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Denver is Colorado's largest city and its capital. It is located on the South Platte River in north-central Colorado. The city is set against a backdrop of snowcapped peaks of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. It is called the "Mile High City" because the height of the State Capitol's west steps is exactly 5,280 feet (1,610 meters), or 1 mile, above sea level. According to the 2010 census, Denver has a population of 600,158. More than half of Colorado's people live in the Denver metropolitan statistical area. It includes ten counties and a population of 2,543,482 (2010 census).
A Colorful History
The gold on the dome of the State Capitol is symbolic of a time when gold was the lifeblood of Denver. The city was founded near Cherry Creek, site of the first of several gold rushes in the state. The boomtown was named for James W. Denver, the territorial governor of Kansas. (Colorado was then part of Kansas.) Wealthy men who struck it rich in Denver helped build the city into the showcase of the Rockies. The sunny climate, the surrounding mountains, and the arrival of the railroad all made Denver grow dramatically after the Civil War. In 1870, the population was only 4,759. By 1890, it had soared to 106,713.
Government and Business
Numerous federal-government workers are employed in Denver and the surrounding area. The U.S. Mint has a facility in Denver, putting out millions of coins daily. The Denver Federal Center, which is owned and operated by the U.S. General Services Administration, is located in Lakewood. It includes many federal buildings and is only minutes from downtown Denver. Light industry, aerospace equipment, agriculture, and mining are among Denver's major employers.
The service, clean technology, and health-care industries contribute to the economy. The metropolitan area also is a leading beverage producer and energy supplier. And it is a broadcasting and telecommunications center. The city is served by three interstate highways. The Denver International Airport is one of the most up-to-date airports in the country. It was completed in 1995.
Things to Do
Denver has a wealth of museums, parks, and special events. The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center is located in the home of Colorado's first African-American female doctor, Justina Ford. The Denver Zoo is one of the nation's finest. Many of its nearly 4,000 animals can be seen in their natural habitats. The zoo is a major conservation center. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. In the Prehistoric Journey exhibit, visitors can take a walk on Earth as it was 3.5 billion years ago.
Denver has more than 200 city and mountain parks. The Denver Mountain Park system features 22 developed parks and 24 conservation/wilderness parks. Rocky Mountain National Park is approximately a two-hour car ride away. For those who would rather stay in town, there is the 16th Street Mall. This one-mile (1.6-kilometer)-long downtown pedestrian-and transit-way is filled with every kind of restaurant and specialty shop. A highlight of the year in Denver is the National Western Stock Show, held every January. It is one of the most popular rodeos in the country; it also features a horse show.
Grand old buildings survive from the gold- and silver-rush days. They include the Brown Palace Hotel, the Molly Brown House Museum, and the Byers-Evans House Museum. Clustered around Civic Center Park are the State Capitol, the Denver Public Library, and the Colorado History Museum. The Denver Art Museum is also there. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the home of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Ballet, and Opera Colorado. The theatrical division of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts is also based there.
Several professional sports teams make their home in Denver. These include the Denver Broncos of the National Football League, the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball, the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, and the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. Soccer's Colorado Rapids play in nearby Commerce City.
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