83-556: Flatiron Flyer is an 18-mile (29 km) express bus system between Denver , Aurora , and Boulder, Colorado , traveling along U.S. Route 36 . Different levels of service are available, including a non-stop from Boulder to Union Station in high-occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes), and all-stop, which serves six park-and-rides along U.S. Route 36 in normal highway lanes. The line branches out to different destinations in Denver, Aurora and Boulder. The Regional Transportation District operates
166-530: A high-occupancy vehicle lane , which the buses will use when possible. To accommodate the lanes, several bridges were replaced and shoulders were widened. As part of the multi-modal commitment, a concrete trail was added between Westminster and Table Mesa, the U.S. 36 Bikeway. The project was completed in two phases. The first phase, from Federal Boulevard to 88th Street in Louisville /Superior, took three years (July 2012 - July 2015) and cost $ 317 million. Phase 2 of
249-545: A change of ownership in 2006. Qwest Corporation , founded in Denver in 1911 as Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company, is now a part of Lumen Technologies (previously CenturyLink ). On October 31, 1937, Continental Airlines , now United Airlines , moved its headquarters to Stapleton Airport in Denver, Colorado (before United Airlines later moved to its current home in Chicago ). Robert F. Six arranged to have
332-568: A manufacturer of insulation and roofing products, relocated its headquarters to Denver from New York in 1972. CH2M Hill , an engineering and construction firm, relocated from Oregon to the Denver Technological Center in 1980. The Ball Corporation sold its glass business in Indiana in the 1990s and moved to suburban Broomfield ; Ball has several operations in greater Denver. Federal Boulevard State Highway 88 ( SH 88 )
415-460: A mixture of crime and poverty of a rapidly growing city. Denver citizens were proud when the rich chose Denver and were thrilled when Horace Tabor , the Leadville mining millionaire, built a business block at 16th and Larimer, as well as the elegant Tabor Grand Opera House. Luxurious hotels, including the much-loved Brown Palace Hotel , soon followed, as well as splendid homes for millionaires, such as
498-598: A place in the top two in terms of affordability and quality of lifestyle. According to the 2020 United States census , the racial composition of Denver was as follows: Approximately 70.3% of the population (over five years old) spoke only English at home. An additional 23.5% of the population spoke Spanish at home. In terms of ancestry, 31.8% were Hispanic or Latino , 14.6% of the population were of German ancestry, 9.7% were of Irish ancestry, 8.9% were of English ancestry, and 4.0% were of Italian ancestry. There were 250,906 households, of which 23.2% had children under
581-597: A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association , residents of Denver had a 2014 life expectancy of 80.02 years. The Denver MSA has a gross metropolitan product of $ 157.6 billion in 2010, making it the 18th largest metro economy in the United States. Denver's economy is based partially on its geographic position and its connection to some of the country's major transportation systems. Because Denver
664-608: A revival of the Ku Klux Klan attracted white, native-born Americans who were anxious about the many changes in society. Unlike the earlier organization that was active in the rural South, KKK chapters developed in urban areas of the Midwest and West, including Denver, and into Idaho and Oregon. Corruption and crime also developed in Denver. Between 1880 and 1895, the city underwent a huge rise in corruption, as crime bosses, such as Soapy Smith , worked side by side with elected officials and
747-500: A six lane highway going south with a 35 mph speed limit. It then interchanges with the 6th Avenue Freeway ( US 6 ) before passing through the west Denver neighborhoods. Continuing south, it interchanges at US 285's final exit as a freeway entering Sheridan . It then turns east on Belleview with three lanes in each direction and a 40 mph speed limit. It passes under US 85 and goes through another neighborhood with two lanes in each direction approaching Greenwood Village . The route enters
830-651: Is a consolidated city and county , the capital , and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado . It is located in the western United States , in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains due east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains . With a population of 715,522 as of the 2020 census , a 19.22% increase since 2010 , Denver is the 19th most populous city in
