See The Surprising Number Of Dry Towns In Colorado

Colorado ranks among the top five states in America for the number of microbreweries in our state. The most recent data from 2023 shows the Centennial State is home to about 438 breweries. Was this always the case?

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Colorado was an entirely dry state from about 1915 until the mid-1930s. Long past the end of prohibition, communities like Boulder, Greeley, and Fort Collins remained dry. Even Fruita remained dry as late as the 1970s.

Colorado's First Alcohol Sales

The city of Denver, Colorado, was the first city to make alcohol available, and it happened while the state was still a territory. While alcohol was sold in Denver during the 1850s, building a saloon near the mining camps of the Rocky Mountains meant larger profits came in at a much faster pace. The photo above depicts a Denver Saloon in the 1870s.

The more gold and silver that was found in Colorado, the more saloons were built nearest to the camps, increasing the popularity of drinking across the state.

The Number of Colorado's 'Dry Towns' May Surprise You

Over the years, Colorado has allowed communities to prohibit alcohol sales by holding a public referendum. While the state was one of the first to enact prohibition, it was also one of the first states to repeal it, with 67% of voters in favor of ending prohibition during the 1932 election.

Believe it or not, Colorado does not currently have a single 'dry' county or town left within our borders. So when exactly did Colorado's last 'dry town' disappear?

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Colorado's Last Dry Town

Did you know that the last ‘dry town’ in Colorado was located on the Western Slope? The community of Orchard City is in Delta County. With a population of just over 3000, the town ended its run as the last ‘dry municipality’ in 2006 when residents voted to allow liquor sales to help the area's local wine industry thrive.