Hartman’s Quiet Demise: Colorado Town Is Abandoned as Officials Resign and Water Sours

A tiny Colorado town of Hartman (about 30 residents) has been declared abandoned after all remaining elected officials resigned amid disputes, leaving the town with no governance and a water system that has not been potable since a boil order. The secretary of state ordered abandonment so Prowers County could assume control of roads and transfer Hartman’s water infrastructure to a dedicated water entity, effectively dissolving Hartman as a municipality to ensure residents receive clean water.