The City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in the Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colorado Metropolitan Statistical Area. During 2010, the Census recorded 106,433 inhabitants within the city making it the most populous city within the state of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is situated 7 miles or 11 km northwest of the Colorado State Capital of Denver.
The 22nd of June, 1850 is the very first documented discovery of gold within the Rocky Mountain region. Mr. Lewis Ralston was a prospector from Georgia. He was on his way to the California gold fields when he decided to dip his sluice pan into a small stream near its mouth at Clear Creek. He successfully found around 1/4 ounce or 6g of gold that was at the time worth approximately 5 dollars. The stream was named Ralston's Creek in his honor by his companions. The men all departed in the morning still eager to discover the California gold fields.
Arvada was established as a suburb of Denver in the year 1870. The town now supports a population at just over 108,000, while it still retains a small-town feel. This first-ring suburb enjoys peaceful tree-lined neighborhoods, a rich history and a great mix of trades. The economic development and small business support within the city of Arvada are led by the exceptional quality of life balanced with the strong civic leadership. Due to its business retention program, the City has been known at both the state and national levels.
The city of Arvada encompasses about 23,000 acres. There are still approximately one-thousand acres left for the development of industrial and commercial business. Easy access is supplied to the bigger metropolitan area and the Denver International Airport by 3 proximate interstate highways. There is a fantastic trail system that joins with Denver trails on the east and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to the west. There are numerous parks and thousands of acres of parks in the region.
The historic downtown in Arvada is really listed on the National Register of Historic places. This downtown core provides a great variety for dining as well as an eclectic shopping experience. In the future, the downtown will likewise include one of three transit stops within the area as part of the metropolitan FasTracks light rail system in the city of Arvada. Arvada City takes great pride in being home to Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, the biggest cultural center and multi-disciplinary art centre in the US.
The city enjoys a low crime rate, a diverse economic base, an excellent quality of life and a highly educated workforce, making it one of the most attractive and most desirable cities within the Centennial State.
Through a unique partnership between the citizens and the government of Arvada, the Arvada Center has offered regular theatre and dance performances since it was dedicated on the 4th of July, 1976. The facility frequently provides ceramics classes, art exhibitions, and offers locations for writing, dance, acting and the visual and musical arts. It has likewise served as a history museum in the past. The Arvada Center has more than half of its patrons coming from outside of Jefferson County. The center proudly serves more than 350,000 guests annually.