Neighborhood information courtesy of recolorado.
Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge, located 5 miles west of Denver, has 30,000 residents. It was once known as ‘Carnation City’ for being the largest producer of carnations worldwide and only minutes from Denver’s downtown center as well as the natural surroundings.
Wheat Ridge is a tight-knit community and an appealing place for families to settle. Schools here are part of the excellent Jefferson County School system. Housing options are available for any type of budget and include some very nice private communities.
There are 20 different parks in Wheat Ridge. The most impressive of the local park system is Crown Hill Park, a stunning retreat that’s a favorite among residents. Named as a national urban wildlife refuge in 1991, it includes 6.5 miles of hiking trails that surround a peaceful lake.
It’s also home to the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, an impressive 70,000 square foot facility includes indoor and outdoor pools, 18 ball fields and eight tennis courts.
Parker
With approximately 45,000 residents, Parker is the second most populated town in Douglas County behind Castle Rock. Located near the Denver Tech Center. It’s a diverse community with an abundance of real estate opportunities ranging from condominiums and affordable family homes to luxury estates in private neighborhoods.
Parker is a family friendly place with lots of recreational activities. The city recently renovated its recreation center, which now includes a 100,000-square-foot athletic facility complete with two basketball courts, workout equipment, an inline hockey rink, indoor athletic fields, a swimming pool, saunas and a climbing tower. For a taste of the great outdoors, nearby Castlewood Canyon State Park with its 100 miles of trails is always an excellent option.
There are 20 different parks in Wheat Ridge. The most impressive of the local park system is Crown Hill Park, a stunning retreat that’s a favorite among residents. Named as a national urban wildlife refuge in 1991, it includes 6.5 miles of hiking trails that surround a peaceful lake.
It’s also home to the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, an impressive 70,000 square foot facility includes indoor and outdoor pools, 18 ball fields and eight tennis courts.
Thornton
Thornton is the sixth largest city with 100,000 habitants. A diverse community with lots of recreational opportunities, both Denver and Colorado’s high country are easily accessible. Thornton offers both established and new construction real estate options suitable for every type of budget.
Thornton is family friendly with good schools and wide range of possibilities for outdoor activities and adventure, including festivals, concerts, parks, exhibits, and public art displays throughout the year. Mid Air Adventures features a 12,000 square-foot obstacle course with swings, zip lines, rope bridges, and rock climbing. There are twenty-five major parks and sports facilities in the Thornton Park System.
There are 20 different parks in Wheat Ridge. The most impressive of the local park system is Crown Hill Park, a stunning retreat that’s a favorite among residents. Named as a national urban wildlife refuge in 1991, it includes 6.5 miles of hiking trails that surround a peaceful lake.
It’s also home to the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, an impressive 70,000 square foot facility includes indoor and outdoor pools, 18 ball fields and eight tennis courts.
Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch is one of the most coveted suburban areas in the Denver Metro area. With 100,000 residents, this self-sustaining, unincorporated community, Highlands Ranch is one of the largest non-cities in the country.
Highlands Ranch is considered one of the wealthiest and most desirable areas to live in around Denver and is located about 20 miles south of Denver. In 2009, Forbes listed Highlands Ranch one of the top places to live in the country. In 2010, Business Week named it as one of the best places to raise kids.
With convenient access to two major highways, C-470 and I-25, access to the Denver Tech Center and other thriving communities including Littleton, Centennial and Lone Tree is easy and convenient. Just to the west of Highlands Ranch is Chatfield Reservoir which has become a popular destination for swimmers, boaters, hikers and bikers.
Broomfield
Located right between Denver and Boulder, Broomfield features some of the finest mountain views in the area and a variety of fast-growing technology companies. It’s a family-friendly town with excellent schools, lots of great shopping and easy access to wherever you work or play.
Located right between Denver and Boulder, Broomfield features some of the finest mountain views in the area and a variety of fast-growing technology companies. It’s a family-friendly town with excellent schools, lots of great shopping and easy access to wherever you work or play.
Broomfield promotes itself as a city of neighborhoods and takes pride in its sense of community. The town offers homes for any budget – condos, townhomes, starter homes, mid-level custom homes and even million dollar mansions and gorgeous estate housing.
Arvada
Arvada is the eighth most populated city in Colorado with over 110,000 residents. Situated seven miles from the Denver capitol building and a stone’s throw from the mountains, its central location makes Arvada a highly desirable place to live. Between its small town sense of community, thriving business climate and diverse range of housing options, there’s a lot to like about Arvada.
Historic Arvada is the city’s downtown district, with a turn-of-the-century Main Street Americana ambiance. Arvada Historical Museum is at the center of the Arvada community. Olde Town Arvada is full of restaurants, bars, breweries, galleries and shops.