913-603: Is a state highway located within the Denver Metropolitan Area in the U.S. state of Colorado . Spanning 19.171 miles (30.853 km), the highway travels through the City and County of Denver and Arapahoe County . SH 88 begins at Colfax Avenue ( I-70 Bus. , US 40 , and US 287 ) in Denver and heads south along Federal Boulevard until it reaches Belleview Avenue, where it continues east until it reaches Interstate 25 in
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#1732883931280996-435: Is at Denver International Airport, roughly 20 miles (32 km) from downtown. A 2019 analysis showed the average temperature at Denver International Airport, 50.2 °F (10 °C), was significantly cooler than downtown, 53.0 °F (12 °C). Many of the suburbs also have warmer temperatures and there is controversy regarding the location of the official temperature readings. See or edit raw graph data . As of
1079-606: Is employed, with the backbone of the system being the HOT lanes along U.S. Route 36. High-occupancy vehicles and buses travel free in the HOT lanes, while single-occupancy vehicles must pay between $ 1.25 to $ 7.60, depending on time of day, or up to $ 13.68 without an electronic toll collection pass. The HOT lane will be managed to ensure that traffic will flow at 50 to 55 miles per hour (80 to 89 km/h). Union Station and Civic Center in Denver and Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora serve as
1162-425: Is expected to take slightly under an hour, which is about 10 to 15 minutes faster than current bus routes. There was some opposition to the proposed consolidation of routes between Boulder and Denver. Buses along the most popular routes would come more frequently under the new service plan, but Boulder Junction would receive less service. Headways along different routes vary based on the time of day. Flatiron Flyer
1245-474: Is large throughout the year. Tornadoes are rare west of the I-25 corridor; one notable exception was an F3 tornado that struck 4.4 miles (7.1 km) south of downtown on June 15, 1988. On the other hand, the suburbs east of Denver and the city's east-northeastern extension ( Denver International Airport ) can see a few tornadoes, often weak landspout tornadoes, each spring and summer, especially during June, with
1328-717: Is surrounded by three other counties: Adams County to the north and east, Arapahoe County to the south and east, and Jefferson County to the west. Denver's nickname is the "Mile-High City", as its official elevation is one mile (5,280 ft; 1,609 m) above sea level, defined by the elevation of the spot of a benchmark on the steps of the State Capitol building. The elevation of the entire city ranges from 5,130 to 5,690 feet (1,560 to 1,730 m). The City and County of Denver has 78 official neighborhoods used for planning and administration. The system of neighborhood boundaries and names dates to 1970 when city planners divided
1411-599: Is the largest city within 500 miles (800 km), it has become a natural location for storage and distribution of goods and services to the Mountain States , Southwest states , as well as all western states . Another benefit for distribution is that Denver is nearly equidistant from large cities of the Midwest , such as Chicago and St. Louis and some large cities of the West Coast , such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Over
1494-476: The 18th most populous U.S. metropolitan area . Denver is the most populous city within a radius centered in the city and of 550-mile (890 km) magnitude. Denverites is a term used for residents of Denver. According to the 2020 census, the City and County of Denver contained 715,522 people and 301,501 households. The population density was 3,922.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,514.5 inhabitants/km ) including
1577-463: The 1976 Winter Olympics to coincide with Colorado's centennial celebration, but in November 1972, Colorado voters struck down ballot initiatives allocating public funds to pay for the high costs of the games. They were moved to Innsbruck , Austria. The notoriety of being the only city ever to decline to host an Olympiad after being selected has made subsequent bids difficult. The movement against hosting
1660-436: The 2020 census , the population of the City and County of Denver was 715,522, making it the 19th most populous U.S. city . The Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated 2013 population of 2,697,476 and ranked as the 21st most populous U.S. metropolitan statistical area , and the larger Denver–Aurora–Boulder Combined Statistical Area had an estimated 2013 population of 3,277,309 and ranked as
