What is the Most Isolated City in Colorado?

Colorado has a variety of communities that range from huge, metropolitan cities to tiny, isolated towns. It's because of this, as well as the debate as to what makes a city different than a town, that makes it difficult to determine what the most isolated city in the state really is.

Is Lake City the Most Isolated City in Colorado?

Lake City, Colorado, is a historic town that often carries the label of being the most isolated in the lower 48.

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Known for its ties to cannibal Alferd Packer, Lake City last reported a population of 432 permanent residents and is only 0.83 square miles in area.

Is Meeker the Most Isolated City in Colorado?

A report from a website called Vivid Maps lists the most isolated city in each state and names Meeker, Colorado, as the most isolated in the Centennial State.

Meeker is not as small as Lake City, but it is still pretty tiny, as it is reportedly only 2.9 square miles in area with a reported 2,374 permanent residents.

What Population Must a Colorado Town Have to Be Considered a City?

Even though Lake City has the word "city " in its name, many would argue that it technically isn't a city but rather a town. In fact, due to its small population and size in area, Meeker wouldn't be considered a city by many accounts.

According to Wikipedia:

A city may strictly be an administrative entity which has been granted that designation by law, but in informal usage, the term is also used to denote an urban locality of a particular size or importance.

The definition goes on to say that populations large enough to give the distinction of a city vary from 10,000 in medieval times to 100,000 by modern standards.

Read More: What is the Southernmost Town in Colorado?

If we follow that definition, the most isolated cities in Colorado might be Pueblo, Boulder, or Greeley, all of which are home to over 100,000 residents and are more isolated than cities in the Denver metro area or Colorado Springs.