Denver

I

Introduction

Denver, city in north central Colorado, capital of the state and its largest city. Denver is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of the Rocky Mountain region and the home of numerous federal government agencies and offices. Denver is known as the Mile High City, a nickname it was given because a spot on the state capitol steps is at an elevation of 5,280 ft (1,609 m), exactly 1 mile above sea level.

Denver is on the western edge of the Great Plains near the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The range’s snowcapped peaks rise abruptly from low foothills and provide a spectacular backdrop to the city. In the city is the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. Denver’s location on the plains gives it a dry, sunny climate quite different from that found in the Rocky Mountains a short distance to the west. Denver experiences more moderate temperatures and receives less precipitation. The average high temperature in January is 6°C (43°F) and the average low is -9°C (16°F). The average high in July is 31°C (88°F) and the average low is 15°C (59°F). Annual precipitation measures 391 mm (15.4 in) on average; most arrives in spring and summer months, with much of the accumulation in early spring in the form of snow.

Denver was founded in 1858 at the beginning of a regional gold rush and named after James W. Denver, territorial governor of Kansas, of which the region was still a part.

II

Denver and its Metropolitan Area

Denver is a spacious city of parks, tree-lined streets, old, rambling mansions, broad avenues, and modern skyscrapers. The South Platte River flows north through the city and meets Cherry Creek in downtown Denver. The city of Denver and the county of Denver share the same boundaries and cover a land area of 397.0 sq km (153.3 sq mi).

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The Denver-Aurora metropolitan region comprises the counties of Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, Douglas, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Elbert, Gilpin, and Park. It includes prairies to the east and the mountains and foothills to the west. The population of the metropolitan area increased steadily throughout the second half of the 20th century. By 2000 nearly one-half of the state’s population resided in the Denver metropolitan region. Steady growth and housing development are eliminating the farmlands that once covered much of the area. New suburban and industrial areas spread out westward toward the Rockies, northward toward Boulder, and southward toward Colorado Springs. Principal suburban communities in the metropolitan area are Lakewood, Aurora, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Littleton, Englewood, and Wheat Ridge.

At the heart of Denver, just east of Cherry Creek, is the Civic Center, a rectangular expanse of lawns partially surrounded by several major public buildings. At opposite ends of the center are the City and County Building and the State Capitol, which is capped by a gold-plated dome. Near the capitol are the Colorado State Museum, the art museum, and the library. The central business district lies northwest of the Civic Center along the eastern bank of Cherry Creek. Stretching for 14 blocks through the center of downtown, the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall is lined with restaurants and shops.

III

Population

While the metropolitan area grew, the city of Denver lost population in the 1970s and 1980s, reaching a low of 467,610 in 1990. The city’s period of population decline mirrored the white exodus found in many other large American cities. People, businesses, and jobs migrated to Denver’s suburbs, which correspondingly witnessed enormous growth. For example, between 1950 and 2000 Aurora’s population increased from 11,300 to 276,393 and Arvada’s population increased from 2,300 to 102,153.

During the 1990s, however, Denver’s population grew by 18.6 percent. By 2000 the population had reached 554,636. According to the 2000 census, whites were 65.3 percent of Denver’s population, blacks 11.1 percent, Asians 2.8 percent, Native Americans 1.3 percent, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders 0.1 percent. People of mixed heritage or not reporting race made up 19.3 percent of the population. Hispanics, who may be of any race, were 31.7 percent of the people. In 2006, Denver's population was estimated at 566,974.

IV

Education and Culture

Since the very beginning of Colorado’s settlement, Denver has been the region’s thriving cultural hub and a regional educational center. Among the leading educational institutions are the Metropolitan State College of Denver (1963); the Denver campus (established in 1912) of the University of Colorado; the University of Denver (1864); the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (1883); and Regis University (1877). Nearby is the first campus of the University of Colorado (1876) in Boulder, and the Colorado School of Mines (1874) in Golden.

Prominent cultural institutions include the Denver Art Museum, with a fine collection of Native American art and pre-Columbian artifacts. The natural world can be explored at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science; the Denver Zoo, which emphasizes natural habitats and is considered one of the best in the country; and the Denver Botanic Gardens. The Colorado History Museum has displays showing how miners, settlers, and Native Americans lived during the early years of the state. Denver’s history can be seen in the Molly Brown House, Larimer Square, and the Byers-Evans House. Walking tours of historic areas also explore the city’s past. Most of the nearby towns have historical societies and museums, such as the Littleton Historical Museum and the Aurora History Museum. Specialized museums in the Denver area include those devoted to blacks in the West, railroads, firefighting, transportation, and miniatures and dolls. Tours of the United States Mint, the State Capitol, and the Governor’s Mansion are also available.

The Central City Opera, Opera Colorado, Colorado Ballet, and Colorado Symphony Orchestra provide a variety of programs. The Denver Center Theatre Company stages events in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the city’s principal theater complex. Other organizations, from dinner theaters to community groups, are scattered throughout the metropolitan area. The Red Rocks Amphitheater is an outstanding setting for outdoor concerts. The many universities and colleges offer an array of cultural opportunities.

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