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. It has over 700,000 people.

Denver was founded in 1858 during the Gold Rush. It 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, and many people came to the area. This brought big changes to the land.

In 1858, gold seekers from Lawrence, Kansas built a small town called Montana City near the South Platte River. Later, two men named General William Larimer and Captain Jonathan Cox named the new town Denver City. 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 place 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, 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 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 between the Rocky Mountains to the west and the High Plains to the east. The city has flat areas in the middle and hilly parts 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 both a city and a county.

Denver is called the "Mile-High City" because it 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 to help plan and manage 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.

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.

Many well-known companies started or moved to Denver. For example, United Airlines began in Denver 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. Today, energy and mining are still important to Denver's economy.

Denver is also good for telecommunications. Companies like Dish Network and Comcast have offices here. After facing hard times during the Great Recession, Denver's job market improved.

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 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 in 1859 and showed plays for settlers. In the 1880s Horace Tabor built Denver’s first opera house. After 1900, city leaders made parks, museums, and an auditorium. Denver still supports culture today.

Denver has many museums, like the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The city has 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 lived here.

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

Sports

Main article: Sports in Denver

Denver has many sports teams. It is one of the few U.S. cities with teams in four big sports. This includes the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. They have many fans and have won big games. The Colorado Rockies are the city's Major League Baseball team and have had 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 other teams in different sports that make Denver a fun place for sports fans.

Parks and recreation

Denver has more than 200 parks. These parks range from tiny ones to big ones like 314-acre City Park. The city also has 29 recreation centers where people can relax and have fun.

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 great views and music. Denver also has mountain parks, including Winter Park Resort, a popular ski area. The city has made the South Platte River a nice place for walking and biking. Today, most people in Denver live close to a park, keeping the city green and lively.

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.

Denver has hosted many important events, including national political meetings and debates.

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 many students learn in elementary schools, schools for younger children, middle schools, high schools, and special charter schools. The first school in DPS was a small building 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 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 ways for people to get news and entertainment, like TV, radio, newspapers, and the Internet.

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

The city has over 40 radio stations that play different kinds of music and talk shows.

Denver's main newspapers used to be The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. Today, there are other newspapers and magazines in Denver for different groups and interests.

Transportation

Most of Denver has a simple street layout. 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. These people have made big impacts in entertainment, sports, and politics. The city still attracts talented and creative people from everywhere.

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. 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.