Denver Cities & Neighborhoods

Arvada – The city and community of Arvada is a first-ring suburb located northwest of Denver. Even with a huge population of almost 106, 500 – it's considered as the eight most populous cities in Colorado, Arvada still maintains a small-town feel. It has thousands of acres of parks and open spaces. Its trail system links with trails with Denver on the east, and to the Rocky Mountains to the west. People in Arvada enjoy a stable steady residential and commercial growth.

Aurora – Sharing a common boundary with Denver on the east side, Aurora is Colorado's third largest city. Its close proximity with Denver has kept it in the realm of a suburban community, but it is gradually gaining recognition as a distinguished city. It is composed of several dozens of neighborhoods and districts, as well as military installations. It offers a diverse mix of housing including condominiums, town homes, and single family residences. Aurora has a wide expanse of land, offering miles and miles of hiking and biking trails. Residents and tourists also enjoy sailing, golfing, fast pitch softball, art, and live theater.

Boulder – The city of Boulder is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and 25 miles northwest of Denver. The city is home to the University of Colorado main campus, the state's largest university. It is also the 11th most populous city in the state. The average population of the city is younger than the national average because of its large number of student population. Boulder's mining past shaped its peoples' lifestyle.

Brighton – The city of Brighton is often considered a suburb although it is located outside of the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area. It already lies 20 miles northeast of Metro Denver, the country seat of Adams County. Brighton mixes small town and suburban living. In March 25, 2009, Brighton witnessed the groundbreaking of factories – two Vestas manufacturing plants, a wind turbine blade, and a nacelle manufacturing – which is said to provide around 1,350 employment opportunities in the city.

Broomfield – The city of Broomfield became the 64th newest and smallest county in Colorado when it finally separated from Boulder County in November 2001 due to political differences. It was integrated in the southeast corner of Boulder in 1961. It grew through annexations that crossed the county line into four adjacent cities, namely, Adams, Jefferson, Boulder, and Weld. Broomfield is a major suburb and tier in the Denver metropolitan area. The new city offers an extensive trail system which connects the parks and lakes in the area.

Castle Pines – Castle Pines is actually a subdivision of Castle Rock, Colorado, however, due to the large expanse of the area, it is usually considered as a city. Although Castle Pines is still within the city limits of Castle Rock, they are very different. Castle Pines offers a more uniform standard of housing. It is a master–planned community which has neighborhoods and streets that are lined with pine trees. Castle Pines is also very prominent as a gated golf community.

Castle Rock – Located halfway between Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock is the county capital of Douglas County, Colorado. It is traversed by Interstate 25 and covers around 33 square miles and is situated in the East Plum Creek Valley at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Some publications have identified the town as one of the best places to live in the country. Castle Rock prides itself on their small-town character that is combined with big city amenities, low crime rate, open space and clean air, abundant parks, and 300 days of sunshine per year.

Centennial – Centennial City belongs to one of Colorado's newest cities. It is nestled in the Arapahoe County, southern part of the Denver metropolitan area. It is a very energetic city that combines the benefits of city living to the luxury of semi–rural and suburban living in charming and well–maintained neighborhoods. The city of Centennial offers a diverse and friendly business climate, as well as a flourishing economy.

Cherry Hills Village – Located in Arapahoe County, Cherry Hills village is considered one of the most prosperous places in Colorado and in the whole United States. It is well known for its rural atmosphere which was achieved through strict zoning as well as an emphasis on open space. It is surrounded by cities on every side.

Commerce City – Located in Adams County, Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver. With a population of 34, 189 in 2005, it is considered the 20th most populous municipalities in the whole state of Colorado. The city is a mixed residential and industrial community. It is well–known for greyhound racing and for oil refinery – it houses an oil refinery that has a capacity of 90,000 barrels per day.

Conifer – The community of Conifer used to be known in the 1860s as Bradford Junction, which was just a stop on the stagecoach road going to South Park. The area deteriorated 30 years later when the Denver and South Park railroad replaced the stagecoach road. The area evolved as the town of Conifer or the Conifer Corridor starting in the 1920s and has been a famous destination because of its lovely mountain scenery and abundant wildlife.

