The station is owned and operated by Community Radio for Northern Colorado, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

KUNC began operations January 6, 1967 at the University of Northern Colorado as KCBL.

During the Fall of 2000, UNC put the station up for sale in an effort to save money.

However, an upwelling of support from the local Northern Colorado community as well as a concerted effort by staff at the station, targeted at "keeping community radio local," led to a fundraising effort which produced a counter-offer from the newly formed Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

On July 24, 2007, KUNC began transmitting from Buckhorn Mountain, northwest of Fort Collins.