The Archdiocese of Denver was established in 1887, headed by the first bishop of Colorado, the Most Reverend Joseph Projectus Machebeuf. It has evolved to comprise the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Moffat, Morgan, Pitkin, Phillips, Rio Blanco, Routt, Sedgwick, Summit, Washington, Weld and Yuma.