#1Manitou Springs
El Paso County · 4,577 peopleHistory grade, better than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #86 of 158 in CO
Manitou Springs, #1 on this list · Photo: Smallbones · Public domainColorado rankings · History
Most historic towns in Colorado
Manitou Springs ranks first on history among Colorado’s 159 towns of 2,500+; 13 of the 159 grade A− or better on history nationally.
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work
#1A
#2Trinidad
Las Animas County · 8,091 peopleHistory grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #155 of 158 in CO
#3Salida
Chaffee County · 5,985 peopleHistory grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #40 of 158 in CO
All 159 towns
History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 32 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
159 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
19West Pleasant Viewunincorporated, Jefferson County · 5,051 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #49 of 158
21BurlingtonKit Carson County · 3,164 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #116 of 158
23Evergreenunincorporated, Jefferson County · 8,602 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #39 of 158
25Glenwood SpringsGarfield County · 10,395 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #135 of 158
31Colorado SpringsEl Paso County · 494,743 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #138 of 158
32Fort CollinsLarimer County · 171,500 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #59 of 158
46Steamboat SpringsRoutt County · 13,557 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #58 of 158
50Air Force Academy College campusunincorporated, El Paso County · 6,727 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
52Holly Hillsunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 2,572 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 158
60Lincoln Parkunincorporated, Fremont County · 3,986 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #141 of 158
62Wheat RidgeJefferson County · 32,081 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #100 of 158
63Geneseeunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,778 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #53 of 158
66Fairmountunincorporated, Jefferson County · 9,902 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #16 of 158
69Black Forestunincorporated, El Paso County · 15,738 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #71 of 158
77Applewoodunincorporated, Jefferson County · 8,350 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #21 of 158
79Cherry Hills VillageArapahoe County · 6,389 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #19 of 158
82Strasburgunincorporated, Adams County · 3,455 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #68 of 158
83Derbyunincorporated, Adams County · 8,453 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #117 of 158
85Berkleyunincorporated, Adams County · 10,789 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #144 of 158
87Park Centerunincorporated, Fremont County · 2,588 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #120 of 158
88Redlandsunincorporated, Mesa County · 8,868 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #99 of 158
89Dove Valleyunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 4,806 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #37 of 158
93Gunbarrelunincorporated, Boulder County · 10,051 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 158
94Cliftonunincorporated, Mesa County · 19,518 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #130 of 158
95Dakota Ridgeunincorporated, Jefferson County · 33,753 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 158
96Battlement Mesaunincorporated, Garfield County · 5,755 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #124 of 158
103Penroseunincorporated, Fremont County · 4,087 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #143 of 158
104BroomfieldBroomfield County · 79,174 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #45 of 158
106Stratmoorunincorporated, El Paso County · 5,412 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #91 of 158
T107Edwardsunincorporated, Eagle County · 10,785 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #112 of 158
T107Niwotunincorporated, Boulder County · 3,447 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #35 of 158
111Orchard Mesaunincorporated, Mesa County · 6,945 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #85 of 158
114Fruitvaleunincorporated, Mesa County · 8,019 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #80 of 158
116Meridian Villageunincorporated, Douglas County · 2,699 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #52 of 158
118Sherrelwoodunincorporated, Adams County · 18,692 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #126 of 158
119Greenwood VillageArapahoe County · 15,323 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #77 of 158
121Fort Carsonunincorporated, El Paso County · 18,019 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #115 of 158
T122Four Square Mileunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 23,024 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #43 of 158
T122Meridianunincorporated, Douglas County · 5,634 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #38 of 158
T125The Pineryunincorporated, Douglas County · 11,871 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #34 of 158
T125Todd Creekunincorporated, Adams County · 5,379 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #78 of 158
T125Twin Lakesunincorporated, Adams County · 8,030 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #125 of 158
T130Cimarron Hillsunincorporated, El Paso County · 19,817 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #129 of 158
T130Columbineunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 25,478 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #20 of 158
T130Pueblo Westunincorporated, Pueblo County · 35,681 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #103 of 158
133Security-Widefieldunincorporated, El Paso County · 37,345 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #111 of 158
134Gleneagleunincorporated, El Paso County · 6,440 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #26 of 158
135Ken Carylunincorporated, Jefferson County · 33,233 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 158
T136Cherry Creekunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 10,721 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 158
T136Highlands Ranchunincorporated, Douglas County · 102,257 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 158
T138Welbyunincorporated, Adams County · 16,197 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #106 of 158
140Castle Pines Villageunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,436 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 158
T141Acres Greenunincorporated, Douglas County · 2,639 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 158
T141El Jebelunincorporated, Eagle County · 2,941 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #79 of 158
T141Invernessunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 2,934 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #18 of 158
T141Ponderosa Parkunincorporated, Elbert County · 3,453 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #84 of 158
T141Roxborough Parkunincorporated, Douglas County · 9,085 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #27 of 158
T141Shaw Heightsunincorporated, Adams County · 5,565 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #134 of 158
T141Sierra Ridgeunincorporated, Douglas County · 3,663 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #44 of 158
T141Snowmass VillagePitkin County · 2,965 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #46 of 158
T141Stepping Stoneunincorporated, Douglas County · 3,137 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 158
T141Sterling Ranchunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,213 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #62 of 158
T141Stonegateunincorporated, Douglas County · 8,906 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 158
T141Woodmoorunincorporated, El Paso County · 8,934 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 158
156Federal HeightsAdams County · 14,075 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #95 of 158
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most historic town in Colorado?
Manitou Springs (El Paso County) ranks first on history among 159 towns, with an A; Trinidad and Salida follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (159 in Colorado). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Colorado page.
Go deeper
All Colorado rankings →More Colorado lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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