96-732: State Highway 30 ( SH 30 ), alternatively known as Hampden Avenue , Havana Street , 6th Avenue , and Gun Club Road is a state route in the independent city and county of Denver and the city of Aurora in Arapahoe County . Its west end is at Interstate 25 (I-25) and U.S. Route 285 (US 285) in Denver and its east end is at Quincy Avenue east of Aurora. The route begins at I-25 and US 285 in Denver . It then winds eastward and exits Denver and enters Arapahoe at about 2.0 miles, then reenters Denver at about 2.3 miles. At 2.6 miles,
192-558: 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
288-544: A light rail connection. The station also served special trains such as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad 's Ski Train , which operated until the end of the winter of 2008–2009; in September 2009, plans were announced to revive the service as a special limited route beginning in December, but this fell through due to insurance problems. The ski train returned for the 2022 ski season with weekend service during
384-572: 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. Denver Union Station Denver Union Station
480-465: 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
576-598: 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
672-621: 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
768-619: 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
864-454: A surge in rail traffic , the latter half of the 20th century saw a sharp decline in service for Union Station and countless other train stations in the United States as competition began to grow from automobiles and airlines. For the first time in 1958, passenger traffic at Stapleton International Airport exceeded that of Union Station. It was during this period that the orange "Union Station: Travel by Train" signs were placed on both sides of
960-715: A terminal on 19th Street to the Union Station Bus Concourse. Other intercity bus lines at the Bus Concourse are Burlington Trailways and Express Arrow. Commuter rail service at the new train hall began in April 2016 with the opening of the A Line , offering a connection to Denver International Airport , running every 15 minutes during peak hours with a travel time of approximately 37 minutes. Service between Denver and Westminster began in July 2016 on
1056-435: 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
SECTION 10
#17327831397941152-478: 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
1248-724: 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
1344-617: 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
1440-401: Is the main railway station and central transportation hub in Denver , Colorado . It is located at 17th and Wynkoop Streets in the present-day LoDo district and includes the historic station house, a modern open-air train shed , a 22-gate underground bus station , and light rail station. A station was first opened on the site on June 1, 1881, but burned down in 1894. The current structure
1536-537: The 16th Street MallRide shuttle, was also moved west adjacent to the new light rail stop. Amtrak trains started serving the new open air train hall on February 28, 2014, while the new underground 22-gate Bus Concourse opened on May 11, 2014. The new bus concourse replaced Market Street Station at 16th St. & Market St., which closed permanently after thirty years of use as a hub for RTD buses. Bustang served Union Station Bus Concourse since its launch in 2015. In 2020, Greyhound Lines moved their Denver station from
1632-480: 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
1728-468: 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
1824-641: 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 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
1920-436: 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
2016-479: The Aurora city limit at about 18.3 miles, and finally ends at Quincy Avenue east of Aurora, adjacent to Exit 13 on E-470 . The route was established in 1955, when it began at SH 70 (deleted) southeastward to today's terminus. The southern terminus was moved to Smoky Hill Road by 1960 and to Quincy Avenue by 1966, when the road entirely paved. The section along Havana Street was added in 1970, when that part of US 285
SECTION 20
#17327831397942112-590: 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
2208-619: The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy , the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific , the Colorado & Southern , the Union Pacific and the Denver & Rio Grande Western railways). The new partnership decided to demolish and rebuild the central portion of the station to handle the increasing passenger traffic. The new central portion, designed by Denver architects Gove & Walsh, was built in the Beaux-Arts style and opened in 1914. By
2304-615: 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
2400-495: 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
2496-636: 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,
2592-550: 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,
2688-449: 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
2784-415: 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
2880-681: 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
2976-540: The 12,000 square feet (1,100 m ) Great Hall on the ground level serving as the hotel lobby, public space, and train waiting room and an additional 22,000 square feet (2,000 m ) of the ground level serving as 10 independent retail and restaurant spaces. A stop at Union Station has been included in most proposals for Front Range Passenger Rail , an under-development inter-city rail service that would connect Pueblo , Colorado Springs , Denver, Boulder , Fort Collins , and Cheyenne . Alternate proposals would have
Colorado State Highway 30 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3072-466: 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
3168-539: The 1920s and 1930s, over 80 trains served the station daily with notable dignitaries such as Queen Marie of Romania , Presidents Theodore Roosevelt , William Howard Taft and Franklin Delano Roosevelt arriving to Denver through the station. As a result of growing passenger service, the Mizpah Arch in front of the station was deemed a traffic hazard and was torn down in 1931. Although World War II saw
