Denver
In November 1858, gold prospectors from Lawrence, Kansas, established a mining town called Montana City on the banks of the South Platte River. This settlement sat on land traditionally held by Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples. The site faded quickly, and by summer 1859 it was abandoned in favor of Auraria and St. Charles City. On the 22nd of November 1858, General William Larimer and Captain Jonathan Cox staked a claim on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. They named the new townsite Denver City to curry favor with James W. Denver, then governor of the Kansas Territory. Larimer hoped the name would help secure the county seat for Arapahoe County. Governor Denver had already resigned before the naming occurred. The location offered access to existing trails and lay across the river from seasonal encampments of the Cheyenne and Arapaho. Edward W. Wynkoop arrived in Colorado in 1859 and became one of the city's founders. A street in modern Denver bears his name. Larimer sold parcels to merchants and miners to create a major city catering to new immigrants. Denver City operated as a frontier town with an economy based on servicing local miners through gambling, saloons, livestock trading, and goods exchange. Land parcels were often traded for grubstakes or gambled away by miners in Auraria. In May 1859, residents donated 53 lots to the Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express to secure the region's first overland wagon route. This service reached Denver on a trail that trimmed westward travel time from twelve days to six. The post office opened on the 11th of February 1860.
The greater Denver area was inhabited by several Indigenous peoples including Apaches, Utes, Cheyennes, Comanches, and Arapahoes. By terms of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie, the United States recognized Cheyenne and Arapaho territory ranging from the North Platte River southward to the Arkansas River. This definition specifically encompassed the land of modern Metropolitan Denver. The discovery of gold in November 1858 brought a flood of white immigration across these lands. Colorado territorial officials pressured federal authorities to redefine and reduce Indian treaty lands. On the 18th of February 1861, six chiefs of the Southern Cheyenne and four of the Arapaho signed the Treaty of Fort Wise at Bent's New Fort near Lamar, Colorado. They ceded more than 90 percent of the lands designated for them by the Fort Laramie Treaty, including the area of modern Denver. Some Cheyennes opposed the treaty, stating it had been signed by a small minority without tribal consent. They claimed signatories did not understand what they signed and were bribed with gifts. The territorial government considered those who refused to abide by it as hostile and planning war. This disagreement escalated into the Colorado War of 1864 and 1865. During this conflict, the brutal Sand Creek massacre against Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples occurred. The aftermath included dissolution of the reservation in Eastern Colorado and signing of the Medicine Lodge Treaty. This treaty stipulated that Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples would be relocated outside their traditional territory. By the end of the 1860s, this effectively cleared the Denver area of its indigenous inhabitants.
By the close of the 1860s, Denver residents could look with pride at establishing a vibrant supply and service center. However, routing the nation's first transcontinental railroad through Cheyenne City threatened the town's prosperity. Citizens mobilized to build a railroad connecting Denver to it. Visionary leaders including Territorial Governor John Evans, David Moffat, and Walter Cheesman spearheaded fundraising efforts. Within three days, $300,000 had been raised, and citizens felt optimistic. Fundraising stalled before enough was collected, forcing these leaders to take control of the debt-ridden railroad. On the 24th of June 1870, citizens cheered as the Denver Pacific completed the link to the transcontinental railroad. This event ushered in a new age of prosperity for Denver. The young city grew during these years, attracting millionaires with mansions alongside crime and poverty from rapid growth. Horace Tabor, a Leadville mining millionaire, built a business block at 16th and Larimer streets. He also constructed the elegant Tabor Grand Opera House. Luxurious hotels like the Brown Palace Hotel followed, along with splendid homes for millionaires such as the Croke Mansion at 11th and Pennsylvania. Leaders wooed industry and attracted laborers to work in factories. A growing population included immigrant German, Italian, and Chinese workers, soon joined by African Americans from the Deep South and Hispanic workers. Inflation strained available housing. Competition among ethnic groups often expressed itself as bigotry, leading to social tensions that gave rise to the Red Scare. After World War I, a revival of the Ku Klux Klan attracted white, native-born Americans anxious about societal changes.
In 1900, whites represented 96.8 percent of Denver's population. The African American and Hispanic populations increased with migrations throughout the 20th century. Many African Americans first came as railroad workers who settled there. Between the 1880s and 1930s, Denver's floriculture industry developed and thrived. This period became known locally as the Carnation Gold Rush. A bill proposing state constitutional amendment allowing home rule passed via statewide referendum approved in 1902. On the 1st of December 1902, Governor James Orman proclaimed the amendment part of state law. The City and County of Denver came into being on that date, separated from Arapahoe and Adams counties. From 1953 to 1989, the Rocky Flats Plant produced fissile plutonium pits for nuclear warheads. A major fire at the facility in 1957 and leakage between 1958 and 1968 resulted in contamination of parts of Denver with plutonium-239. A 1981 study by Jefferson County health director Carl Johnson linked this contamination to increased birth defects and cancer incidence in central Denver. In 1970, Denver was selected to host the 1976 Winter Olympics but voters rejected funding initiatives in November 1972. Colorado State Representative Richard Lamm led the movement against hosting games based largely on environmental issues. He later served three terms as governor from 1975 to 1987. In 2010, Denver adopted a comprehensive zoning code update guided by plans like Blueprint Denver and Transit Oriented Development Strategic Plan. The city hosted the Democratic National Convention twice, in 1908 and 2008. On the 10th of August 15, 1993, Denver hosted the Catholic Church's 6th World Youth Day attended by an estimated 500,000 people. This made it the largest gathering in Colorado history.
