About Boulder County

Mission Statement

Boulder County is large and diverse, featuring everything from the spectacular scenery of Rocky Mountain National Park (a national treasure) to lush farmland, and one of the nation's largest concentrations of research laboratories and high-tech industry.

Situated in the north-central part of Colorado, Northwest of Denver, the western border of the County is the Continental Divide. The eastern half of the County is rolling plains, and the western half is mountainous.

The territory within Boulder County first became part of the United States in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. The first record of modern settlement in Boulder County dates from March 1859 where reference is made in a letter to the laying out of the City of Boulder. In 1861 the Colorado Territory was created with Boulder being one of the 17 counties represented in the first Territorial Assembly. Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the County. They were followed by settlers, gold miners, farmers, coal miners and traders.

Today Boulder County remains diversified, with both rural and urban settings. The University of Colorado at Boulder, two school districts and numerous scientific, research and recreational facilities are among the attributes of the County. The Denver Regional Council of Governments estimates Boulder County’s population at approximately 294,000, with about 101,000 in the City of Boulder, another 80,000 in the City of Longmont, 24,000 in Lafayette, 19,000 in Louisville and the remainder dispersed throughout the smaller towns of Lyons, Nederland, Ward, Jamestown, Superior and Erie and unincorporated areas, including the communities of Niwot, Gunbarrel and Allenspark.

The County encompasses 741 square miles and is situated on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. Elevations within the boundaries of the County vary from the 5,000-foot level of the plains to the 14,000-foot peaks of the Continental Divide.

The cornerstone of the original Boulder County Courthouse was laid on July 4, 1882. It marked the official designation of a public square in the Town of Boulder and the meeting place of the Boulder County Commissioners. The original structure was considered elaborate for a small pioneer town.

In 1932 a fire destroyed the original Courthouse building along with many of its records. The replacement building, designed to project the image of a progressive area with emphasis on the then-current art deco style, was built on the same site and dedicated on May 7, 1934. Two wings were added to the Courthouse in 1962, bringing the Courthouse to its present-day form.

To better serve all of its residents, Boulder County operates offices throughout the county. In addition to the County Courthouse on Pearl Street, Boulder County has two other major county centers in Boulder, as well as offices in Longmont, Louisville and Lafayette. The North Broadway complex, at Broadway and Iris, was built in 1966, followed by the Justice Center, at 6th and Canyon, in 1976. The County Jail was built on Airport Road in 1988 and underwent a major expansion in 2005.

In Longmont, the County Fairgrounds opened on Nelson Road in 1980. The Longmont Human Services building was added on Coffman Street in 1986, expanded in 1989 and renamed the St. Vrain Complex. The County's newest Longmont addition, the Parks and Open Space building, was completed in late 2005 on St. Vrain Road west of Airport Rd.

Boulder County purchased its Community Services Building on Simpson Street in Lafayette in 1992. The site houses both County offices and non-profit human services agencies. Finally, Boulder County operates Clerk and Recorder and Social Services branch offices on Main Street in Louisville.