On the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains and east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains is the consolidated city and county of Denver. The city is the capital of Colorado and the county is the second most populous county in the state right after El Paso County. Denver has the nickname of Mile-High City because its official elevation precisely 1 mile above sea level. In the city and county, the elevation varies between 5100 ft. and 5700 ft.
On the South Platte River Valley on the east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and the western edge of the High Plains is the consolidated city and county of Denver. The city is the capital of Colorado and the county is the second most heavily populated county within the state right after El Paso County. Denver has the nickname of Mile-High City because its official elevation precisely one mile above sea level. In the city and county, the elevation varies between 5100 ft. and 5700 ft.
Denver was founded during 1858 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush as a mining town by a group of prospectors from western Kansas and the first settlement was known as Montana City. The location was on the banks of the South Platte River however the site faded quickly and by the summer time of 1859, it was deserted in favor of Auraria and St. Charles City. In 1901, the Colorado General Assembly made a decision to split Arapahoe County into three areas: a brand new consolidated City and County of Denver, a brand new Adams County, and the rest of the Arapahoe County was renamed South Arapahoe County. Denver was selected to host the 1976 Winter Olympics to coincide with Colorado’s centennial celebration, but in 1972, Colorado voters struck down ballot initiatives which allocated public funds to pay for the hosting of the games which was subsequently moved to Austria. The city retains the dubious honor of being the only city to say no to the hosting of the Olympic Games.
Denver is located in the center of the Front Range Urban Corridor and is located between the High Plains to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west. The landscape consists of plains in the city center with hilly areas to the west, south, and southeast. Based on the United States Census Bureau the city has the size of around one hundred fifty five square miles, of which 1.6 square miles, is water. The City and County of Denver is surrounded by just 3 different counties: Adams County to the north and east, Arapahoe County to the south and east, and Jefferson County to the west. http://www.zillow.com
The City and County of Denver has recognized 80 official neighborhoods within the city which the city and the community groups used for the purpose of planning and Administration. These neighborhoods should not be combined with cities or suburbs which may be distinct entities in the metro area. The character of these neighborhoods varies significantly and could range from high-rise skyscrapers to turn of the twentieth century houses to contemporary suburbs. Many of these contain parks and other open spaces.