Gilpin County - Photograph by Carol Takahashi.
Our thanks go to Gilpin County's Manager, Roger Baker, who allowed us to use this photo.
Named after William Gilpin, Colorado’s first Territorial Governor, Gilpin County is located entirely in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Considering it only encompasses 150 square miles, Gilpin holds a remarkable wealth of Colorado’s wonderful attractions, including portions of the James peak area, Golden Gate State Park and Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest; nearly 52% of Gilpin County is either a state or national forest. The county has played host to several of Colorado’s booms, including mining during the mid to late 1800s and, more recently, legalized gambling. Since the inception of limited stakes gambling in 1991, the cities of Black Hawk and Central city have become bustling tourist destinations. Gilpin County’s population hovers around 4000 and has elevations ranging from 6,900 to 13,294 feet.
Useful County Links