Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

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Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Map

The department's headquarters (left) in Glendale
Department overview
JurisdictionColorado
HeadquartersGlendale, Colorado
Department executive
  • Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director
Websitecdphe.colorado.gov

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is the principal department of the Colorado state government[1] responsible for public health and environmental regulation.[2][3][4][5][6] In addition to environmental issues like pollution and drinking water, the CDPHE also oversees public health issues like chronic disease prevention and management.[7]

History

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In 1876, the Territorial Board of Health was created when the Governor John L. Routt, signed legislation into law creating the nine-member board of physicians across the state. Their charter was to investigate public health issues and recommend resolutions. It had an annual budget of $500,000. The president was Dr. Frederick J. Bancroft and the secretary was Harrison A. Lemen. Other physicians on the board were William H. Williams, A.V. Small, Thomas G. Horn, William Edmondson, Russell J. Collins, Timothy M. Smith, and Thomas N. Metcalf.[8]

The Colorado State Board of Health was established on March 22, 1877, with Frederick Bancroft as its president. It had limited responsibility, such as gathering statistics about sewage disposal and water supply. Bancroft also advocated for research into what altitudes were best suited for children's development mentally and physically. Because of their limited role in advocated public health issues, members resigned and waited until the end of their terms to leave their posts. There were no members and the board failed to exist on June 1, 1886.[8]

References

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  1. ^ C.R.S. § 24-1-110
  2. ^ "About the Department". Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment". The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS). Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  4. ^ "Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment | CMS". www.cms.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  5. ^ "Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment". U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  6. ^ "Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment | National Prevention Information Network". npin.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  7. ^ "Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment". CIVHC.org. 2018-03-06. Archived from the original on March 17, 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  8. ^ a b "Frederick J. Bancroft, M.D. (1834-1903)". Colorado's Healthcare Heritage: Honoring the People Who Created What We've Inherited. Colorado Healthcare History. p. 3. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
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