Families with school aged children can learn about schools in Arvada through Jefferson County Public Schools. Arvada is located with easy access to Colorado’s Front Mountain Range via I70 West and Downtown Denver via I70 East.
Lakewood
As the biggest city in Jefferson County and the fifth largest in Colorado, Lakewood is conveniently located about 10 minutes from both Denver and the mountains. Named by the National Civic League as an All-American City in 2011, Lakewood has all kinds of housing options available from condominiums to gorgeous custom homes
Lakewood is a great location for an active Colorado lifestyle with its 100 outstanding parks, four recreation centers and many miles of hiking paths. Often referred to as ‘the jewel of Lakewood,’ Bear Creek Lake Park delivers majestic views and lots of great options for camping, boating, fishing, hiking
The development of the Belmar neighborhood and shopping district a few years ago gave Lakewood an updated downtown feel. Complete with a lofts, upscale condos, a movie theatre, a bowling alley, and excellent shopping and dining experiences, Belmar is the now a focal point for local entertainment. During summer months, Belmar hosts fruit vendors and a food market. In the winter, the same area turns into an ice rink.
Westminster
About 9 miles northwest of Denver, the suburb of Westminster is home to 100,000 residents. Westminster was named by Money magazine as the 44th best place to live in the USA in 2008 and is the ninth biggest city in Colorado. Centrally located along U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder, the city offers beautiful mountain views and easy access to nearby shopping centers, restaurants and open space.
Westminster offers a wide variety of housing options in both residential and urban settings. What really sets Westminster apart is its use of open space. Many neighborhoods here are surrounded by golf courses, parks, and open space. The open feel combined with good schools makes this a popular choice for families.
One of Westminster’s most popular attractions is The Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, a place where visitors interact with over 1,000 butterflies in a rainforest setting. The center teaches children and adults about butterflies, spiders, and other critters in a hands-on experience that includes the possibility to hold a live tarantula.
One of Westminster’s most popular attractions is The Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, a place where visitors interact with over 1,000 butterflies in a rainforest setting. The center teaches children and adults about butterflies, spiders, and other critters in a hands-on experience that includes the possibility to hold a live tarantula.
The Westminster Promenade is a great place to spend time with family or friends on a weekend. With outdoor restaurants and performance areas surrounding a lake, the Promenade feels like a resort and provides some of the city’s best entertainment.
Littleton
Littleton started as a community of farmers and merchants that sold food and supplies to the miners in the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush of 1859. Today, many of those old buildings remain in tact in this appealing, family-oriented city just southwest of Denver.
Littleton delivers great views and easy access to the nearby mountains. The city has a wide range of beautiful parks, trails and golf courses, as well as 1,500 acres of open space for exploring. Real estate options here range from condo and townhome communities to privately gated neighborhoods with deluxe custom houses
Downtown Littleton takes you back in time with turn-of-the-century buildings and small town friendliness. It’s a fun place to go for local shops, restaurants, bars and even the local bowling alley. Nearby is the Littleton Historical Museum, which shows how 19th century farmers lived here and maintains two working farms with chickens, pigs, horses and other animals.
Littleton is known for having excellent schools, both public and private. Recently, four elementary schools in Littleton received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award from the Colorado Department of Education. Powell Middle School was also one of only five middle schools recently named a Colorado Trailblazer School to Watch by the Colorado Association of Middle Level.
Golden
Sitting at the base of the Rocky Mountains just 15 minutes west of Denver lies the city of Golden. Nestled between Lookout Mountain and two beautiful mesas, Golden was the territorial capitol until 1867. Today, it remains an inspiring place to live with its rich mining history, Old West charm and extraordinary views in every direction.
Golden’s motto ‘Where the West Lives’ speaks to the easy access this historic town provides to all the wonderful surprises Colorado’s mountains have to offer. Clear Creek runs through Golden and the surrounding mountains, providing the perfect rugged terrain for hikers, runners and bikers. Golden is also home to many museums, including the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave and the Colorado Railroad Museum.
Downtown Golden is a charming area lined with historic brick buildings and over 30 different shops, restaurants and bars. If you’re in the right spot, you can actually watch kayakers float by right in the center of town.
When in Golden, be sure to take a free tour atCoors Brewery, the single largest brewery in the world. The city is also home to one of Colorado’s best universities, the Colorado School of Mines.
Cherry Hills
Eight miles south of downtown Denver is one of the most exclusive communities not just in Colorado but in the entire country, Cherry Hills Village. It’s an affluent area that has been ranked among the wealthiest suburbs in the nation (according to Stephen Higley’s Elite 100 survey in 2011). With a rich history, Cherry Hills Village has become one of the one of the premier, low-density communities in the western United States.