Denver – Denver is a consolidated city–county which is often labeled as the Mile–High City because of its one–mile elevation above sea level. It was originally founded as a mining town during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush on November 1858. Denver is nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the High Plains. It is the reference point for the Mountain Time Zone since it is passed by the 105th meridian west of Greenwich. Denver's neighboring counties include Jefferson, Arapahoe, and Adams County. Denver takes pride in its highly educated population, diverse economy, and progressive leadership.

Denver Tech Center – Popularly known in the corporate world as DTC, Denver Tech Center has progressed from a rural village to a community that continually aims to develop. Today, DTC houses a metropolis of corporations, shopping centers, restaurants, and real estate homes.

Englewood – Located in Arapahoe County, south of Denver, the city of Englewood is a home rule municipality with an estimated population of 32,350. Like Sheridan and other communities in Denver, it tributes its early development to the discovery of gold. Today, it is a flourishing residential and commercial area.

Erie – Erie is a vibrant and diverse statutory town located just 25 miles north of the Denver metro area. Residents and tourists enjoy their wide expanse of mountain views and scenic trails. Interested parties can find different types of homes in Erie in all price ranges. It is just 35 minutes away from Denver International Airport via the Northwest Parkway Toll Road.

Evergreen – Located around 15 miles west of Denver, Evergreen is a place where you can enjoy both city and mountain lifestyle. The town was first started in 1859 by a homesteader called Thomas Bergen who built his ranch and stage stop north of what is now known as Evergreen. As a group of settlers grew in numbers along the Bear Creek Canyon, a town emerged which was named Evergreen by another homesteader, Dwight P. Wilmot. Evergreen covers 130 square miles of aspen and pine-laden hills.

Golden – The city of Golden was first established as a gold rush town and then later became a leading political and economic center, as well as a center of area in industry. Golden City is an entryway to important roads leading to the mountains. It is located at the foot of the Front Range, west of Denver and north of I–70.

Highlands Ranch – Located 12 miles south of Douglas County, Denver, Highlands Ranch is one of the most successful planned communities in the United States. It has 22 acres of land for open space, trails, parks, and community facilities. It currently has 29,040 single family homes and 3,305 apartments.

Ken Caryl – Ken Caryl Ranch lies in a valley in Jefferson County in the Denver-Aurora metro area. Going to the city requires going through the Dakota Hogback cut. This place prides itself with its astonishing beauty and history. It is now a master-planned community with over 6,000 acres intended for recreation and open space. Residents enjoy a wide range of greenbelts, playgrounds, parks, hiking trails, and a lot of natural beauty.

Lafayette – The town of Lafayette was founded in 1988 by a woman named Mary Miller who named the town after her husband. She designated 150 acres of her town to the town of Lafayette. It used to be a coal mining area in the late 1800s, but was later converted to a quiet agricultural community when the demand for coal shut down. With the construction of new housing, recreation centers, and shopping and convenience centers, Lafayette is a flourishing town again.

Lakewood – The city of Lakewood is a home rule municipality that is considered the fourth most populous city in Colorado State. Lakewood used to be an urban sprawl before it was incorporated in 1969. There were no municipal taxes, few street lights and sidewalks, and its policies were supplied by the Jefferson County Sheriff. Lakewood already had a population of over 90,000 by the time of incorporation. Today, the city houses one of the most prestigious schools in the state, including Lakewood High School, International Baccalaureate, and the Colorado Christian Community.

Larkspur – Located in Douglas County just southwest of Castle Rock and north of Colorado Springs, Larkspur is a small community that has a magnificent view of the Rocky Mountains. It derived its name for the larkspur flowers that are very abundant in the area. It houses the Larkspur Elementary School, a K–6 school.

Littleton – The city of Littleton is the county seat of Arapahoe County and is considered as the 17th most populous cities in the Colorado State. It is a suburb south of Denver, west of I–25. It houses several prestigious institutions including the Colorado Center for the Blind, and the Intelligent Vehicle Safety Technologies' "Desert Tortoise". With a population of over 442,000, Littleton covers a large part of the south metro Denver area.

Lone Tree – Only incorporated in November 1995 and became a Home Rule City in May 1998, Lone Tree is the newest community in the Denver metroplex. It is located around 20 miles south of downtown Denver and is a home of prestigious schools, as well as superb shopping and recreational areas. The city houses the Park Meadows Shopping Mall. The light rail was also annexed to the city in 2006 with a stop at the Lincoln Station and four other planned stops in the area. Adjacent to Lone Tree is the newly established Meridian and Inverness Business Park west of I–25.