1743-578: The Central Park neighborhood. MediaNews Group purchased the Denver Post in 1987; the company is based in Denver. The Gates Corporation , the world's largest producer of automotive belts and hoses, was established in S. Denver in 1919. Russell Stover Candies made its first chocolate candy in Denver in 1923, but moved to Kansas City in 1969. The original Frontier Airlines began operations at Denver's old Stapleton International Airport in 1950; Frontier
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#17328839312801826-598: The Colorado Territory was created, Arapahoe County was formed on November 1, 1861, and Denver City was incorporated on November 7, 1861. Denver City served as the Arapahoe County Seat from 1861 until consolidation in 1902. In 1867, Denver City became the acting territorial capital , and in 1881 was chosen as the permanent state capital in a statewide ballot . With its newfound importance, Denver City shortened its name to Denver. On August 1, 1876, Colorado
1909-483: The Denver Performing Arts Complex and Denver Art Museum . Denver also has sports teams in all five major professional leagues. While the 10-county Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 2,963,821 and the 12-county Denver–Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area had a population of 3,623,560 at the 2020 United States census , Denver functions as the principal city of
1992-696: The Denver Tech Center and becomes concurrent with Interstate 25 from exit 199 to exit 197 at Arapahoe Road. SH-88 continues east with a 40 mph speed limit on Arapahoe Road with three lanes in each direction passing through Centennial and north of Centennial Airport with a 55 mph speed limit until it reaches its eastern terminus at Parker Road ( State Highway 83 ) in Foxfield . SH 88 is an original 1920's highway that originally ran along Belleview from Broadway to Parker Road in Greenwood Village. In 1939, it
2075-548: The Denver Tech Center . It then continues along Arapahoe Road until it reaches eastern terminus at SH 83 (Parker Road) in Aurora . SH 88 is one of the original state highways commissioned when the state highway system was formed in 1923. It originally was a continuous route that went from Belleview to Broadway and then east to Parker Road. It was extended along Quincy Avenue to serve the Lowry Field Bombing Range and
2158-614: The Five Points neighborhood; Alamo Placita , the northern part of the Speer neighborhood ; Park Hill , a successful example of intentional racial integration; and Golden Triangle , in the Civic Center. One of Denver's newer neighborhoods was built on the site of Stapleton International Airport , named after former Denver mayor Benjamin F. Stapleton , a member of the Ku Klux Klan. In 2020,
2241-427: The High Plains , at the foot of the Rocky Mountains , the region can be subject to sudden changes in weather. July is the warmest month, with an average high temperature of 89.9 °F (32.2 °C). Summers range from warm to hot with occasional, sometimes severe, afternoon thunderstorms and high temperatures reaching 90 °F (32 °C) on 38 days annually, and occasionally 100 °F (38 °C). December,
2324-449: The Rocky Mountains to the west and the High Plains to the east. Its topography consists of plains in the city center with hilly areas to the north, west, and south. It is the only state capital in the United States that is a consolidated city-county. At the 2020 United States census , the City and County of Denver had an area of 99,025 acres (400.739 km ), including 1,057 acres (4.276 km ) of water. The City and County of Denver
2407-415: The continental United States . In fact, Denver has had three of the top 10 costliest hailstorms in U.S. history, on July 11, 1990; July 20, 2009; and May 8, 2017. Based on 30-year averages obtained from NOAA 's National Climatic Data Center for the months of December, January and February, Weather Channel ranked Denver the 18th-coldest major U.S. city as of 2014 . Denver's official weather station
2490-653: The foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Named after James W. Denver , the governor of the Kansas Territory at the time, Denver was founded at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River in 1858 during the Gold Rush era. Nicknamed the "Mile High City" because its official elevation is exactly one mile (5280 feet or 1609.344 meters) above sea level, Denver grew beyond its prospecting origins to become
2573-466: The 18-county Front Range Urban Corridor , an oblong urban region stretching across Colorado and Wyoming with a population of 5,055,344 at the 2020 U.S. census. Regarded for its sunny weather and access to nature, Denver was named the best place to live in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in 2016. The greater Denver area was inhabited by several Indigenous peoples such as Apaches , Utes , Cheyennes , Comanches , and Arapahoes . By
