Denver

Denver is the capital and most populous city of the state of Colorado. It is located in the South Platte River valley near the Rocky Mountains. With a population of over 700,000 people, Denver is the 19th-most populous city in the United States.

Denver was founded in 1858 during the Gold Rush era and was named after James W. Denver, the governor of the Kansas Territory at the time. It is called the "Mile High City" because it sits exactly one mile above sea level.

Today, Denver is a major cultural and economic center. It has many museums, such as the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The city is also home to professional sports teams and the headquarters of several large companies.

History

Main article: History of Denver

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Denver.

The Denver area was home to many Indigenous peoples, including the Apaches, Utes, Cheyennes, Comanches, and Arapahoes. In 1858, gold was found in the Rocky Mountains, leading many people to come to the area. This brought a lot of change to the land.

In 1858, gold seekers from Lawrence, Kansas set up a small town called Montana City near the South Platte River. Later, two men named General William Larimer and Captain Jonathan Cox staked a claim and named the new town Denver City, hoping to make it important. By 1861, Denver City became part of the new Colorado Territory and was chosen as the capital in 1867. Colorado became a state in 1876.

Denver grew quickly, becoming a busy center for trade and travel. It connected to the railroad in 1870, which helped it grow even more. Over the years, people from many places moved to Denver, making it a lively and diverse city.

Denver faced some tough times, like when the railroad didn’t go through the city at first, and later during economic troubles. But it kept growing. In the 1900s, Denver became a big city with many different kinds of people.

Denver was chosen to host the Winter Olympics in 1976, but the plans were changed, and the games were held in Innsbruck, Austria instead. In recent years, Denver has kept growing and changing, becoming an important city in the United States.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Denver

Denver is located between the Rocky Mountains to the west and the High Plains to the east. The city has plains in the center with hilly areas to the north, west, and south. Denver's downtown is about 12 miles east of the Rocky Mountains' foothills. It is the only state capital in the United States that is a combined city and county.

Denver is known as the "Mile-High City" because its official elevation is one mile above sea level. The city's elevation ranges from about 5,130 to 5,690 feet. The city has 78 official neighborhoods used for planning and administration. These neighborhoods help organize the city for various activities and services.

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Denver

As of the 2020 census, Denver had a population of 715,522 people, making it the 19th most populous U.S. city. The area around Denver had even more people, with over three million living in the larger region.

In 2020, most people in Denver were white, with many also being of Hispanic or Latino background, mainly from Mexico. There were also smaller groups of Black, Asian, Native American, and people of two or more races.

2020 census

According to the 2020 United States census, the racial composition of Denver was as follows:

• White: 60.6% (Non-Hispanic Whites: 54.3%)
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 27.9%; Mexican Americans made up 20.3% of the city's population.
• Black or African American: 8.9%
• Asian: 3.9%
• Native American: 1.5%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.2%
• Two or more races: 13.5%

Most people in Denver spoke only English at home, but many also spoke Spanish. Other languages spoken included German, Irish, English, and Italian.

The city had many families, but also many people living alone. The median age was 33 years.

Denver is home to many Mexican-Americans, with about a third of the city being Hispanic, most of them of Mexican descent. Many speak Spanish at home.

By the 1920s, people from many places, including England, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Poland, China, Japan, Greece, and Russia, had come to live in Denver.

Languages

As of 2010^[update], 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.

Panorama of downtown Denver, c. July 2006, looking east along Speer Blvd

Longevity

According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, residents of Denver had a 2014 life expectancy of 80.02 years.

Religion

According to the Pew Research Center 53% of adults in the Denver Metro area identify as Christians in 2023-24. The most common denomination are Catholics (17%), followed by Mainline Protestants (15%) and Evangelical Protestants (10%). A total of 39% were not religiously affiliated. The mother church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver is the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Denver.

Economy

See also: List of companies with Denver area operations and List of tallest buildings in Denver

The Denver area had a big economy in 2023, with a total value of about $311.9 billion. This makes it one of the larger cities in the United States for business. Denver's location helps it be a key spot for storing and moving goods because it is in the middle of many important areas.

Many well-known companies started or moved to Denver. For example, United Airlines began in Denver and had its headquarters here before moving to Chicago. Other companies like MediaNews Group, which owns the Denver Post, and the Gates Corporation, which makes car parts, are based in Denver. The city has also been home to food companies like Village Inn restaurants and Russell Stover Candies.

Denver's position near the Rocky Mountains brought in mining and energy companies. The city grew a lot during times when oil prices were high, even though it faced tough times when prices dropped. Today, energy and mining are still important to Denver's economy.

Denver is also good for telecommunications because of its time zone and elevation, allowing quick communication around the world. Companies like Dish Network and Comcast have offices here. After facing hard times during the Great Recession, Denver's job market improved and now has low unemployment.

Denver has been a leader in fast-casual dining, with restaurants like Quiznos and Smashburger starting here. In 2024, a Denver-based tech company called Ibotta had a very successful first sale of its stock to the public.

Top employers

As of the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Denver's top employers are:

Culture

See also: Landmarks of Denver, Music in Denver, and Denver Center for Performing Arts

Apollo Hall opened soon after the city’s founding in 1859 and showed many plays for settlers. In the 1880s Horace Tabor built Denver’s first opera house. After 1900, city leaders created many parks, museums, and the Municipal Auditorium. Denver still supports culture today.