The real estate in Cherry Hills Village is some of the most attractive in the country. Here you’ll find expansive estate-sized properties dotted with swimming pools, stables and barns for horses on multiple acre lots. Work-of-art homes make up Cherry Hills Village and come in every style from modern to classical ranches to Mediterranean, French Country and Cape Cod. Parents will love the Cherry Creek School District system that serves the area with some of the best schools around.
Cherry Hills Village also has a rich golf history and is one of the best places in the metro area to play a round of 18 holes. The city has also hosted two PGA Championships (1941 and 1985) as well as the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open.
Centennial
Centennial is located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, and part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan area. It’s the 10th most populous city in the state of Colorado and has several recreational trails and parks, including Dry Creek Dam, DeKoevend Park, the Highline Canal Trail, Willow Creek Trail, as well as Big Dry Creek and Little Dry Creek Trails.
Centennial Park is an award winning park with four areas available for reservations: The Coffee Shelter, Large Shelter, Plaza, and Amphitheater. Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park is a 25-acre park with winding trails that feature informational signs about native plants and wildlife. deKoevend Park is a sprawling park that offers a baseball field, pavilions, tennis courts, and huge playground.
Centennial Airport, formerly Arapahoe County Airport, is adjacent to the city, but is located in unincorporated Arapahoe County.
Capitol Hill
Located in east Denver and just southeast of Denver’s Central Business District, the Capitol Hill neighborhood is a well-established residential area that has been home to some of Denver’s most interesting occupants. As Denver’s most densely populated community, Capitol Hill also sees a large volume of traffic as it bordered by major streets: Broadway, Colfax Avenue, Downing Street, and 6th Avenue.
Capitol Hill has similarities to other east Denver neighborhoods. The area is a mixed community made up of old Victorian mansions, some of the oldest single-family homes in Denver, newer studios and lots of one-bedroom apartments. Poet’s Row, located on Sherman Street between 10th and 11th Streets, is a section of apartment complexes named after famous writers like Robert Frost and Emily Dickenson and part of the Sherman Street Historic District. Most building structures in Capitol Hill were built during the 1920s and by now about 95 percent of the area is developed. In the northwest part of Cap Hill, as locals refer to it, some historic buildings have recently been zoned for development of businesses.
Locals and residents of Capitol Hill say this neighborhood is special, thanks to its juxtaposition of several attractions in and around downtown, including the Colorado State Capitol, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, three main parks (Congress Park, Cheesman Park and Civic Center Park) and the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Aurora
Located just east of Denver, the culturally diverse city of Aurora is the second largest in the metro area and the third largest in Colorado. With a population of over 345,000 and literally hundreds of different neighborhoods, Aurora offers the best of urban culture and suburban recreation.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, Aurora was the fastest growing city in the U.S. By 1997, the city ranked ninth in Rosenburg’s ’50 Fabulous Places’ to raise your family. Thanks to its appealing location, abundant recreational activities, strong business climate and variety of housing options, Aurora continues to attract new residents each year.
Aurora is home to some of the best golf in Colorado, including seven award-winning courses. Another popular attraction is Arapahoe Park, Colorado’s premier horse racing track. Throughout the city, parks, athletic fields and hiking trails are in plentiful supply. Local children attend schools in either the Aurora School District or the Cherry Creek School District.
Aurora’s commercial district serves up some of the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment in a contemporary urban environment. Here you’ll find the Town Center at Aurora, hundreds of outlying shops and restaurants, and the Aurora municipal center.
Aurora is only minutes from Denver International Airport, making it a perfect headquarters for some of the area’s best companies. The largest health center between Chicago and the West Coast is in Aurora as well. The Anschutz Medical Campus is a cutting-edge education, research and patient facility that speaks volumes about the vision and power of this city.
Highlands
As one of the oldest and single biggest neighborhoods in Denver, the Highlands community has seen and been through it all. The Highlands is known for showcasing some of Denver’s best cultural diversity and is undergoing rapid developmental changes today that are completely rebranding the neighborhood. Directly northwest of Denver, the Highlands were named by Men’s Journal as one of the best neighborhoods in the country in 2009.
The Highlands has Italian, Scottish, German and English historical influences that can still be seen in aspects such as Scottish street names. This mixture has created one of Denver’s true spots for a neighborhood that promises the American dream. The area is lined with several family-owned restaurants that feature some of Denver’s best Italian, Mexican, Caribbean and stylish sushi spots. Hip shops, martini bars and book stores make the commercial district along 32nd and 29th Streets a popular place on weekends and lively spot to grab a drink after hours.
Two attractions that help define the Highlands neighborhood are the Tennyson Street Cultural District and the Navajo Street Art District. Here you can visit several art galleries, featuring local painters and photographers, or catch live music and other performances.
The Highlands neighborhood is truly one of Denver’s most distinctive and is a place National Geographic Traveler recommends visiting.
