Colorado BLN

The Denver city and county is also the Colorado state capital. Often called the mile-high city, Denver was founded
in 1858 and covers 155 square miles and among surrounding counties are Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson, Broomfield, and Boulder. As the gateway to the Rocky Mountain region, Denver has long been an important transportation junction connecting the surrounding western states, with interstate highway 70 running east and west plus interstate highway 25 running north and south through the area.

Close proximity to the most popular ski resorts in the country has also fueled the Denver area's growth, and while many people assume that the mountains are on the edge of the city, the foothills are over twenty miles away. The Denver metropolitan area is mostly a flat plateau with a dry climate that averages over 300 sunny days a year. The city is a magnet for those who enjoy the outdoors, and the Rocky Mountain National park is not far.

The new Denver International Airport was opened in 1995 and is the largest airport in the United States. DIA is a large hub for United Airlines, one of the largest employers in the area with a long history here dating back to the 1940s at old Stapleton field. United also maintains an overhaul base and pilot training center at DIA, where the smaller Frontier Airlines is also based. There are many ground transportation options at DIA.

Denver parks and recreation department runs an extensive network of over 200 city and mountain parks laced with rivers and trails that provide year-round enjoyment. The largest parks within the metro area are City Park, which covers 320 acres and features the Denver Zoo and Natural History Museum surrounded by an 18-hole golf course and walking trails passing picnic areas, tennis courts, and playgrounds. Boat rentals are available at two lakes within City Park. Other parks within the city are Chessman Park and Washington Park. The mountain parks include the Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Buffalo Bill burial site and museum, plus the recreation department manages herds of Elk and Buffalo.

Sports is big in Denver with two professional soccer teams, plus the NHL Colorado Avalanche, NBA Denver Nuggets, NFL Denver Broncos, and the Colorado Rockies with Major League Baseball. With new stadiums built recently near downtown Denver, they will continue growing in popularity.

Major employment industries in Denver are aerospace, energy, aviation, financial services, information technology, bioscience, broadcasting and telecommunication. Denver has a diversified economy that is not dominated by any employer or industry, with many regional offices based here. The old Coors brewery nearby in Golden, Colorado is a family-owned company that has been around for decades and is still a major employer.

Public transportation is provided by Regional Transportation District which runs 140 local, express, and regional bus routes. The 5 light rail system lines cover 35 miles with 36 stops including the most visited sites in Denver such as the Civic Center, Lower Downtown, Pepsi Center basketball arena, Coors Field baseball stadium, Elitch Gardens, Invesco Mile High football stadium, Convention Center, and Theater District. Light rail also connects downtown to the University of Denver and the southern suburbs of Englewood, Southmoor, and Littleton. RTD operates the Skyride bus connecting to Denver International airport every day of the year with fares ranging from $8 to $12. Skyride carries luggage and bicycles, plus busses are wheelchair accesible while stopping at many locations with park-and-ride lots.

The Denver metropolitan area is laid out in a grid, making it easy to understand when touring the many neighborhoods offering many housing options. Several condominium communities have been built in recent years offering several floor plans and price ranges. The old Stapleton airport site has been redeveloped into upscale homes. Desirable areas include the Washington Park area, plus Hilltop and Lowry among others. In nearby Arapahoe county are Centennial and Greenwood Village. The average home price of Denver homes was about $175,000 for February of 2010, and prices are expected to rise by 5% for 2010 over the previous year. For those planning to rent there is a lot to choose from, with the average monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment is about $800, and about $1000 for a two bedroom.