Profile: Denver, Colorado
By Douglas Brown, FrontDoor.com | Published: 10/30/2008
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-6
Major Airport: Denver International Airport
Companies with a Major Presence: EchoStar Communications Technologies, Qwest, Frontier Airlines, Lockheed Martin, HealthONE, IBM, Wal-Mart, Safeway, United Airlines, University of Denver, Exempla Healthcare.
Denver, known as The Mile High City because it sits at an altitude of 5,280 feet, has a vibrant culture, historic neighborhoods, a dynamic restaurant scene, teams representing all of the major sports and the beautiful, gold-domed state capitol. It also offers easy access to mountains, alpine meadows, hiking trails and some of the best ski slopes in the world.
The city was founded in 1858 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, and the city and county of Denver now have nearly 600,000 residents living in 155 square miles.
Denver's a bit out of the way. The nearest major cities are all daylong drives. But its international airport makes Denver more accessible by air. The city's relative isolation has its benefits. Because the region isn't dense with major cities, the land outside the city remains largely untouched, which is a big attraction to life in Denver.
Still, many locals rarely leave the city. There's too much to do, and the living comes easy. Denver has more park space than any other city in America, mountain views, a great zoo, an engaging nature and science museum, world-class art museum and a thriving downtown. The city is a patchwork of neighborhoods that are alternately funky, country clubby, ethnic and Brady Bunch-esque. On top of that, Denver can boast that it has more than 300 days of sunshine a year. What's not to love?
Read More About Denver, CO:
- Search Homes for Sale in Denver
- Five Notable Denver Neighborhoods
- Denver Essentials
- What Only Denver Locals Know
- What Makes Denver Like No Place Else
- Boulder: Denver's Neighbor Offers Exercise for the Mind and Body
- Slide Show: Get to Know Denver, Colorado