Thursday, March 5, 2026
Small Town Vibe
Population 5000-6999

Dacono, CO: See why its Name is also its History!

Small Town Vibe

Dacono, Colorado

2020 Population: 6,297*

April 2025: The first stop on my tour of small towns north of the Denver metro area was Dacono. As I turned into town, I was pleased to see a donut shop, enabling me to begin my exploration caffeinated, carb-loaded and ready to learn more!

Dacono is approximately 20 miles north of Denver, and directly south of sister city Frederick (pop. 14,513*).

Located in southwestern Weld County, Dacono and Frederick are part of the Greeley (pop.108,795*) Metro Statistical area and considered part of the Front Range Urban Corridor.

Dacono – A Brief History

Settlement and Establishment

Dacono was first settled in 1901 and a few years later, it was incorporated on January 23, 1908. Three founding residents filed the necessary paper work.

Fun Fact: Dacona’s unique name is an amalgamation of the first two letters of three local women’s names: Daisy Baum (wife of coal mining executive Charles Baum), Cora Van Vorhies, and Nora Brooks. The women are pictured on the side of the Eshs Discount Groceries building as I entered the original historic town, turning south from Hwy 52.

Economic Drivers Throughout the Years

Dacono’s roots lie in coal mining, farming, and the railroad. Early settlers immigrated from Greece, France, Bulgaria, and Italy to work in the mines.

The mining era spanned from 1900 to the late 1970s. A railroad line was established in the early 1900s to take coal and produce to markets in Denver. Dacono once boasted the first railway depot in the area.

Farming made a substantial economic contribution to Dacono area. Farmland primarily raised: corn, grains, onions, pinto beans, potatoes, sugar beets, tomatoes and wheat.

Oil and natural gas were found in the early 1970s, resulting in a rapid decline of the coal industry. Dacona was now in its early stages of transition from an industrial hub to a more residential community.

A Population boom that starts in the 1970s and lasting through Present Day

Many factors contribute to Dacono’s growth over the past 50 years. With help from AI (google’s Gemini) we can surmise the following reasons behind this rapid population growth:

  • Attainable Housing – more options with significantly lower cost than regional average.
  • Stategic Location and Connectivity – situated along I25, a major transportation corridor, as well as proximity to the much larger job centers of Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley and the Denver International Airport.
  • Recreational opportunities
  • Community planning for Future Growth

It is interesting to note that the population of Dacono accelerates dramatically starting in the 1970s. This appears to be largely due to several large annexation efforts which increased the town boundary beyond the original 1907 townsite (i.e. CH & 2nd Annexation, and Glens of Dacono 1/2/3 Annexation) and thereby adding new community members into the existing population (source: Dacono Annexation map). Records show that Dacono’s Annexation strategy continues to this day.

small town vibe

My 3 Favorite Discoveries in Dacono

I walked around old town Dacona to discover what this historic town has to offer

Events & Fun in Dacono

#1. The Clem Dufour Park is lovely, well-maintained and has many amenities! It is also convenient – an easy walk from the main business district of Dacono.

My first stop was the Clem Dufour Park. Named after a former mayor and long-time community leader, this park has one of the coolest splash pads i have ever seen! It also has an area with new (and/or very well-kept) playground equipment, a shaded picnic area, basketball courts and a baseball field.

I was curious about this Fitness Court in the Clem Dufour Park. With help from AI (google’s Gemini), I learned that it is an outdoor gym designed by the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) that provides a free and accessible space for people of all ages and fitness levels to get a full-body workout.

The National Fitness Campaign partners with healthcare providers like UCHealth, as well as municipalities, schools, and other organizations, to fund and install these courts across the country. UCHealth’s involvement in Colorado is part of their “Ready. Set. CO” initiative, aiming to improve the health of Coloradans.

The City of Dacono accepted a $50,000 national grant from the NFC Grant Committee and Statewide Partners for this project and provided a local match of $145,000 to fund its construction and implementation.

The Fitness Court in Dacono was installed at Clem Dufour Park and had its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 5, 2024

#2. Strip mall of businesses (i.e. not a traditional historic downtown) – an easy walk from many neighborhoods and the city center of Dacono.

When visiting a small town, i always look for the historic business district, which generally features some of the oldest buildings in town. Dacono didn’t have a traditional historic downtown area, but it does have a nice business district in the form of a mid-century strip mall. It appears to have many thriving businesses.

#3. “Big Action” Attractions in a small town

In all transparency, I did not stop by any of these venues. However, I was impressed to learn that there are high-energy activities and attractions available in Dacono… you may want to check them out!

More to Explore!

Annual Events

  • May: Citywide Clean-out Month – includes a voucher program for landfill access
  • June: Boot Scootin Bash – Centennial Field (under the big water tower)
  • June: Annual Citywide Garage Sale – located at residences citywide
  • July: Summer Splash – free afternoon celebration at the Clem Dufour Park splashpad
  • August: Dacono’s National Night Out – Join the Dacono Police Department and Mountain View Fire Rescue at Clem Dufour Park for an evening designed to promote public safety and enhance community relations between our first responders and residents. Join the fun with games, music, free face painting and a movie at dusk. Check out the police cars and fire apparatus too!
  • August: Dacono Music & Spirits Festival – located at Centennial Field with music, a beer garden and spirits tasting
  • Dec: Carbon Valley Holiday Festival at Dacono City Hall

Organizations that support community in Dacono

Map of Dacono

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