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2656-425: The 1920s. As of 2010 , 72.28% (386,815) of Denver residents aged five and older spoke only English at home, while 21.42% (114,635) spoke Spanish, 0.85% (4,550) Vietnamese, 0.57% (3,073) African languages, 0.53% (2,845) Russian, 0.50% (2,681) Chinese, 0.47% (2,527) French, and 0.46% (2,465) German. In total, 27.72% (148,335) of Denver's population aged five and older spoke a language other than English. According to
2739-477: The 20th century. Many African Americans first came as workers on the railroad, which had a terminus in Denver, and began to settle there. Between the 1880s and 1930s, Denver's floriculture industry developed and thrived. This period became known locally as the Carnation Gold Rush . A bill proposing a state constitutional amendment to allow home rule for Denver and other municipalities was introduced in
2822-550: The Area Planning process. Denver also has a number of colloquial neighborhood names and boundaries reflecting how people in an area, or others such as community groups and real estate developers, have defined areas. Well-known non-administrative neighborhoods include the historic and trendy LoDo (short for "Lower Downtown"), part of the city's Union Station neighborhood ; Uptown, straddling North Capitol Hill and City Park West ; Curtis Park and RiNo ("River North"), both part of
2905-493: The Croke, Patterson, Campbell Mansion at 11th and Pennsylvania and the now-demolished Moffat Mansion at 8th and Grant. Intent on transforming Denver into one of the world's great cities, leaders wooed industry and attracted laborers to work in these factories. Soon, in addition to the elite and a large middle class, Denver had a growing population of immigrant German, Italian, and Chinese laborers, soon followed by African Americans from
2988-598: The Deep South and Hispanic workers. The influx of the new residents strained available housing. In addition, the Silver Crash of 1893 unsettled political, social, and economic balances. Competition among the different ethnic groups was often expressed as bigotry, and social tensions gave rise to the Red Scare . Americans were suspicious of immigrants, who were sometimes allied with socialist and labor union causes. After World War I,
3071-687: The Denver metropolitan area with a network operation of 25 kV 60 Hz. Denver has been known historically as the Queen City of the Plains and the Queen City of the West , because of its important role in the agricultural industry of the High Plains region in eastern Colorado and along the foothills of the Colorado Front Range . Denver is in the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor , between
3154-522: The Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express in order to secure the region's first overland wagon route. Offering daily service for "passengers, mail, freight, and gold", the Express reached Denver on a trail that trimmed westward travel time from twelve days to six. In 1863, Western Union furthered Denver's dominance of the region by choosing the city for its regional terminus. On February 18, 1861, six chiefs of
3237-619: The Southern Cheyenne and four of the Arapaho signed the Treaty of Fort Wise with the United States at Bent's New Fort at Big Timbers near what is now Lamar, Colorado . They ceded more than 90 percent of the lands designated for them by the Fort Laramie Treaty, including the area of modern Denver. Some Cheyennes opposed to the treaty, saying that it had been signed by a small minority of
3320-692: The Strategic Transportation Plan. Denver has hosted the Democratic National Convention twice, in 1908 and 2008 . It promoted the city on the national, political, and socioeconomic stage. On August 10–15, 1993, Denver hosted the Catholic Church's 6th World Youth Day , which was attended by an estimated 500,000, making it the largest gathering in Colorado history. In 2015, a new commuter railway system commenced operations in
3403-489: The United States and the fifth most populous state capital. It is the principal city of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood metropolitan statistical area , with almost 3 million people the most populous metropolitan area in Colorado. Denver is the economic and cultural center of the broader Front Range Urban Corridor , home to more than 5 million people. Denver's downtown district lies about 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of
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3486-529: The age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.1% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27, and the average family size was 3.14. Age distribution was 22.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
