The Forney Transportation Museum is a transportation museum located in Denver, Colorado .
116-480: It is named after the founder, J.D. Forney, who started Forney Industries, Inc., in Fort Collins . The museum maintains a collection of approximately 800 exhibits. Its early years were focused on antique automobiles but the focus soon expanded to other modes of transport. The museum has a slogan, "Anything on Wheels". They feature, among others, the following items: The Forney Museum of Transportation began as
232-701: 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 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
348-786: 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 the Denver Performing Arts Complex and Denver Art Museum . Denver also has sports teams in all five major professional leagues. While
464-588: A central vacuum system and portable vacuum cleaner , auto generators, and battery chargers, but the best-known products are the different models of electric welders and welding supplies. Mr. Forney started taking in old cars and carriages as trades on some of the welder sales. In 1961 the Forney Museum incorporated in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 1964 it became recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Union Pacific Big Boy number #4005 Built by
580-611: 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
696-577: A claim on the bluff overlooking the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek , across 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
812-1059: A dual in-person/online school. Additionally, four public charter schools are chartered through PSD, including Ridgeview Classical Schools , and Liberty Common High School, Mountain Sage Community School and Fort Collins Montessori School. The Poudre School District is also home to ten middle schools (Lesher Middle IB World School, Blevins Middle School, Boltz Middle School, Cache La Poudre Middle School, Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School, Lincoln IB World Middle School , Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, Preston Middle School, Webber Middle School, and Wellington Middle School) and 32 elementary schools. In addition to PSD schools, several state charter schools serve Fort Collins, including Academy of Arts and Knowledge, Colorado Early Colleges, and Global Village Academy. Private schools include Heritage Christian Academy , Rivendell School, and St. Joseph's Catholic School. The Poudre River Public Library District operates three branch locations in
928-491: A majority of its projects had been completed. Fort Collins has over 20 breweries. Notable breweries in the city include Anheuser-Busch , New Belgium Brewing Company , Intersect Brewing and Odell Brewing Company . The local chamber of commerce estimates that in 2010, the industry generated $ 309.9 million in output, 2,488 jobs and $ 141.9 million of local payrolls in Larimer County. Much of Fort Collins's culture
1044-465: 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
1160-645: A new library building. Voters approved a one percent tax increase to fund the plan. The new library building, named the Fort Collins Public Library (now, the Old Town Library), opened in 1976 and remains to this day in Library Park at 201 Peterson Street in Fort Collins. Denver Denver ( / ˈ d ɛ n v ər / DEN -vər ) is a consolidated city and county , the capital , and most populous city of
1276-598: 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
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#17327806739401392-523: A private collection and has expanded into one of the finest transportation collections in the country. Mr. J.D. Forney, founder of Forney Industries in Ft. Collins, Colorado , became interested in antique and classic cars after his wife and children gave him a 1921 Kissel yellow Tourister, the same model he used to court his wife Rae. Forney Industries has produced many products such as the Fornair airplane,
1508-428: A reading room was established in the back of a Presbyterian Church on Whitton Block. The Fort Collins Public Library was officially established in 1900, the sixth public library in the state. The city received $ 12,500 from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to build the library, with the condition that it would be maintained as a free public library. It was completed in 1904 at a total cost of approximately $ 15,000. When
1624-621: 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
1740-619: 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
1856-507: A seven-member City Council. The current mayor of Fort Collins is Jeni Arndt, who was elected to a first term in April 2021. The six remaining council members are elected from districts for staggered four-year terms; even-numbered districts in April 2023, and odd-numbered districts are up for election in April 2025. Fort Collins is the largest city in Colorado's 2nd Congressional district, and
1972-611: Is 15.88 inches (403 mm). Fort Collins is the fourth most populous city in Colorado and the 156th most populous city in the United States. The Census Bureau estimates that the city's population was 161,175 in 2015, the population of the Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area was 310,487 ( 151st most populous MSA ), and the population of the Front Range Urban Corridor was 4,495,181. As of
2088-572: Is a prominent college town, home to Colorado State University , a public research university and the second-largest university by enrollment in Colorado. The Northern Arapaho were centered in the Cache la Poudre River Valley near present-day Fort Collins. Friday , who attended school in St. Louis, Missouri in his youth, was a leader of the band of Arapahos as well as an interpreter, negotiator, and peacemaker. He made friends of white settlers who moved into
