Colorado declares town abandoned amid water and leadership crisis
Headline from The Guardian, on the newest of 2 developments
Hartman residents asked for declaration after infighting exacerbated water crisis and all town leaders resigned A small town in south-eastern Colorado was recently declared abandoned after all of its local public leaders resigned amid a drinking water supply crisis.
The Guardian's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.
Developments in this update
2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.
Town in southeast Colorado considered abandoned
Headline from FOX 21 Colorado Springs ·
Newest
Colorado declares town abandoned amid water and leadership crisis
The beleaguered town of Hartman is no more. The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said Wednesday that it had approved a resident’s petition for abandonment — effectively transferring all town business and assets to Prowers County. Hartman, a tiny community…
(PROWERS COUNTY, Colo.) — The Colorado Department of State said that following a public hearing on Monday, July 13, it has determined that the town of Hartman in Prowers County is considered abandoned. According to the Department of State, in June 2026, the Secretary of State was given an applicatio…
DENVER — The state of Colorado has determined the town of Hartman — with no leaders, a crumbling and unsafe water system and unable to hold town elections — has been abandoned, and transferred everything not privately owned to Prowers County with orders to get clean water flowing.
A small Colorado town plagued by fraud allegations and violent altercations was deemed abandoned after all elected officials resigned from their posts and the local water became a health hazard to the citizens.
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.
Like a tale out of the Old West, a tiny Colorado town, plagued by fraud allegations, violent town meetings, and a hazardous water supply was deemed abandoned after all its elected officials resigned from their posts, state authorities ruled this week.
A tiny Colorado town plagued by years of political infighting, failing infrastructure, and contaminated drinking water has officially been declared abandoned after its local government effectively ceased to exist.
Hartman residents asked for declaration after infighting exacerbated water crisis and all town leaders resigned A small town in south-eastern Colorado was recently declared abandoned after all of its local public leaders resigned amid a drinking water supply crisis.
Colorado declares town abandoned amid water and leadership crisis | Since Then