3569-471: The airport. There were 338.341 housing units at an average density of 1,751 units per square mile (676 units/km ). However, the average density throughout most Denver neighborhoods tends to be higher. Without the 80249 zip code (47.3 sq mi, 8,407 residents) near the airport, the average density increases to around 5,470 per square mile. Denver, Colorado, is at the top of the list of 2017 Best Places to Live, according to U.S. News & World Report , landing
3652-427: The chiefs without the consent or approval of the rest of the tribe, that the signatories had not understood what they signed, and that they had been bribed to sign by a large distribution of gifts. The territorial government of Colorado, however, claimed the treaty was a "solemn obligation" and considered that those Indians who refused to abide by it were hostile and planning a war. Ten days later, on February 28, 1861,
3735-459: The city into 73 groups of one to four census tracts, called "statistical neighborhoods," most of which are unchanged since then. Unlike some other cities, such as Chicago , Denver does not have official larger area designations. Colloquially, names such as Northside and Westside are still in use, but not well-known. Community planners have recently been using a set of 19 larger areas, all of which are groups of statistical neighborhoods, as part of
3818-516: The coldest month of the year, has an average daily high temperature of 44 °F (6.7 °C). Winters consist of periods of snow and very low temperatures alternating with periods of milder weather due to the warming effect of Chinook winds . In winter, daytime highs occasionally exceed 60 °F (16 °C), but they also often fail to reach 32 °F (0 °C) during periods of cold weather. Occasionally, daytime highs can even fail to rise above 0 °F (−18 °C) due to arctic air masses. On
3901-430: The coldest nights of the year, lows can fall to −10 °F (−23 °C) or below, with the city experiencing a low of −24 °F (−31 °C) on December 22, 2022, with a wind chill of −40 °F (−40 °C). Snowfall is common throughout the late fall, winter and early spring, averaging 53.5 inches (136 cm) for 1981–2010; but in the 2021 winter season, Denver began the month of December without any snowfall for
3984-416: The contamination to an increase in birth defects and cancer incidence in central Denver and nearer Rocky Flats. Later studies confirmed many of his findings. Plutonium contamination was still present outside the former plant site as of August 2010 . It presents risks to building the envisioned Jefferson Parkway, which would complete Denver's automotive beltway . In 1970, Denver was selected to host
4067-679: The corridor as well as the possibility of extending the North Metro Line to Longmont. The consolidation of current express service between Denver and Boulder into the Flatiron Flyer system attracted criticism from Boulder residents, since increased frequencies would be balanced with some service cuts. Additionally, the ITDP classifies the system as "not bus rapid transit", due to the use of lanes shared with private cars along US 36. Denver Denver ( / ˈ d ɛ n v ər / DEN -vər )
4150-407: The creek from the existing mining settlement of Auraria, and on the site of the existing townsite of St. Charles. Larimer named the townsite Denver City to curry favor with Kansas Territorial Governor James W. Denver . Larimer hoped the town's name would help it be selected as the county seat of Arapahoe County , but unbeknownst to him, Governor Denver had already resigned from office. The location
4233-627: The enhancement of the Denver Convergence Vorticity Zone (DCVZ). The DCVZ, also known as the Denver Cyclone, is a variable vortex of storm-forming air flow usually found north and east of downtown, and which often includes the airport. Heavy weather from the DCVZ can disrupt airport operations. In a study looking at hail events in areas with a population of at least 50,000, Denver was found to be ranked 10th most prone to hail storms in
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#17328839312804316-439: The first time in history. The average window for measurable (≥0.1 in or 0.25 cm) snow is October 17 through April 27; however, measurable snowfall has occurred as early as September 4 and as late as June 3. Extremes in temperature range from −29 °F (−34 °C) on January 9, 1875, up to 105 °F (41 °C) as recently as June 28, 2018. Due to the city's high elevation and aridity, diurnal temperature variation
4399-510: The games was based largely on environmental issues and was led by State Representative Richard Lamm . He was subsequently elected to three terms (1975–87) as Colorado governor . Denver explored a potential bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics , but no bid was submitted. In 2010, Denver adopted a comprehensive update of its zoning code, which was developed to guide development as envisioned in adopted plans such as Blueprint Denver, Transit Oriented Development Strategic Plan, Greenprint Denver, and