Louisville – The city of Louisville has many times been cited as one of the best places to live and raise a family in the United States based on financial, housing, quality of life, leisure and culture, education, and weather. The city features a recreation and senior center, broad open space buffer zones, 26 city parks, 20 miles of trails and bicycle paths, teen areas, fireside reading rooms, and a $9 million worth of public library that has study rooms. Louisville is located in Boulder Country approximately 25 miles northwest of Denver and six miles east of the City of Boulder. It has around 19,000 residents and has 1,700 acres of open space.

Morrison – The town of Morrison is located in Jefferson County only 30 minutes away from downtown Denver. It has been termed as the "Nearest Faraway Place" because of the presence of the Hogback rock formation on its west side which separates it from its metropolitan neighbors and gives a mountain feel to the place. Among Morrison's top sites include the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and the Bandimere Speedway. It also takes pride in numerous restaurants along the Bear Creek Avenue such as the Horton House and the Cliff House Lodge. The town offers extensive trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Northglenn – Located north of Denver and along Interstate 25, the city of Northglenn is within the vicinity of other interstates, major toll roads, and turnpikes such as I–70, E–470 and the Northwest Parkway. It offers small and friendly neighborhood with accessible schools and highly convenient dining and shopping areas, open spaces, outdoor recreation facilities, and quality parks. Northglenn has gained recognition for its effective water and land resource management.

Parker – The municipality of Parker is a commuter town located 20 miles south east of the Denver Metropolitan area. It is the most populous town in Douglas County and the 17th most populous town in Colorado. Parker began as a stage stop in 1860 and later became a municipality in 1981. It was named the "Twenty Mile House" because it was approximately 20 miles to the next stage stop, which is now known as Colfax and Colorado Boulevard. Parker is known for its unique Western–Victorian downtown area.

Reunion – Located in Commerce City, Reunion is a master planned community which was developed by Shea Homes in 2001. Since it is not an incorporated community, it is still governed by the City Council of Commerce. The first residents of the community belong to the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the area used to be undeveloped agricultural land. Reunion focuses on building homes with a variety of designs. Its planning concept is "a return to individuality and personal style." The plan is to create each neighborhood such that it will be defined by specific architectural styles, "lending to a special sense of place for each."

Roxborough – The Roxborough Park and Roxborough Village are residential communities located along the foothills southwest of Denver. It offers pristine parks around the block and award–winning golf courses. The unique beauty of Roxborough cannot be seen anywhere else in Colorado. The Roxborough State Park features red–rock formations, a host of wildlife, and distinct plant communities. It is listed as a Colorado Natural Landmark as well as a National Natural Landmark.

Sedalia – Sedalia is an old–fashioned town located at the Front Range south of Denver. Although new communities are being developed in the area, it has maintained several of its old buildings as well as its old rail line. Tourists will enjoy the Scottish–style Cherokee Ranch, and 15th – 16th–century European paintings and drawings by Sir Christopher Wren. Sedalia is also an excellent venue for fly fishing and camping with in the South Platte River and the Rampart Range in Pike National Forest, both located west of Sedalia.

Thornton – Located in Adams and Weld counties and a suburb of the Denver–Aurora Metropolitan Area, Thornton is a home rule municipality named after then governor Daniel Thornton. It is considered the sixth most populous city in Colorado. The city began in a ridge that was 500 feet higher than its surrounding area. It was considered the fastest–growing communities in Colorado from 1970–1980. It continues to pursue new industry for the area up to this day.

Westminster – Being equidistant from Boulder and Denver, Westminster has become Denver's center of finance and government and Boulder's center of research and education. It is a home rule municipality in Adams and Jefferson counties. Westminster is passed by several state highways including I–26 and US 36. It was ranked 26th best place to live in the USA in 2006 by Money magazine. Westminster takes pride in its city's trail and open space system, one of which is the Big Dry Creek Trail. Other trails for biking, wildlife viewing, and jogging have been built along the Farmer's High Line Canal, Walnut Creek, and Little Dry Creek.