Denver is one of twelve U.S. cities with teams from four major league sports. Including Major League Soccer, it becomes one of ten cities with five major sports teams. The Denver Broncos have drawn crowds over 70,000 since origins in early 1960s. They continue drawing fans today to Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos sold out every home game except strike-replacement games since 1970. They advanced to eight Super Bowls winning back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998, then again in 2015. The Colorado Rockies created as expansion franchise in 1993 opened Coors Field in 1995. They won the NL Championship Series in 2007 bringing the World Series to Denver for first time but swept in four games by Boston Red Sox. Two National Hockey League teams played here. The Colorado Rockies existed from 1976 to 1982 before moving to become New Jersey Devils. The Colorado Avalanche joined in 1995 after relocating from Quebec City. They won three Stanley Cups in 1996, 2001, and 2022. The Denver Nuggets joined American Basketball Association in 1967 entering National Basketball Association in 1976. They won their first NBA championship in 2023. Both Avalanche and Nuggets play at Ball Arena since 1999. Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids plays in Dick's Sporting Goods Park opened for 2007 MLS season. The Rapids won MLS Cup in 2010. In 2006, Denver established Major League Lacrosse team Denver Outlaws playing at Empower Field at Mile High. They won Western Conference Championship that year then first championship eight years later in 2014. They also won in 2016 and 2018 folding in 2020 with MLL-PLL merger.
While elections remain nonpartisan, Democrats have long dominated city politics. Most citywide officials register with Democratic Party. Mayor office occupied by Democrat since 1963 municipal election. All state legislature seats held by Democrats. Last Republican winning gubernatorial election was John A. Love in 1970 by narrow majority. Bill Owens in 2002 remains last Republican governor receiving at least 40 percent of vote. Last Republican Senator carrying Denver was William L. Armstrong during 1984 landslide. At federal level, Denver supports Democrat for president every election since 1984. Despite Ronald Reagan's landslide nationally and in Colorado, Democrat Walter Mondale won Denver by margin of 2.32 percent. Benjamin F. Stapleton served mayor two periods from 1923 to 1931 and 1935 to 1947. He constructed Denver Municipal Airport beginning 1929 amid heavy criticism. It renamed Stapleton International Airport later replaced by neighborhood initially named Stapleton. In 2020 residents changed name to Central Park due to Stapleton's racism and prominent Ku Klux Klan membership. During 1960s and 1970s, Denver center of Chicano Movement. Rodolfo Corky Gonzales formed Crusade for Justice battling police brutality fighting bilingual education hosting First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference March 1969. In 2005, Denver became first major U.S. city voting private possession less than ounce marijuana legal adults 21 older. City voted 53.5 percent favor measure without effect because city cannot usurp state law treating possession like speeding ticket fines up to $100 no jail time. May 2019 Denver became first U.S. city decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms after initiative passed 50.6 percent vote.
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Common questions
When was Denver founded and by whom?
Denver City was established on the 22nd of November 1858 by General William Larimer and Captain Jonathan Cox. They staked a claim on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek to create a new townsite.
What happened to Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples in Denver during the 19th century?
The Treaty of Fort Wise signed on the 18th of February 1861 forced six Southern Cheyenne chiefs and four Arapaho chiefs to cede more than 90 percent of their designated lands including modern Denver. This conflict escalated into the Colorado War of 1864 and 1865 which included the Sand Creek massacre and ultimately cleared the area of its indigenous inhabitants by the end of the 1860s.
How did Denver secure access to the transcontinental railroad?
Citizens raised $300,000 within three days to fund a private railroad connection after routing through Cheyenne City threatened local prosperity. The Denver Pacific completed this link to the transcontinental railroad on the 24th of June 1870 ushering in an age of prosperity for the city.
When was the City and County of Denver officially formed as a unified entity?
Governor James Orman proclaimed the state constitutional amendment allowing home rule part of state law on the 1st of December 1902. This date marked when the City and County of Denver came into being separated from Arapahoe and Adams counties.
Which major sports teams have won championships in Denver since the 1960s?
The Denver Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998 then again in 2015 while the Colorado Avalanche secured Stanley Cups in 1996 2001 and 2022. The Colorado Rockies won the NL Championship Series in 2007 and the Denver Nuggets claimed their first NBA championship in 2023.