4482-487: The headquarters moved to Denver from El Paso, Texas because Six believed that the airline should have its headquarters in a large city with a potential base of customers. Continental later moved to Houston from Denver, but merged with United Airlines in 2013. Throughout that time, the company held a large employee base in the Denver area, which is home to the United Airlines Flight Training Center in
4565-729: The highway and sitting at traffic intersections. However, this plan was shelved and three of the stops were redesigned to use slip ramps instead. Subsequent plans to give buses the right to use the shoulder as a travel lane during traffic jams required a change in law; RTD buses got the go-ahead in March 2016, and took effect in April of that year. There are six park-and-rides along U.S. Route 36 from Denver to Boulder, which have been dubbed "stations", that will be served by Flatiron Flyer: These stops have ticket vending machines , and passenger information systems . Express service between Boulder and Denver
4648-401: The land of modern Metropolitan Denver. But the discovery in November 1858 of gold in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado (then part of the western Kansas Territory ) brought on a gold rush and a consequent flood of white immigration across Cheyenne and Arapaho lands. Colorado territorial officials pressured federal authorities to redefine and reduce the extent of Indian treaty lands. In
4731-479: The legislature in 1901 and passed. The measure called for a statewide referendum, which voters approved in 1902. On December 1 that year, Governor James Orman proclaimed the amendment part of the state's fundamental law. The City and County of Denver came into being on that date and was separated from Arapahoe and Adams counties. From 1953 to 1989, the Rocky Flats Plant , a DOE nuclear weapon facility that
4814-446: The line, opened on January 3, 2016. The ITDP classified the system as "not bus rapid transit" (BRT), due to the use of lanes shared with private cars along US 36, lack of street level boarding/alighting and the lack of an off-board fare system. The system has been criticized as an example of bus rapid transit creep because RTD claims the Flatiron Flyer is Bus Rapid Transit despite it lacking any BRT features. A branching route system
4897-682: The naming rights for the DIA rail line, dubbed the University of Colorado A Line . Originally, the voter-approved plan called for a 41-mile (66 km) high-capacity commuter rail line running from Denver Union Station to Longmont , passing through North Denver, Adams County , Westminster, Broomfield , Louisville and Boulder . RTD opened the first segment of this rail line, the B Line , from Union Station to Westminster Station — near 71st Ave. and Federal Blvd. — in July 2016. The completion of
4980-641: The neighborhood's community association voted to change the name from Stapleton to Central Park (see more in Politics section below). The Central Park neighborhood itself has 12 "neighborhoods" within its boundaries. Denver features a continental semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk ) with generally low humidity and around 3,100 hours of sunshine per year, although humid microclimates can be found nearby depending on exact location. It has four distinct seasons and receives most of its precipitation from April through August. Due to its inland location on
5063-461: The originally-planned route from Westminster to Longmont has been delayed until 2044 due to lower tax revenues and higher costs than expected. RTD introduced "Flatiron Flyer" as its brand for the US 36 Bus Rapid Transit component of FasTracks, serving travelers between Denver and Boulder. As an interim measure until Northwest Rail can be completed, RTD committed to study high-speed bus options in other parts of
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#17328839312805146-549: The police to control elections, gambling, and bunco gangs . The city also suffered a depression in 1893 after the crash of silver prices. In 1887, the precursor to the international charity United Way was formed in Denver by local religious leaders, who raised funds and coordinated various charities to help Denver's poor. By 1890, Denver had grown to be the second-largest city west of Omaha, Nebraska . In 1900, whites represented 96.8% of Denver's population. The African American and Hispanic populations increased with migrations of
