Hartman, a small town in southeastern Colorado with fewer than 60 residents as of the 2020 census, was officially declared abandoned on July 29, 2026, following a severe drinking water supply crisis and the resignation of all its local public leaders.

The office of Colorado’s Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, announced the town's fate after being informed that Hartman had lacked chlorine in its water for over a month, rendering it non-potable and foul-smelling. Hartman had also been under a boil-water order for months, according to communications from local resident and voter Jessie Simmons.

Public documents revealed that Hartman had no board of trustees or town clerk, was unable to hold local elections, and owned critical water infrastructure. Due to the town’s inability to maintain a government, responsibility for its infrastructure is set to transfer to Prowers County unless a successful appeal is made.

Colorado’s Denver Post described Hartman’s administrative failure as unprecedented in recent state history. The town’s water tower required significant repairs for years but never received them amid intense internal feuding. This discord was compared to the historic Hatfield-McCoy rivalry in Appalachia and reportedly deterred water operators from assisting.

The prolonged conflict and leadership vacuum left residents under a boil-water order for the year leading up to the abandonment declaration. In a 15-page order granting Simmons’ request, the Secretary of State’s office stated that not declaring Hartman abandoned would leave residents in legal limbo during a health hazard, with no authority to conduct business, hold elections, or repair water infrastructure to provide clean water.

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