Penrose, Colorado
Census-designated place in the United States in Fremont County · Not an incorporated municipality
About Penrose
Penrose is a census-designated place (CDP) and post office located in and governed by Fremont County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Penrose post office has the ZIP Code 81240. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Penrose CDP was 3,685.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Penrose is governed
Penrose appears to be an unincorporated community or a census-designated place, so it may have no city government of its own — services usually come from Fremont County and its elected officials. The chart below is a generic template; readers can correct it if Penrose does have local officials.
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Penrose
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- penrosechamber.org
Looking for your county, state and federal representatives too? See who represents 81240 or everyone in Colorado.
Population over time
From 3,582 in 2010 to 3,685 in 2020 (+2.9%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,685 |
| 2010 | 3,582 |
History
Settlers followed the Pike's Peak gold rush (July 1858 and lasted until the creation of the Territory of Colorado on February 28, 1861). Farmers were incentivized by the Homestead Act to come to the area. A stage coach stop was established along Beaver Creek, which was known as the Beaver Creek settlement initially, with a post office there by 1868. Then, the settlement became known as Glendale. It had a stagecoach stop and hotel named Glendale Inn Stage Coach Stop as well as other names. A school was established there in 1868 and operated until 1912, when a school was established in Penrose. It is east or the eastern part of present-day Penrose.
The community was named after Spencer Penrose.
Penrose gained national media attention after a local funeral home, the Return to Nature Funeral Home, was raided by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office in October 2023 due to complaints of a foul smell emanating from the area. The raid revealed 189 improperly-stored dead bodies. The FBI was then called on to help with the investigation. In October 2024, the Funeral Home owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for misusing relief money. They were also charged in state court for abusing corpses, money laundering, theft and forgery. In November 2024, the Hallford's pleaded guilty in state court to multiple counts of abusing corpses. The couple was then scheduled for sentencing the following year in both state and federal court. In March 2025, Carie Hallford withdrew her guilty plea in federal court and is now facing trial. In June 2025, Jon Hallford was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his federal wire fraud case. In February 2026, Jon was sentenced in state court to 40 years in prison for abusing corpses. In March 2026, Carie was sentenced to 18 years in federal court for the wire fraud conviction. In April 2026, Carie was sentenced to 30 years in state court for abusing corpes.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.