3264-425: 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
3360-486: 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
3456-557: 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
3552-497: 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
3648-615: 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,
3744-845: The Denver Union Terminal Railway Corporation under a jointly-funded agreement between RTD, the City and County of Denver , the Colorado Department of Transportation , and the Denver Regional Council of Governments , known as the Partner Agencies. A master plan was developed in 2002 that envisioned both the building and surrounding 19.5 acre (79,000 m ) site be redeveloped as the hub of a multi-modal transportation network with transit-oriented private development. The plan
3840-721: 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
3936-533: 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
Colorado State Highway 30 - Misplaced Pages Continue
4032-645: 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
4128-672: 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
4224-529: 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
4320-471: 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
4416-589: The arch originally featured the word "Welcome" on both sides. The elevation facing 17th Street was changed to " Mizpah ", a Hebrew word expressing an emotional bond between separated people, and used as a farewell to people leaving Denver. In 1912, the original Union Depot partnership was dissolved and replaced by the Denver Terminal Railway Company, representing the then-major operators of the station (the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe ,
4512-635: The building to advertise intercity rail travel. Amtrak eventually became the sole provider of rail service through the station, operating only two trains daily between Chicago and the Bay Area with the California Zephyr . From the 1980s to the early 2000s, RTD , the City and County of Denver , the original site owner Denver Union Terminal Railway Corporation, and several other entities made periodic improvements such as accommodating an RTD bus lane to access Market Street Station from I-25 and
4608-415: The bus terminal. Each of these transportation elements are tied together above ground by major public spaces and landscape elements such as the 17 St. Promenade/Gardens, Wynkoop Plaza and several other public plazas. Historically, a subterranean passage accessed through the northern wing building connected the station to the old rail platforms above. However, the passage and its entrance was demolished with
4704-427: 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,
4800-459: 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
4896-516: 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
SECTION 50
#17327831397944992-430: 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
5088-409: The commuter rail lines. An entrance between the train hall and the historic building lead directly to the underground bus terminal, which stretches west for two city blocks along 17th Street until it terminates at an above-ground light rail station. Street-level pavilions at the light rail stop/Chestnut Place, Wewatta Street and at each platform in the train hall provide additional vertical circulation to
5184-417: The construction of the bus terminal. The present-day Union Station building consists mainly of two lower wing buildings flanking a larger central mass built during different parts of the station's history. The wing buildings were built with the first 1881 structure in a Romanesque Revival style, featuring tall, narrow windows, rusticated stonework and motifs of Colorado's state flower, the columbine . When
5280-416: 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
5376-625: The creation of retail spaces, and integrating the interior spaces with the public plazas facing the station. However, the Denver Union Station Neighborhood plan also envisioned a public market and commercial office space while the Union Station Alliance called for the integration of an independent hotel with an emphasis on creating the Great Hall as "Denver's Living Room". By 2012, RTD selected
5472-407: 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
5568-651: 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
5664-424: The first segment of the B Line , which runs every 30 minutes during peak hours. The travel time between the two stations is approximately 11 minutes. Service to Wheat Ridge on the G Line began in April 2019, with an end-to-end travel time of 27 minutes. Service to Thornton on the N Line started in September 2020, with an end-to-end runtime of 29 minutes. Simultaneous with the construction of its surrounding site,
5760-439: 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
5856-510: 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
SECTION 60
#17327831397945952-502: 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
6048-539: The historic station house also underwent a complete renovation. In 2011, a competition between the Denver Union Station Neighborhood Company and the Union Station Alliance (consisting of local firms Urban Neighborhoods Inc., Sage Hospitality, Larimer Associates, REGen, llc. and McWhinney) created different proposals for the future use of the structure. Both plans called for maintaining a waiting area for transit and spaces for Amtrak,
6144-401: 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
6240-487: 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
6336-646: 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
6432-584: The owners of the four lines (the Union Pacific, the Denver & Rio Grande , the Denver, South Park & Pacific and the Colorado Central ) agreed to build a station at 17th and Wynkoop Streets. Architect A. Taylor of Kansas City was hired to develop the plans and the station opened in May 1881. A fire that started in the women's restroom in 1894 destroyed the central portion of the 1881 depot. The Kansas City architectural firm of Van Brunt & Howe