Cherry Creek
Real estate in Cherry Creek features some of the most sought after and gorgeous homes in Colorado. Most homes are luxurious mansions that could be featured in Architectural Digest and are huge properties with large lawns and well-kept gardens. The area is home to some top-notch schools and many parks that are filled with families on the weekends.
Cherry Creek is also bounded by four main streets making it easy to get around: University to the west, Colorado Boulevard to the east, 6th Avenue to the north and Alameda Avenue to the south.
Every 4th of July weekend the neighborhood hosts the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and turns into a huge outdoor gallery complete with live music, food, and performances. Another cool event the community hosts is a five mile foot race called the Cherry Creek Sneak that runs the streets and hiking paths of the neighborhood.
Park Hill
Situated in the area known as East Denver, the Park Hill neighborhood has a charming personality with a rich history. One of the most diverse communities in the Mile High City, Park Hill is separated into three administrative neighborhoods known as South Park Hill, North Park Hill and Northeast Park Hill. The neighborhood is only about 10 minutes from both downtown and Cherry Creek, and most residents work and play nearby.
Park Hill made a name for itself with the professional class that moved into the area during the 1950s. While many established doctors, lawyers and business executives still call Park Hill home, good schools have attracted a lot of young families as well.
LODO- Lower Downtown
LoDo (Lower Downtown) is where it all started in Denver and where everything still happens today. As the original settlement and the oldest part of Denver, over the past 20 years LoDo has become the spot for Denver’s best entertainment and activity. With around 100 bars and some of Denver’s top restaurants, LoDo is where you’ll find Denver’s best nightlife. During the day, coffeehouse goers and shoppers are surrounded by some of Denver’s most creative businesses, including ad agencies, architectural firms, and internet companies. LoDo also houses many Denver art galleries.
Stapleton
Stapleton is a newly developing retail and residential community that was previously the site of Denver’s main airport between 1929 and 1995. After Denver International Airport was built in 1995, the old Stapleton Airport was decommissioned, demolished and is now evolving into one of the best neighborhoods in the area.
Although much of the area is still being developed and constructed, it didn’t take Stapleton long to look and feel like a pleasant, suburban neighborhood. Famous worldwide as an example of what a sustainable community or “green plan” should look like, the former airport site consisting of terminals and runways has been transformed into more than 4,000 homes and hundreds of restaurants and shops over the last decade. Favorites like Starbucks, Target, and the new My Kid’s Closet are all thriving in the area and new retailers are constantly popping up. The Shops at Northfield Stapleton are popular for a pedestrian-geared, outdoor shopping experience that is different than most downtown malls or stores.
By far the biggest neighborhood in Denver, Stapleton is making future plans to triple the amount of the current number of houses that will be served by six schools, a light rail station, open space for parks, office space and space for more retail as well.
Sloans Lake
Located on the western boundary of Denver, Sloan’s Lake is a park and neighborhood that is focused around one of the best known lakes in Denver. The actual neighborhood is located on the northwest side of Denver and is contiguous to the cities of Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and Edgewater.
The area and neighborhood in general is very diverse and has lower crime rates than most other communities in Denver. The neighborhood is popular for all types of residents and the area’s real estate is just as assorted. From cottages that date back to the 1920s to modern revamped and rebuilt upscale houses and apartments, the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood has options for any budget. And with homes here that tend to be below the median home price in the rest of Denver, it is no wonder that a high percentage of residents in the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood are home owners.
Washington Park
Concentrated around one of the most popular parks in the metro area, Washington Park is also one of oldest neighborhoods in Denver. Located in the middle of south Denver “Wash Park” has both an east and west side with the main attraction being the public park
The park is over a hundred years old and is a long, rectangular shape that covers more than 165-acres making it one of the biggest parks in Denver. Named after our first president George Washington, the park has many things to love. Two scenic lakes and lots of open space create a beautiful setting for the park that features one of Denver’s trendiest running paths – a 2.6-mile jogging path around the perimeter of the park. Within the park, you’ll also find the city’s largest flower garden consisting of 54 flower beds and the Mile High City’s busiest recreation center. And if that’s not enough, there are also two playgrounds, ten tennis courts and several soccer fields. Smith Lake has a boathouse pavilion that can be rented out for parties or special occasions and over 250 picnic permits are granted annually. Free concerts during the summer have become also become a huge hit with locals.
The residential part of neighborhood is very unique and important to the history of Denver as some of the houses in West Wash Park are early twentieth century and late ninetieth century Victorians that are some of the city’s oldest. However, the area is slowly going through development and new luxury homes, apartments and condos are becoming more abundant. Washington Park has become more popular in recent years thanks to its central location and closeness to the park and many businesses. A younger crowd is slowly settling in the Wash Park area giving the neighborhood an attractable energy and new life.
Neighborhood information courtesy of recolorado.
