Colorado declares small town abandoned after all elected officials resign

Published July 31, 2026 12:39pm ET



A small town in southeast Colorado has been declared abandoned by Colorado’s secretary of state after the entire board of trustees resigned, leaving the 30 remaining residents with no elected officials.

Hartman, Colorado, is located near the Kansas border and has been unable to hold an election since January, leaving no leadership to manage the town. Due to the lack of government oversight of the water system, the infrastructure has fallen into disarray and has been labeled a “health hazard.”

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.