It may sound like something out of a dystopian novel, but a Colorado town has officially been declared “abandoned.” The decision came down from the Colorado Department of State, which held a public hearing about the matter on July 13, 2026.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold posted a press release about the decision on July 29, explaining the reason for the decision. Oddly enough, the move came at the request of residents who say they no longer had a working government or access to clean water after their board collectively resigned following a fist fight. The story was picked up by 9News, which viewed a copy of the resignation letters.
While some residents disagreed with the decision and raised concerns about the timeline for the hearings required to officially abandon the town, it seems the town faced a public health threat that made swift action necessary.
Now, Prowers County will step in to help the Town of Hartman with whatever comes next.
A Resident Filed an Application for Abandonment
Fox 21 News reports that a resident reached out to the Department of State to ask about abandonment after claiming the town no longer had a board of trustees or a town clerk. In addition, the town also lacked critical infrastructure, like the ability to get clean water to the fewer than 100 people who lived there.
The letter also said that there was no way for the town to elect a new board of trustees, since it also lacked a way to certify an election, putting it in a catch-22 with seemingly no way out.
On the Facebook post shared by Fox21 News, people talked about what a loss this was for the region. “This is very sad for our local community, while Hartman may not have a large population in and of itself its a marker in our history in SE Colorado for sure,” one person wrote.
The Board of Trustees Said They Feared for Their Safety
A reporter from 9News gained access to the resignation letters from the town’s trustees, reviewing some of the reasons people offered up when they stepped down. Notably, one person wrote, “I fear for my health and safety” after a fight broke out at a meeting.
There was also the issue of the town’s drinking water to contend with, which Fox21 News says prompted an October 2025 boil advisory for residents. According to the publication, the water tank had become compromised and either needed to be repaired or replaced.
Some Say Local Leaders Weren’t at Fault
A resident blamed three factors for the collapse of the town’s water system: a lack of federal infrastructure for a USDA-financed asset, questionable bond and loan structures, and a lack of state framework when a town loses its functional operating system.
That being said, with the town officially abandoned, management of its land, resources, and assets will be turned over to the county it resides in. Hopefully, that ends up going better for the residents who still call the Town of Hartman home.