5229-573: The population and 14.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Denver has one of the largest populations of Mexican-Americans in the entire United States. Approximately one third of the city is Hispanic , with the overwhelming majority of them being of Mexican descent. Many of them speak Spanish at home. English, German, Irish, Swedish, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, and Russian immigrants immigrated to Denver by
5312-550: The principal commercial and transportation hub for a broad region spanning the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain West. The 105th meridian west of Greenwich , the longitudinal reference for the Mountain Time Zone , passes directly through Denver Union Station . As the most populous metropolitan area in a 560-mile (900 km) radius, Denver is a major cultural hub with a variety of museums and cultural institutions, including
5395-622: The project extended the HOT lanes from 88th Street to Table Mesa Drive in Boulder through a public–private partnership ; it opened on January 3, 2016, with toll collection starting in March of that year. In June 2015, RTD announced the $ 35 million purchase of 59 MCI D-Series motorcoaches, each of these 45-foot (14 m) buses can carry up to 57 passengers. In August 2015, the University of Colorado (CU) paid $ 5 million over five years to place advertisements on Flatiron Flyer buses, with an option to extend for another five years. The deal also included
5478-428: The prosperity of the young town. The transcontinental railroad passed a daunting 100 miles (160 kilometers) away, but citizens mobilized to build a railroad to connect Denver to it. Spearheaded by visionary leaders, including Territorial Governor John Evans , David Moffat , and Walter Cheesman , fundraising began. Within three days, $ 300,000 had been raised, and citizens were optimistic. Fundraising stalled before enough
5561-647: The southern termini, while Downtown Boulder and Boulder Junction are the northern termini. Given that the Flatiron Flyer travels with other vehicles in the HOT lanes, the lack of street level boarding and alighting, and the lack of an off-board fare system, it has been classified as "Not BRT" by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy , which promotes construction of BRT systems. This new system has been criticized as bus rapid transit creep .The original FasTracks plan approved by voters indicated that center-line BRT stations would be created to avoid buses exiting
5644-453: The summer of 1858, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush , a group of gold prospectors from Lawrence, Kansas , established Montana City as a mining town on the banks of the South Platte River in what was then western Kansas Territory , on traditional lands of Cheyenne and Arapaho . This was the first historical settlement in what later became the city of Denver. But the site faded quickly, and by
5727-520: The summer of 1859 it was abandoned in favor of Auraria (named after the gold-mining town of Auraria, Georgia ) and St. Charles City. On November 22, 1858, General William Larimer and Captain Jonathan Cox, both land speculators from eastern Kansas Territory , placed cottonwood logs to stake a claim on the bluff overlooking the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek , across
5810-574: The terms of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie between the United States and various tribes including the Cheyenne and Arapaho, the United States unilaterally defined and recognized Cheyenne and Arapaho territory as ranging from the North Platte River in present-day Wyoming and Nebraska southward to the Arkansas River in present-day Colorado and Kansas . This definition specifically encompasses
5893-457: The town to merchants and miners, with the intention of creating a major city that would cater to new immigrants. Denver City was a frontier town, with an economy based on servicing local miners with gambling, saloons, livestock, and goods trading. In the early years, land parcels were often traded for grubstakes or gambled away by miners in Auraria. In May 1859, Denver City residents donated 53 lots to
5976-687: The years, the city has been home to other large corporations in the central United States, making Denver a key trade point for the country. Several well-known companies originated in or have relocated to Denver. William Ainsworth opened the Denver Instrument Company in 1895 to make analytical balances for gold assayers. Its factory is now in Arvada . Aimco is headquartered in Denver. Samsonite began in Denver in 1910 as Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company, but Samsonite closed its NE Denver factory in 2001, and moved its headquarters to Massachusetts after