Denver is home to many museums, including the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The city also has busy neighborhoods with art galleries, restaurants, and clubs. Denver has a strong music scene with jazz, folk, and classical music. Famous musicians like Bob Dylan and John Denver have lived here.

Denver is known for outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and camping. The city also has many breweries and hosts the Great American Beer Festival each fall. Denver celebrates many cultural events, including Cinco de Mayo and Chinese New Year. The city is also known for its tasty food, like green and red chile sauce and the Colorado burrito.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Denver

Denver is home to many sports teams and is one of the few U.S. cities with teams in four major sports. This includes the Denver Broncos of the National Football League, who have many fans and have won several big games. The Colorado Rockies are the city's Major League Baseball team and have played exciting seasons.

Denver also has teams for hockey, basketball, and soccer. The Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets are well-known, and the Colorado Rapids play soccer in a special stadium. There are also other teams in different sports that make Denver a fun place for sports fans.

Parks and recreation

Denver has more than 200 parks, ranging from tiny ones scattered around the city to large ones like the 314-acre City Park. The city also has 29 recreation centers where people can relax and enjoy activities.

Many of Denver’s parks were created in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Famous designers helped make these parks beautiful. Some parks, like Red Rocks Park, are known for their amazing views and music. Denver also has mountain parks, including Winter Park Resort, which is a popular ski area. The city has worked hard to make the South Platte River a fun place for walking and biking. Today, most people in Denver live close to a park, making the city a green and lively place.

Government

Main article: Government of Denver

Denver is a consolidated city-county with a mayor, a 13-member city council, and an auditor. The mayor and council members are elected for four years and can serve up to three terms. The mayor can approve or disapprove laws made by the council and manages the city's budget and departments. The council can override the mayor's disapproval with nine votes.

Denver has had a strong mayor and a weaker city council for a long time. The mayor has many important jobs, like signing contracts and managing the city's money. The council makes laws and can investigate city officials for mistakes.

The Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and Denver Sheriff Department work together to keep the city safe. Denver's own court system is managed by the city instead of the state.

Politics

Denver's elections do not mention political parties, but most leaders are known to belong to the Democratic Party. This has been true for many years. In big elections across the state and country, Denver usually supports Democratic leaders.

Denver has a history of supporting Democratic leaders in important elections. In recent years, the city has also taken steps to help people without homes, especially during very cold weather.

Denver made changes to its laws about certain plants in 2019, allowing adults to use them privately. This was done by a vote of the people, though national laws still say it is not allowed.

Denver has hosted many important events, including national political meetings and debates. In 2019, the city's mayor said Denver would not help certain federal officers with specific tasks.

Education

See also: List of higher education institutions in Denver

Denver Public Schools (DPS) is the public school system for all of Denver. It helps about 92,000 students learn in 92 elementary schools, 44 schools for children aged between kindergarten and eighth grade, 34 middle schools, 18 high schools, and 19 special charter schools. The very first school that was part of DPS was a small log cabin that opened in 1859. This building later became East High School. East High School and the three other main high schools in Denver — West, North, and South — were the first four high schools ever built in the city.

Denver has many colleges and universities. Three big public schools are at the Auraria Campus: the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Denver. The private University of Denver was the first college in the city and started in 1864. Other important schools in Denver include Johnson & Wales University, the Catholic Regis University, as well as schools focused on health sciences. There are also many schools in the areas around Denver.

[Denver East High School](/wiki/East_High_School_\(Denver\))

University of Colorado-Denver in downtown

The Ritchie Center at University of Denver

Media

Main article: Media in Denver

Denver has many different ways for people to get news and entertainment, including TV, radio, newspapers, and the Internet.

Denver is an important city for television, being the 16th biggest TV market in the United States. It has many channels, like KWGN-TV, KCDO-TV, KCNC-TV, and others that broadcast different kinds of shows.

The city also has over 40 radio stations that play many types of music and talk shows. You can find a list of these stations if you're interested.

Denver's main newspapers used to be The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, but they combined for a while before the Rocky Mountain News closed in 2009. Today, there are other newspapers and magazines in Denver, including ones for special groups and interests.

Transportation

Most of Denver has a simple street layout that follows the four main directions. Streets are usually numbered from a central point. Colfax Avenue is a major road north of the center.

Denver also has an older downtown layout that follows the paths of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. These streets run in special directions, which helps with cleaning snow.

Denver has many bike paths and was one of the first cities in the U.S. to start a bike-sharing program. The city is known for being friendly to cyclists.

Denver is served by several major highways, including I-25 and I-70. These highways connect Denver to nearby cities and states.

Mass transportation in Denver is managed by the Regional Transportation District (RTD). RTD operates many buses and several rail lines that connect Denver to surrounding areas.

Denver International Airport (DIA) is the main airport for the area. It is one of the busiest airports in the world and serves many passengers each year. There are also smaller airports for private planes and limited commercial flights.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Denver

Denver has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made big impacts in areas like entertainment, sports, and politics. The city continues to attract talented and creative people from all over.

Twin towns – sister cities

Denver has special friendships with cities around the world, called sister cities. The first was with Brest, France in 1948. A teacher from Denver visited Brest after World War II and her students raised money to help rebuild a children's hospital there. This kindness helped start the sister city idea in the United States.

Since then, Denver has made friends with many more cities, including Takayama in Japan, Nairobi in Kenya, and Kunming in China, among others. These friendships help people learn about different cultures and work together for good causes.