In a country the size of the United States, interacting with government—whether city, county, state or federal—can be a bewildering, frustrating task. Even though public service professionals are dedicated to serving their constituents as efficiently as possible, the sheer size and complexity of the governmental matrix can sometimes make accessing our services seem daunting.

That’s why, to coincide with the annual National County Government Month, we’ve created County 101, an ongoing project designed to illuminate and clarify the functions of the Arapahoe County government, featuring everyday examples that demonstrate how we do what we do, and why. The stories and information you’ll see on this page will highlight the services our County offers either primarily or exclusively—everything from running elections to awarding building permits to maintaining roads and bridges—so you can more easily determine what you need and where and how you can get it.

The County 101 project is meant to evolve as the needs and demands of our residents, businesses and visitors change, so keep checking our site to discover more about county governments in general and Arapahoe County in particular. You also can offer suggestions or ask questions about all aspects of our work. We realize that these systems can occasionally be confusing, but by illuminating the basic functions of Arapahoe County we can hopefully make your interactions with us run more smoothly for everyone.