6528-581: The peak ski season. Until the grand renovation, the station served the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days Train , which runs between Denver and Cheyenne, Wyoming , for the Frontier Days Rodeo event. The popular excursion train was later relocated to a site near the Denver Coliseum , where it continued to operate until being discontinued in 2019. In 2001, RTD purchased Union Station and the surrounding site of its old rail yards from
6624-549: 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
6720-573: 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
6816-564: 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
6912-425: The proposal from the Union Station Alliance to renovate the structure as a hotel at a cost of $ 54 million with retail, public, and transit facilities and approved a 99-year lease for its redevelopment. The main historic building closed to the public on December 1, 2012, for construction and re-opened July 26, 2014. The majority of the terminal building's upper levels have now become the 112-room Crawford Hotel, with
7008-428: 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
7104-489: The public spaces including the landscape, train hall, bus terminal, and light rail station. The project received a $ 300 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation on July 30, 2010, to help fund construction of three light-rail tracks and eight heavy-rail tracks for both Amtrak and commuter rail services, as well as additional storage and servicing capabilities. As construction at
7200-460: The renovation saw the return of similar chandeliers as the originals, it also saw the removal of the benches due to asbestos . Other modifications made during 2012 included changing the brown and tan color scheme of the interior to a more neutral white. The old ticket counters and offices were also converted into the Terminal Bar along with several retail and restaurant spaces being created on
7296-469: The route changes direction to north and crosses SH 83 at 3.8 miles, where it again leaves Denver and enters Arapahoe County and Aurora . It continues northward, crosses the Highline Canal, and at 7.8 miles it then turns east again. At about 10 miles, it traverses across I-225 . It then continues eastward, and forms the northern and eastern border for Buckley Space Force Base . It further leaves
7392-426: The service bypass Union Station and downtown Denver, instead stopping at Denver Airport station . As an inter-modal transportation hub, Denver Union Station consists of the historic terminal building and, on the site's former rail yards, an open-air train hall, a 22-gate underground bus terminal, and a light rail station. The train hall stands immediately behind the historic building and houses tracks for Amtrak and
7488-520: The site commenced in 2010, Amtrak's passenger station and boarding platform were moved on February 1, 2011, to a temporary site at 21st and Wewatta streets, behind Coors Field . The new light rail station was the first component of the project to open on August 15, 2011, two blocks west of the former light rail stations and adjacent to the consolidated main line railroad tracks near the Denver Millennium Bridge . The westernmost stop of
7584-571: The station was gutted by the 1894 fire, the facades of the wing buildings were incorporated into the 1894 depot and the 1914 renovation. They originally functioned as offices and other facilities for the station through its history, although today the structures house guestrooms for the Crawford Hotel and several restaurants. When originally constructed, the Great Hall also included three large chandeliers and ten long wooden benches that incorporated heating and lighting into their framework. While
7680-457: 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
7776-534: 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
7872-594: 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
7968-462: 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
8064-702: 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
8160-741: 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
8256-400: 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
8352-523: 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
8448-497: 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
8544-497: 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
8640-597: Was approved in 2004 by the Partner Agencies and was backed by voters in November of that year as part of the FasTracks program. After a competition in 2006, the Partner Agencies selected the private Union Station Neighborhood Company as the master developer of the entire site. Its plan called for the transit elements connected to Union Station in the master plan to be constructed in one single phase at an estimated cost of $ 500 million. In 2008, Hargreaves Associates and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill were selected to design
8736-501: Was constructed in 1868 to serve the new Denver Pacific Railway , which connected Denver to the main transcontinental line at Cheyenne, Wyoming . By 1875, there were four different railroad stations, making passenger transfers between different railroad lines inconvenient. To remedy this issue, the Union Pacific Railroad proposed creating one central "Union Station" to combine the various operations. In February 1880,
8832-545: Was cut. Denver Denver ( / ˈ d ɛ n v ər / DEN -vər ) 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
8928-410: Was erected in two stages, with an enlarged central portion completed in 1914. In 2012, the station underwent a major renovation transforming it into the centerpiece of a new transit-oriented mixed-use development built on the site's former railyards. The historic station house reopened in the summer of 2014, hosting the 112-room Crawford Hotel, restaurants and retailers. Denver's first train station
9024-481: Was hired to design a larger replacement depot in the Romanesque Revival style . Both the 1881 and 1894 depots included a tall central clock tower with four clock faces. On July 4, 1906, a large arch was dedicated in front of the station in order to provide a symbolic threshold for travelers entering and leaving the city. Constructed at a cost of $ 22,500 with 70 tons of steel and over 2,000 light bulbs,
9120-529: 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
9216-418: 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.,
#793206