2204-535: Is a yearly event running down the Poudre Canyon and finishing in downtown Fort Collins. The FORTitude 10K run, a partner running event of the Bolder Boulder , is held on Labor Day each year. The Horsetooth Half Marathon has been a fixture of the local running scene since 1973. The Fort Collins Museum , established in 1941, is a regional center focusing on the culture and history of Fort Collins and
2320-505: Is additionally the county seat of Larimer County , and houses county offices and courts. K–12 public education is provided through Poudre School District (PSD). The district operates and manages the public schools in the city of Fort Collins, as well as in the surrounding towns of Wellington, Timnath, Windsor, Laporte and Livermore. The district is one of the fastest growing in Northern Colorado, adding 400-500 students — about
2436-435: 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
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#17327806739402552-578: Is centered around the students of Colorado State University . The city provides school year residences for its large college-age population; there is a local music circuit which is influenced by the college town atmosphere and is home to a number of well known microbreweries. The Downtown Business Association hosts a number of small and large festivals each year in the historic Downtown district, including Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest in late summer (permanently discontinued in 2021) which featured local cuisine, music, and businesses. The Fort Collins Lincoln Center
2668-464: Is characterized by warm to hot summers and long and moderately cold winters (with frequent warm spells due to downslope winds, and somewhat less common intervals of severe cold). The average temperature in December, the coldest month, is 31.1 °F (−0.5 °C). Annual snowfall averages 51.4 inches (1.31 m), and can occur from early September through the end of May. Average precipitation overall
2784-694: Is home to a whitewater park alongside the Poudre River. The city purchased the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area , a park and conservation area north of the city. Within the park is the Lindenmeier site , a stratified multi-component archaeological site most famous for its Folsom component . Fort Collins has a council-manager form of government. The mayor, who serves a two-year term and stands for election in municipal elections held in April of odd-numbered years, presides over
2900-644: Is home to the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and regularly attracts national touring companies of Broadway plays. Brewing and cycling figure in local culture. The Colorado Brewer's Festival is held in late June annually in Fort Collins. The festival features beers from as many as 45 brewers from the state of Colorado and averages around 30,000 attendees. New Belgium Brewing Company hosts the Tour de Fat which draws over 20,000 people riding bikes and dressing in costume. The Colorado Marathon
3016-478: 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
3132-464: Is located in Denver , Colorado . The facility has 70,000 square feet (6,500 m) open to the public and another 70,000 square feet (6,500 m) available for future expansion. Fort Collins, Colorado Fort Collins is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Larimer County, Colorado , United States. The city population was 169,810 at
3248-596: Is represented in Congress by Representative Joe Neguse (Democrat). On the state level, the city lies in the 14th district of the Colorado Senate , represented by Joann Ginal and is split between the 52nd and 53rd districts of the Colorado House of Representatives , represented by Cathy Kipp and Andrew Boesenecker , respectively. All three of Fort Collins' state legislators are Democrats. Fort Collins
3364-472: Is situated at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills of the northern Front Range , approximately 60 miles (97 km) north of Denver , Colorado, and 45 miles (72 km) south of Cheyenne, Wyoming . Elevation is 4,982 ft (1,519 m) above sea level. Geographic landmarks include Horsetooth Reservoir and Horsetooth Mountain —so named because of a tooth-shaped granite rock that dominates
3480-724: 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
3596-617: 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
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3712-561: 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 the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Named after James W. Denver ,
3828-447: The 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and never had walls. Settlers began arriving in the vicinity of the fort nearly immediately. The fort was decommissioned in 1867. The original fort site is now adjacent to the present historic "Old Town" portion of the city. The first school and church opened in 1866, and the town was platted in 1867. The civilian population of Fort Collins, led by local businessman Joseph Mason, led an effort to relocate
3944-480: 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
4060-468: 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
4176-666: The 2020 census , an increase of 17.94% since 2010 . Fort Collins is the principal city of the Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a major city of the Front Range Urban Corridor . The city is the fourth most populous city in Colorado. Situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range , Fort Collins is located 56 mi (90 km) north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver . Fort Collins
4292-436: 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
4408-590: 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
4524-523: The Chicago Elevated . They were called the "Little Giants," and more than 500 were in service around 1900 hauling both freight and passengers. Steam-powered engines on the elevateds lasted only a few years, as they were replaced by the new electric engines. Forney engines were then sold off to buyers all over the world for mining, lumber, plantations, and short-haul freight and passengers. The Forney locomotives hauled both freight and passengers in
4640-615: 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