6059-718: Was admitted to the Union . This disagreement on the validity of Treaty of Fort Wise escalated to bring about the Colorado War of 1864 and 1865, during which the brutal Sand Creek massacre against Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples occurred. The aftermath of the war was the dissolution of the reservation in Eastern Colorado, the signing of Medicine Lodge Treaty which stipulated that the Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples would be relocated outside of their traditional territory. This treaty term
6142-400: Was 33 years. Overall there were 102.1 males for every 100 females. Due to a skewed sex ratio wherein single men outnumber single women, some protologists had nicknamed the city as Menver . The median household income was $ 45,438, and the median family income was $ 48,195. Males had a median income of $ 36,232 versus $ 33,768 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 24,101. 19.1% of
6225-515: Was about 15 miles from Denver, produced fissile plutonium " pits " for nuclear warheads . A major fire at the facility in 1957, as well as leakage from nuclear waste stored at the site between 1958 and 1968, resulted in the contamination of some parts of Denver , to varying degrees, with plutonium-239 , a harmful radioactive substance with a half-life of 24,200 years. A 1981 study by the Jefferson County health director, Carl Johnson, linked
6308-494: Was accessible to existing trails and was across the South Platte River from the site of seasonal encampments of the Cheyenne and Arapaho . The site of these first towns is now occupied by Confluence Park near downtown Denver. Edward W. Wynkoop came to Colorado in 1859 and became one of the city's founders. Wynkoop Street in Denver is named after him. Larimer, along with associates in the St. Charles City Land Company, sold parcels in
6391-497: Was achieved, even though the treaty was not legally ratified by the tribal members, as per the treaty's own terms. Thus, by the end of 1860s, this effectively and completely cleared the Denver area of its indigenous inhabitants. Although by the close of the 1860s Denver residents could look with pride at their success establishing a vibrant supply and service center, the decision to route the nation's first transcontinental railroad through Cheyenne City , rather than Denver, threatened
6474-471: Was built east to Peoria Street in 1977 and the final stretch to SH 83 (Parker Rd.) wasn't finished until 1990. The intersection of Arapahoe Road and Parker Road used to have a triple left going from eastbound to northbound and was one of the most congested intersections in the Denver Metro Area. It was later upgraded to an interchange where Parker Road now continues north without stopping. The interchange
6557-565: Was constructed as part of the FasTracks program, which built six new commuter rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit lines in the Denver metropolitan area . Widening U.S. Route 36 to accommodate the bus line was a joint project between the Colorado Department of Transportation and RTD, termed the US 36 Express Lanes Project. The highway was widened by 40 feet (12 m) in each direction, adding
6640-529: Was extended east along Quincy Avenue into the now defunct Lowry Field Bombing Range until 1954, when the bombing range was decommissioned. The western extension to Santa Fe (US 85) was completed by 1956. In 1959, the section along Arapahoe road was added, originally as a gravel road and it wasn't paved until 1961. The section of Federal Blvd in Sheridan was originally signed as SH 75 and was renumbered to SH 88 in 1968. Arapahoe Road didn't become an expressway until it
6723-522: Was raised, forcing these visionary leaders to take control of the debt-ridden railroad. Despite challenges, on June 24, 1870, citizens cheered as the Denver Pacific completed the link to the transcontinental railroad, ushering in a new age of prosperity for Denver. Finally linked to the rest of the nation by rail, Denver prospered as a service and supply center. The young city grew during these years, attracting millionaires with their mansions, as well as
6806-418: Was reincarnated at DIA in 1994. Scott's Liquid Gold, Inc., has been making furniture polish in Denver since 1954. Village Inn restaurants began as a single pancake house in Denver in 1958. Big O Tires , LLC, of Centennial opened its first franchise in 1962 in Denver. The Shane Company sold its first diamond jewelry in 1971 in Denver. In 1973 Re/Max made Denver its headquarters. Johns Manville Corp.,
6889-415: Was turned back after the bombing range was decommissioned. It was then rerouted on the newly built Arapahoe Road that goes from I-25 to Parker Road, making the present day route from Colfax Avenue in Denver to Parker Road in Aurora. SH 88 is a 19.171-mile (30.853 km) long highway, starting at a cloverleaf intersection at Colfax Avenue ( U.S. Route 40 ) and Federal Boulevard in Denver. It starts as
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