Dolores County is a county in Colorado, United States, on the southwestern slope of the Rockies along the Utah border. It had a population of 2,326 at the 2020 census and covers 1,068 square miles (2,770 km2) centred near 37°45′N 108°31′W.
Dove Creek is the county seat, and its postal code is 81324. The county has two incorporated towns (Dove Creek and Rico) and two unincorporated communities (Cahone and Dunton). It sits in the Mountain time zone and was organized in 1881.
Towns & Villages in Dolores County
Four named places appear on maps of Dolores County: two incorporated towns and two unincorporated communities. The table below gives each place’s status and, where verifiable, its 2020 census population and ZIP code.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dove Creek | Town · seat | 691 | 81324 |
| Rico | Town | 246 | 81332 |
| Cahone | Unincorp. | — | 81320 |
| Dunton | Unincorp. | — | — |
Dove Creek, self-described as the “Pinto Bean Capital of the World,” anchors the county’s north end near the Utah line; Rico sits some 30 miles southeast in the San Juan Mountains, a former silver-mining camp now known for backcountry access. Dunton, a near-ghost mining town turned hot-springs resort, has no dedicated ZIP and is served through Dolores in neighboring Montezuma County.
ZIP Codes
- 81324 — Dove Creek (also serves the surrounding farm country and Cahone Mesa)
- 81332 — Rico
- 81320 — Cahone
Dunton has no post office of its own; mail there routes through Dolores, just across the county line.
Geography
Dolores County spans high mesa farmland in the north and the San Juan Mountains in the south, with the Dolores River cutting through Rico before flowing north out of the county. Nearly all of the county’s 1,068 square miles is land, with only about a square mile of water. Elevations range from mesa-top farmland near 7,000 feet to peaks above 13,000 feet around Rico.
It borders San Miguel County to the north, San Juan County, Colorado to the east, Montezuma County to the south, La Plata County to the southeast, and San Juan County, Utah to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 2,326 residents, a density of about 2.2 people per square mile — one of the most sparsely populated counties in Colorado. Dove Creek and Rico are the two largest communities. Dolores County’s median household income runs well below the Colorado median of $92,911, reflecting its dryland-farming and mountain-tourism economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Dryland farming of pinto beans and winter wheat dominates the mesa country around Dove Creek, which still holds an annual Bean Day celebration each September. In the mountains around Rico, the economy has shifted from historic silver and base-metal mining toward seasonal tourism, hunting, and outdoor recreation tied to the San Juan National Forest.
History
Dolores County was created February 19, 1881, out of Ouray County, and takes its name from the Dolores River — a shortening of the Spanish “Rio de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores” (“River of Our Lady of Sorrows”), named by Spanish explorers in the 1770s. Rico boomed as a silver camp in the 1880s before mining collapsed; Dove Creek grew later as a dryland farming town and became county seat.
Getting There
U.S. Route 491 runs through Dove Creek, with Colorado State Highways 141 and 145 serving Rico and the southern part of the county.
- Cortez — 22 miles south
- Telluride — 32 miles north
- Durango — 55 miles southeast
- Monticello, Utah — 35 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Cortez Municipal Airport, south of the county in Montezuma County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dolores County, Colorado?
It sits in southwestern Colorado on the Utah border, between the San Juan Mountains and the Colorado Plateau.
What is the population of Dolores County?
2,326 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Dolores County?
1,068 square miles (2,770 km2), making it one of Colorado’s larger but least densely populated counties.
What is the county seat of Dolores County?
Dove Creek is the county seat.
How many towns are in Dolores County?
Two incorporated towns, Dove Creek and Rico, plus the unincorporated communities of Cahone and Dunton.
What ZIP codes are in Dolores County?
81324 (Dove Creek), 81332 (Rico), and 81320 (Cahone).
Why is it called Dolores County?
It is named for the Dolores River, from the Spanish “Rio de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores.”
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Colorado.