4756-636: 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,
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4872-550: 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,
4988-449: 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
5104-542: 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 the United States and the fifth most populous state capital. It
5220-415: 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
5336-412: 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 the 18-county Front Range Urban Corridor , an oblong urban region stretching across Colorado and Wyoming with a population of 5,055,344 at
5452-425: 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
5568-428: 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 the terms of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie between the United States and various tribes including
5684-486: 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
5800-516: The American Locomotive Company in 1941 is one of the few remaining examples of the world's largest steam locomotives, a 4-8-8-4 type, Only 25 were ever constructed, & 8 survived (7 on display: 4004, 4005, 4006, 4012, 4017, 4018, & 4023, & 1 in operational condition: 4014). The #4005 was briefly converted to oil fuel from 1946 to 1948, and was also involved in a fatal wreck on April 27, 1953. The Forney locomotive
5916-557: 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
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#17327806739406032-629: 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 the land of modern Metropolitan Denver. But the discovery in November 1858 of gold in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado (then part of
6148-619: The City of Fort Collins Economic Health Office, Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation, Small Business Development Center, and Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative (RMI2). The city's major shopping mall is The Shops at Foothills . FortZED was a zero energy district encompassing the Downtown area of Fort Collins and the main campus of Colorado State University. The district's public-private partnerships employed smart grid and renewable energy technologies to manage
6264-600: The Colorado Agricultural College was founded in 1870, the first classes were held in 1879. The 1880s saw the construction of a number of elegant homes and commercial buildings and the growth of a distinctive identity for Fort Collins. Stone quarrying, sugar-beet farming, and the slaughter of sheep were among the area's earliest industries. Beet tops, an industry supported by the college and its associated agricultural experiment station, proved to be an excellent and abundant food for local sheep, and by
6380-579: The Community College (students, faculty, and staff) and the general public. The Council Tree Library is a nearly 18,000 square foot facility that opened in 2009 in the Front Range Village (a retail commons) and is located at 2733 Council Tree Avenue in Fort Collins. The facility has a unique neighborhood atmosphere with an emphasis on families with young children. The Webster House Administration Center opened in 2011 and houses
6496-497: 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
6612-615: 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,
6728-693: The Denver area. The Denver, Lakewood and Golden Railway and the Denver Circle Railroad were the best known systems using this model. Chicago & Northwestern Class R-1 4-6-0 10 Wheeler number 444 was built in 1906, and it was converted to burn oil in 1925. It last served the C&;NW as a switcher in Belle Fourche, before it was retired in 1956. It was left in storage inside a roundhouse in Chadron, Nebraska, until June 1958, when it
6844-520: 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
6960-533: 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
7076-629: The Library opened, there were 2,770 books on hand. In 1937, the Library was awarded a grant from the Work Projects Administration for an annex to the building that would double its space, allowing for the construction of an auditorium/community room that opened in 1939. As the Fort Collins community grew, so too did the need for more library space. In 1973, the City Council adopted a seven-year master plan which included
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#17327806739407192-735: The Main Library) is a 43,000 square foot facility that has served the Fort Collins Community since 1976. It is located in the Fort Collins Old Town Historic District at 201 Peterson Street. The Harmony Library is a 30,000 square foot joint-use facility located on the Front Range Community College campus, at 4616 South Shield Street in Fort Collins. Since its opening in 1998, the facility has served both
7308-1011: The Rockies (AIR), founded in Fort Collins in 2012, was acquired in 2016 by Berea College in Kentucky, where it became part of the College Crafts Program. The Gardens on Spring Creek is an 18-acre (7.3 ha) botanical garden. The site includes several themed gardens ranging from a children's garden to a rock garden, to several themed demonstration gardens. There are also many parks in Fort Collins including community parks and neighborhood parks, totaling 875 acres (354 ha) of developed park areas. Some of these parks have facilities such as public tennis courts, frisbee golf courses, golf courses, dog parks, baseball diamonds, basketball courts and picnic shelters. In total, there are 6 community parks. These include City Park, Edora Park, Fossil Creek Park, Lee Martinez Park, Rolland Moore Park, and Spring Canyon Park. There are also many smaller neighborhood parks. These parks often host events such as marathons, community activities and holiday celebrations. Fort Collins
7424-399: 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
7540-439: 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
