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Office: Elbert County OEM – (303) 621-2120 | elbertcounty-co.gov
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Kiowa school facilities; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Eastern Colorado high plains and Palmer Divide county between Denver and Colorado Springs; Kiowa is county seat; tornado risk (significant – the Palmer Divide foothills are in a tornado corridor; 2008 Windsor tornado nearby); hailstorms; wildfire risk (Black Forest fires reached Elbert County borderlands; prairie and dry grass fires significant); drought; fast-growing exurban county as people seek space between Denver and Colorado Springs while accepting long commutes; most residents commute to metro areas
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Elbert County Roads – (303) 621-2120
Notes: US-24 (east-west through Simla and Matheson – connects Colorado Springs to eastern plains); US-40 (across the northern part); SR-86 (Kiowa to Limon and Kiowa to Castle Rock); I-70 accessible at Limon (northeastern edge); Elbert County is one of Colorado’s fastest-growing rural counties driven by people seeking large lots and rural character within commuting distance of Denver (via I-25 from Castle Rock) and Colorado Springs
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Elbert County Community Development – (303) 621-3129
Services: County permits; Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla, Elbert, Limon (Lincoln County), Ramah small communities
Notes: Elbert County has seen significant growth in rural ranchettes and 5-35 acre residential parcels; the county has limited regulatory capacity relative to its growth; water supply (entirely on well water – no municipal water systems in most of the county) is a significant development constraint; Elizabeth is the largest town and most active permit area
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Elbert County Veterans Services – (303) 621-2120
VA Medical: VA Denver (Aurora) – accessible via I-25 (Castle Rock to Denver); VA Colorado Springs accessible
Notes: Both Denver and Colorado Springs VA facilities accessible; veterans are a significant component of the exurban population; many military families from Peterson, Schriever, and Fort Carson choose Elbert County for affordable land
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Elbert County Library District – (303) 621-2376 | elbertcountylibrary.org
Branches: Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; high plains and ranch heritage
Notes: Three-branch library system serving a dispersed exurban county; internet access is critical given limited broadband in rural Elbert County; homesteading and rural living information is a practical library resource for new rural residents
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Elbert County is primarily private ranchland and emerging residential properties; limited formal parks; Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas County border – accessible); Bijou Creek (prairie creek – fishing; wildlife); oil pump jacks (former oil-producing area); Palmer Divide views (the Palmer Divide creates dramatic weather patterns and sweeping views toward Pikes Peak)
Notes: Elbert County’s primary recreation is private land use – horses, ATVs, and open space on rural parcels; the Palmer Divide vistas toward Pikes Peak and the Front Range are spectacular; the county’s dark skies (limited light pollution given sparse development) are excellent for stargazing; the “rural lifestyle” itself is the primary attraction for Elbert County residents
Notes: County GIS primarily used for permit and parcel tracking; well location mapping is critical (water supply entirely from wells); 911 addressing for remote rural properties
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Elbert County Animal Control – (303) 621-2120; limited facilities
Services: Basic animal control; livestock management (horses and cattle are the primary animals); wildlife (pronghorn antelope; prairie dogs; coyotes; occasional mountain lion from adjacent foothills)
Notes: Horse culture is significant in Elbert County – the county has one of the highest horse populations per capita in Colorado; livestock management (cattle ranching still active alongside residential development); pronghorn antelope on the eastern plains; coyote management throughout the county
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Elbert County – limited; transfer stations
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; well water monitoring (critical for a county entirely on private wells); Kiowa Creek and Bijou Creek watersheds; prairie dog management on development sites; rural subdivision waste management
Notes: Water supply is Elbert County’s most critical environmental and planning challenge – the entire county is on private wells tapping the local aquifer system (primarily the Denver Basin aquifer); the Denver Basin aquifer is a non-renewable resource in most of Elbert County – it was deposited thousands of years ago and recharge rates are essentially zero at human timescales; as development increases, water demand increases while the aquifer level drops; some areas are already seeing well failures requiring deeper drilling; this is a significant long-term sustainability challenge for the county’s growth trajectory; the county’s lack of wastewater systems (all properties on septic) creates potential for septic system contamination of shallow wells in areas with high development density; wildfire management on prairie and dry grassland requires coordination with adjacent mountain county fire departments
About Elbert County County
Elbert County is Denver’s southeastern exurban ranchland county – the large-lot residential growth drawing high-income Denver professionals to the Palmer Divide’s open prairie and mountain views and the working cattle ranches that still define the county’s character make Elbert one of Colorado’s most interesting examples of the tension between rural heritage and suburban expansion.
Kiowa (the county seat, population ~750) is Elbert County’s small governmental hub while Elizabeth and Elbert serve as the county’s primary residential communities along Highways 86 and 86 on the Palmer Divide southeast of Denver.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Elbert County Assessor at 215 Comanche Street, Kiowa, CO 80117, phone 303-621-3130. CO assessed at percentage of actual value.
Courts & Legal
Elbert County District Court at 751 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO 80117, phone 303-621-2761, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
215 Comanche St., Kiowa, CO 80117
(303) 621-3129
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Elbert County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
No dedicated Elbert County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Elbert County Courthouse – District Court (Probate Division) 751 Ute Avenue, P.O. Box 232, Kiowa, CO 80117 (303) 621-2131 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Elbert County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
75 Ute Ave., Kiowa, CO 80117
(303) 621-2027
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
215 Comanche St., Kiowa, CO 80117
(303) 621-3129
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(303) 621-3140
Human Services
(303) 621-3163
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Elbert County Public Health – (303) 621-3066
Services: Basic public health; immunizations; vital records; environmental health; well water testing support
Hospital: No local hospital; Lincoln Community Hospital (Hugo – 50 miles east); Denver and Colorado Springs hospitals for most care
Notes: No local hospital; Elbert County’s dispersed population and complete auto-dependence creates healthcare access challenges; well water testing is a significant public health function – many Elbert County residents are on private wells that require individual testing for contaminants; behavioral health services are limited; mental health challenges in isolated exurban communities
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Kiowa
Population: 28,000
Area: 1,851 sq mi
Established: 1874
Public Records
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