Gilpin County is a county in Colorado, United States, in the mountains west of Denver. It had a population of 5,808 at the 2020 census and covers 150 square miles (390 km2) of land, centred near 39°52′N 105°31′W.
Central City is the county seat, and its postal code is 80427. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 2 census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities. Gilpin is a rural Mountain-time-zone county entirely within the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Gilpin County
Gilpin County has no civil townships; its settlements split into 2 incorporated cities, 2 census-designated places (CDPs), and a handful of unincorporated mining-era communities. “Unincorp.” below means the place has no city or town government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central City | City · seat | 779 | 80427 |
| Black Hawk | City | 127 | 80422 |
| Rollinsville | CDP | — | 80474 |
| Coal Creek | CDP | — | 80403 |
| Pinecliffe | Unincorp. | — | 80471 |
| Tolland | Unincorp. | — | 80480 |
| Nevadaville | Unincorp. | — | 80427 |
| Russell Gulch | Unincorp. | — | 80427 |
| Gilpin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| East Portal | Unincorp. | — | 80403 |
Black Hawk and Central City sit side by side in the same historic mining gulch and share a free shuttle — some road signs and maps blur the boundary between the two, but they are separately incorporated cities with their own governments. Cottonwood, Lincoln Hills, Nugget, Pactolus, and Smith Hill from older place lists are historic mining-camp or subdivision names without a confirmed current ZIP or population figure; they are omitted here for lack of a verifiable source.
ZIP Codes
- 80427 — Central City (also serves Nevadaville, Russell Gulch)
- 80422 — Black Hawk
- 80474 — Rollinsville
- 80471 — Pinecliffe
- 80480 — Tolland
- 80403 — Golden-area ZIP that reaches into eastern Gilpin County, including Coal Creek and East Portal
Geography
Gilpin County is Colorado’s second-smallest county by land area, a rugged block of the Front Range foothills between about 7,500 and 12,000 feet in elevation. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and a corner of Golden Gate Canyon State Park cover much of its western and southern reaches; Clear Creek and North Clear Creek drain the historic mining gulches. State Highways 46, 72, and 119, plus the Central City Parkway, are the main routes through the county.
Gilpin County borders Boulder County to the north, Jefferson County to the east, Clear Creek County to the south, and Grand County to the west.
Demographics
Gilpin County’s population was 5,808 at the 2020 census, giving it a density of about 39 people per square mile — the Census Bureau classifies the county as entirely rural. Central City (779) and Black Hawk (127) are the two incorporated cities, but most residents live outside either city limit, in Rollinsville, Coal Creek, and scattered mountain subdivisions. Median household income in the county runs above the Colorado median of $92,911, reflecting its position within the Denver commuter shed and its casino-driven tax base.
Economy & Local Life
Limited-stakes casino gaming, legalized in 1991, is the backbone of the county’s economy: Black Hawk has roughly 18 casinos and Central City about 6, and gaming tax revenue helps fund the State Historical Fund administered by Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Tourism tied to the casinos, the historic mining district, and the Central City Opera — which stages summer performances in the 1878 Central City Opera House — supports much of the rest of local employment. Away from the two cities, the county is largely second-home and commuter country for the Denver-Boulder metro area.
History
Gilpin County was organized on November 1, 1861, while Colorado was still a territory, and named for Colonel William Gilpin, the territory’s first governor. It was carved out of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush mining district that produced Black Hawk and Central City, both founded in 1859; Central City’s early mineral wealth earned it the nickname “the richest square mile on Earth.” The Central City/Black Hawk Historic District still preserves the 19th-century mining-town streetscape, and the Teller House hotel displays the well-known “Face on the Barroom Floor” painting.
Getting There
Central City Parkway and State Highways 119 and 6 connect the county to Interstate 70 and US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon.
- Golden — 15 miles southeast
- Boulder — 25 miles northeast
- Idaho Springs — 10 miles south
- Denver — 35 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Denver International Airport, about 60 miles from Central City. There is no Amtrak service in Gilpin County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gilpin County?
It is in the Front Range foothills of Colorado, about 35 miles west of Denver, bordered by Boulder, Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Grand counties.
What is the population of Gilpin County?
5,808 at the 2020 census.
How big is Gilpin County?
150 square miles (390 km2) of land, making it Colorado’s second-smallest county by area.
What is the county seat of Gilpin County?
Central City is the county seat.
How many towns are in Gilpin County?
Two incorporated cities, Central City and Black Hawk, plus the CDPs of Rollinsville and Coal Creek and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Gilpin County?
80427 (Central City), 80422 (Black Hawk), 80474 (Rollinsville), 80471 (Pinecliffe), and 80480 (Tolland), among others.
Why is Gilpin County known for casinos?
Colorado legalized limited-stakes gambling in Black Hawk and Central City in 1991, and gaming tax revenue now funds the state’s historic preservation program.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Colorado.