7656-428: The administration, collections, systems administration, maintenance, communications, and outreach staff. The center's opening freed up 3,000 square feet in the Old Town Library, space that is now used for library materials and services. The library as an institution in Fort Collins dates back to the late 19th century, where reading rooms were established in churches or other rented locations. In 1882, for example,
7772-529: 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
7888-471: 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
8004-414: The area, but was pushed out of Colorado in the 1860s. Fort Collins was founded as a military outpost of the United States Army in 1864. It succeeded a previous encampment, known as Camp Collins , on the Cache la Poudre River , near what is known today as Laporte . Camp Collins was erected during the Indian wars of the mid-1860s to protect the Overland mail route that had been recently relocated through
8120-402: The average family size was 3.01. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 22.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 17% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males. The median income for a household in the city
8236-562: The census of 2000, there were 118,652 people, 45,882 households, and 25,785 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,549.3 inhabitants per square mile (984.3/km ). There were 47,755 housing units at an average density of 1,026 units per square mile (396 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 82.4% White , 3.01% Black or African American , 0.6% Native American , 2.48% Asian , 0.12% Pacific Islander , 3.61% from other races , and 2.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 10.79% of
8352-427: 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,
8468-400: The city experienced a flash flood after and during a 31-hour period when 10–14 in (250–360 mm) of rain fell. The rainfall was the heaviest on record for an urban area of Colorado. Five people were killed and $ 5 million in damages were dealt to the city. The waters flooded Colorado State University's library and brought about $ 140 million in damages to the institution. Fort Collins
8584-459: 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
8700-496: The city of Fort Collins—Old Town, Harmony, and Council Tree. The Library District was established in 2006 by voter approval, and aims to serve the more than 207,000 people in northern Larimer County, Colorado. The district is governed by a board of volunteer trustees, jointly appointed by the city of Fort Collins and Larimer County. The library participates in cooperative projects with the local Poudre School District and Colorado State University . The Old Town Library (formerly,
8816-442: The city's primary economic force by the end of the century. Fort Collins gained a reputation as a very conservative city in the twentieth century, with a prohibition of alcoholic beverages, a contentious political issue in the town's early decades, being retained from the late 1890s until student activism helped bring it to an end in 1969. During that same period, civil rights activism and anti-war disturbances heightened tensions in
8932-435: The city's western skyline. Longs Peak can also clearly be seen on a clear day to the southwest of the city. The Cache La Poudre River and Spring Creek run through Fort Collins. At the 2020 United States Census , the town had a total area of 37,423 acres (151.444 km ) including 807 acres (3.265 km ) of water. Fort Collins has a cold semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification BSk ). Its climate
9048-468: The city, including the burning of several buildings on the CSU campus. During the late 20th century, Fort Collins expanded rapidly to the south, adding new development, including several regional malls. Management of city growth patterns became a political priority during the 1980s, as well as the revitalization of Fort Collins' Old Town with the creation of a Downtown Development Authority. In late July 1997,
9164-516: 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
9280-430: 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
9396-416: 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
9512-400: The county seat to Fort Collins from LaPorte, and they were successful in 1868. The city's first population boom came in 1872, with the establishment of an agricultural colony. Hundreds of settlers arrived, developing lots just south of the original Old Town. Tension between new settlers and earlier inhabitants led to political divisions in the new town, which was incorporated in 1873. Although
9628-552: The early 1900s the area was being referred to as the "Lamb feeding capital of the world". In 1901 the Great Western sugar processing plant was built in the neighboring city of Loveland . Although the city was affected by the Great Depression and simultaneous drought, it nevertheless experienced slow and steady growth throughout the early part of the twentieth century. During the decade following World War II ,
9744-651: 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
9860-439: 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
9976-510: 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
10092-529: 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 the principal commercial and transportation hub for
10208-502: 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
10324-487: 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
10440-509: The local use and supply of energy. FortZED relied upon energy demand management techniques to encourage use of energy at the most efficient times. Federal, state, and local funding made the project a reality. The U.S. Department of Energy contributed $ 6.3 million and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs provided $ 778,000. Locally, private companies and foundations committed nearly $ 8 million. The program ended in 2017 after
10556-574: The museum since UP took over the fallen flag. C Nielsen, Tubis-Bege, Denmark 0-4-0WT No. 7 was built in 1930 at the Henschel & Sohn shops in Germany. The engine was moved to America in the early 1960s, & for a short while between 1962-1967, number 7 was on display at Fort Collins, & since 1968, the European steam engine itself has been sitting in Denver where it resides today. The museum
