,778.3 mi²

3.2 mi²

0.2%

1,713

0.96

Kiowa CountyGEOID 08061

1,767.8 mi²

18.2 mi²

1,412

0.8

La Plata CountyGEOID 08067

1,689.7 mi²

9.9 mi²

0.6%

56,898

Eagle CountyGEOID 08037

1,684.5 mi²

7.3 mi²

0.4%

54,291

Prowers CountyGEOID 08099

1,638.4 mi²

5.9 mi²

0.4%

11,884

7.3

Jackson CountyGEOID 08057

1,613.7 mi²

7.2 mi²

0.4%

1,211

0.75

Huerfano CountyGEOID 08055

1,591 mi²

2.2 mi²

0.1%

7,011

4.4

Fremont CountyGEOID 08043

1,533.8 mi²

0.9 mi²

0.1%

50,039

Bent CountyGEOID 08011

1,512.8 mi²

28.2 mi²

1.8%

5,716

3.8

Archuleta CountyGEOID 08007

1,350.1 mi²

5.3 mi²

0.4%

14,306

Conejos CountyGEOID 08021

1,287.4 mi²

3.6 mi²

0.3%

7,529

5.8

San Miguel CountyGEOID 08113

1,286.7 mi²

2 mi²

0.2%

7,753

Morgan CountyGEOID 08087

1,280.5 mi²

13.4 mi²

30,306

Otero CountyGEOID 08089

1,261.9 mi²

7.8 mi²

0.6%

17,683

Costilla CountyGEOID 08023

1,227.6 mi²

3.4 mi²

0.3%

3,679

Adams CountyGEOID 08001

1,166.8 mi²

16.8 mi²

1.4%

554,668

475

Delta CountyGEOID 08029

1,142.1 mi²

6.5 mi²

0.6%

32,178

Hinsdale CountyGEOID 08053

1,117.2 mi²

5.9 mi²

0.5%

753

0.67

Dolores CountyGEOID 08033

1,067.2 mi²

1 mi²

0.1%

2,466

2.3

Chaffee CountyGEOID 08015

1,013.4 mi²

1.5 mi²

0.2%

20,831

Pitkin CountyGEOID 08097

970.7 mi²

2.5 mi²

0.3%

16,625

Rio Grande CountyGEOID 08105

912 mi²

0.4 mi²

11,087

Mineral CountyGEOID 08079

875.8 mi²

2 mi²

0.2%

910

Douglas CountyGEOID 08035

840.1 mi²

2.6 mi²

0.3%

399,396

475

Arapahoe CountyGEOID 08005

797.9 mi²

7.6 mi²

0.9%

673,820

845

Crowley CountyGEOID 08025

787.4 mi²

12.9 mi²

1.6%

5,677

7.2

Jefferson CountyGEOID 08059

764.4 mi²

9.7 mi²

1.3%

580,451

759

Custer CountyGEOID 08027

738.6 mi²

1.3 mi²

0.2%

5,590

7.6

Boulder CountyGEOID 08013

726.4 mi²

14.1 mi²

1.9%

328,560

452

Alamosa CountyGEOID 08003

722.6 mi²

0.6 mi²

0.1%

16,688

Phillips CountyGEOID 08095

687.9 mi²

0.1 mi²

4,420

6.4

Summit CountyGEOID 08117

608.3 mi²

10.9 mi²

1.8%

31,517

Teller CountyGEOID 08119

557.1 mi²

1.9 mi²

0.3%

24,756

Sedgwick CountyGEOID 08115

548 mi²

1.4 mi²

0.2%

2,247

4.1

Ouray CountyGEOID 08091

540.7 mi²

1.5 mi²

0.3%

5,265

9.7

Clear Creek CountyGEOID 08019

395.1 mi²

1.3 mi²

0.3%

8,994

San Juan CountyGEOID 08111

387.5 mi²

0.8 mi²

0.2%

813

2.1

Lake CountyGEOID 08065

376.9 mi²

7 mi²

1.8%

7,552

Denver CountyGEOID 08031

153.1 mi²

1.7 mi²

1.1%

740,613

4,838

Gilpin CountyGEOID 08047

150 mi²

0.4 mi²

0.2%

6,073

Broomfield CountyGEOID 08014

33 mi²

0.6 mi²

1.7%

79,174

2,402

Colorado counties by area

Understanding Colorado’s county areas

Where water changes the picture

Where people live

Complete area table