SafekipediaArvada, Colorado
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
Arvada is a city in Colorado, United States. It is located in Jefferson and Adams counties.
As of the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 124,402 people. This makes it the seventh most populous city in Colorado.
The city is part of the larger Denver-Aurora-Centennial metropolitan area. It sits within the Front Range Urban Corridor. Olde Town Arvada, a historic district, lies about 7 miles northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
Arvada is governed as a home rule city. This gives it more control over its local affairs compared to cities with other forms of government.
History
The first discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain region happened on June 22, 1850. A man named Lewis Ralston found gold in a stream near where Arvada is today. He told others about it, but they did not want to stay. Later, more people came looking for gold, and some decided to farm the land.
In 1870, a railroad was built through the area, and a town called Ralston Point was started. It was later renamed Arvada. Over time, Arvada grew from a farming community into a busy suburb of Denver. By the end of the 20th century, more than 100,000 people lived there.
Main article: 2007 Colorado YWAM and New Life shootings
Geography
Arvada is located at the coordinates 39°48′10″N 105°05′15″W / 39.8028°N 105.0875°W / 39.8028; -105.0875. It sits 5,348 feet above sea level.
According to the 2020 United States census, Arvada covers a total area of 25,325 acres, which is about 102.485 square kilometers, including a small part that is water.
Climate
Arvada has a humid continental climate, labeled as Dfb in climate studies.
Demographics
2020 census
In 2010, Arvada was home to 106,433 people. Many lived in families, and others lived alone. Most people in Arvada were White, with smaller groups of African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people from other races. Some families also identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Families in Arvada often had children, and many adults lived together as married couples. Some households had only one adult, and others were made up of individuals. The city had a mix of age groups, with many people in their prime working years and a good number of older adults. The median age was about 40.5 years.
The median income for a household was $66,125, and families generally did well financially. Not everyone had the same amount of money, and a small part of the population lived below the poverty line.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 87,302 | 86,556 | 94,989 | 85.46% | 81.32% | 76.36% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 628 | 841 | 1,183 | 0.61% | 0.79% | 0.95% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 419 | 437 | 550 | 0.41% | 0.41% | 0.44% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,175 | 2,225 | 3,096 | 2.13% | 2.09% | 2.49% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 47 | 58 | 72 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 87 | 110 | 486 | 0.09% | 0.10% | 0.39% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,464 | 1,670 | 5,390 | 1.43% | 1.57% | 4.33% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10,031 | 14,536 | 18,636 | 9.82% | 13.66% | 14.98% |
| Total | 102,153 | 106,433 | 124,402 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Government
The City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality and uses a council–manager style of government. The Arvada City Council has seven members: one mayor who is elected by everyone, two council members also elected by everyone, and four council members from different parts of the city.
The city council chooses the city manager. The current city manager is Don Wick.
| Office | Incumbent | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Lauren Simpson | 2023– (District 2 Councilmember, 2019–2023) |
| Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, District One | Randy Moorman | 2021– |
| Councilmember, District Two | Shawna Ambrose | 2023– |
| Councilmember, District Three | John Marriott | 2013– |
| Councilmember, District Four | Bob Fifer | 2023– (At-large, 2011–2023) |
| Councilmember At-Large | Brad Rupert | 2024– |
| Councilmember At-Large | Sharon Davis | 2023– |
Economy
Arvada is mostly a place for people to live, with a few factories and offices. Olde Town Arvada is the historic center with shops, restaurants, and a bus station called the Olde Town Arvada Transit Hub. You can find restaurants and stores along Wadsworth Boulevard, Ralston Road, and Kipling Street.
Industry
The Rocky Flats Plant was a factory that worked from 1952 to 1992. It made parts for nuclear triggers.
Education
The part of Arvada in Jefferson County is served by the Jefferson County School District R-1. The part of Arvada in Adams County is served by the Westminster Public Schools.
Tourism and recreation
Arvada has many fun places to visit. You can explore the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities for art and learning. The Cussler Museum shows a special collection of rare cars. Olde Town Arvada is a historic area with old buildings. Nature lovers can visit the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge to see wildlife and enjoy the outdoors.
Transportation
Highways
Arvada is where Interstate 76 starts, meeting at the spot where Interstate 70 and State Highway 121 cross. Other important roads in Arvada are SH 72, SH 93, and SH 95. Big roads close by include Interstate 25, Interstate 270, U.S. Highway 36, and U.S. Highway 287.
Mass transit
The Amtrak train called the California Zephyr goes through Arvada each morning going west and each evening going east, stopping near Denver Union Station. The train travels through the Rocky Mountains on its way from Chicago to Emeryville, California, close to Oakland.
Arvada has train stops on the Regional Transportation District (RTD) G line at three places: Arvada Ridge, Olde Town Arvada, and 60th & Sheridan/Arvada Gold Strike. These connect to Union Station in downtown Denver. Several RTD bus routes also serve Arvada.
Airports
People in Arvada can use Denver International Airport and the nearby Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.
Bicycling
In 2014, Arvada was named a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.
Notable people
Main article: List of people from Arvada, Colorado
Arvada has been home to many famous people. Some well-known individuals from Arvada include writer Clive Cussler, baseball player Roy Halladay, musicians Joe King and Isaac Slade from the band The Fray, actor Nicholas Alexander Chavez, political advisor Karl Rove, and athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
Sister cities
See also: List of sister cities in Colorado
Arvada has special friendships with two cities around the world. These friends are:
- Jinzhou, in China
- Kyzylorda, in Kazakhstan
Images
Related articles
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