10672-646: 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
10788-549: 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
10904-573: 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
11020-411: The population doubled and an era of economic prosperity occurred. Old buildings were razed to make way for new, modern structures. Along with revitalization came many changes, including the closing of the Great Western sugar factory in 1955, and a new city charter, adopting a council-manager form of government in 1954. Similarly, Colorado State University's enrollment doubled during the 1960s, making it
11136-402: The population. There were 45,882 households, out of which 29% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% were non-families. 26% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and
11252-428: 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
11368-526: The region. Travelers crossing the county on the Overland Trail would camp there, but a flood destroyed the camp in June 1864. Afterward, the commander of the fort wrote to the commandant of Fort Laramie in southeast Wyoming, Colonel William O. Collins , suggesting that a site several miles farther down the river would make a good location for the fort. The post was manned originally by two companies of
11484-430: The resources of Colorado State University and its research facilities. Hewlett-Packard , Intel , AMD , Broadcom , Beckman Coulter , Microsoft , Rubicon Water and Pelco all have offices in Fort Collins. Other industries include clean energy, bioscience, and agri-tech businesses. According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers are: Regional economic development partners include
11600-622: The size of an elementary school — each year. To accommodate growth, the district plans to build three new schools in the next few years. Poudre School District includes four comprehensive high schools that serve neighborhoods around Fort Collins, including Fort Collins High School , Rocky Mountain High School , Poudre High School , Fossil Ridge High School . The district also operates four alternative high schools: Centennial High School, Polaris School for Expeditionary Learning, Poudre Community Academy and Poudre School District Global Academy,
11716-567: The surrounding area. The Fort Collins Museum houses over 30,000 artifacts and features temporary and permanent exhibits, on-going educational programs and events, and is home to four historic structures located in the outdoor Heritage Courtyard. The arts are represented by The Center for Fine Art Photography , University Center for the Arts, Fort Collins Museum of Art (FCMOA), and the Bas Bleu Theatre Company. The Arts Incubator of
11832-462: 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
11948-453: 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 the summer of 1858, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush , a group of gold prospectors from Lawrence, Kansas , established Montana City as
12064-702: 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
12180-741: 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
12296-579: Was $ 64,459, and the median income for a family was $ 110,332. Males had a median income of $ 60,856 versus $ 48,385 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 32,133. About 5.5% of families and 14% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over. Fort Collins' economy has a mix of manufacturing and service-related businesses. Fort Collins manufacturing includes Woodward Governor , Anheuser-Busch , Walker Mowers, and Otterbox . Many high-tech companies have relocated to Fort Collins because of
12412-400: 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
12528-523: 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
12644-497: 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
12760-497: 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
12876-682: Was acquired by William B. Heckman, the owner of the Black Hills Central Railroad. Crews from the C&NW and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) worked to move No. 444 under its own power from Chadron to the Black Hills Central's location in Hill City, South Dakota. In Hill City, South Dakota Governor Joe Foss performed a Golden Spike ceremony, in commemoration of the locomotive's arrival. It
12992-608: Was designed and patented by Matthias Forney, and this "Forney" tank-type of engine was built by several manufacturers. The one displayed at the Forney Museum of Transportation: Cora-Texas Plantation Co. 0-4-4T No. 1 was built by Porter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1897. This type of engine was commonly used on elevated railways, such as the New York Elevated Railway , the Brooklyn Elevated , and
13108-655: Was moved to a siding near the end of the Black Hills Central's line for display. Since 1968, the only surviving C&NW steam engine to burn oil remains on display at Denver. Aside from 444, 2 more of the R-1 Class 10 wheelers survive: 175 in Owosso Michigan, & 1385 at North Freedom Wisconsin which both of them are under restoration back to operational condition. UP 900099 was built in 1909 as stock, held at Cooke until sold to LHP&P 099, then it got renumbered to LNP&W 099; Moved to UP in December 1951 where it
13224-529: 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
13340-418: 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.,
13456-605: Was renumbered to UP 099; & as 8 years have past, the plow was renumbered to UP 900099 in February 1959. After the Leslie Type Rotary itself was retired by UP in October 1969; the plow has since been donated to Museum. Denver & Rio Grande Western GP30 Number 3006 was built by EMD in 1962 & was equipped with 2,250 Horsepower. When the diesel was retired in 1998 & sold in 2000, the engine has since been at
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