Denver: the story on HearLore

Denver

On the 22nd of November 1858, General William Larimer and Captain Jonathan Cox drove cottonwood logs into the ground to stake a claim on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. This act of land speculation created the foundation for what would become Denver, yet the name chosen for the new settlement was a calculated political maneuver. Larimer named the town Denver City to curry favor with James W. Denver, the governor of the Kansas Territory, hoping the name would secure the town as the county seat of Arapahoe County. The irony of this decision was not lost on history, as Governor Denver had already resigned from office before the town was even named, rendering the flattery entirely useless. The site chosen was not merely a random patch of dirt; it sat directly across the South Platte River from the seasonal encampments of the Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples, marking the beginning of a collision between indigenous history and the relentless expansion of white settlement. Before this specific moment, a mining town called Montana City had been established on the banks of the river in the summer of 1858, but it faded quickly by the following summer. It was replaced by Auraria and St. Charles City, which were themselves abandoned in favor of the new, strategically named Denver City. The location was accessible to existing trails, making it a natural hub for the flood of white immigration that followed the discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountains in November 1858. This discovery triggered a gold rush that brought a flood of people across Cheyenne and Arapaho lands, leading territorial officials to pressure federal authorities to redefine and reduce the extent of Indian treaty lands. The first historical settlement in what later became the city of Denver was thus born from a mix of greed, political posturing, and the desperate need for a supply center for miners.

Treaties and The Colorado War

The rapid growth of Denver was built upon the systematic dismantling of indigenous sovereignty, a process that began in earnest with the Treaty of Fort Wise signed on the 18th of February 1861. Six chiefs of the Southern Cheyenne and four of the Arapaho signed this treaty at Bent's New Fort, ceding more than 90 percent of the lands designated for them by the earlier Fort Laramie Treaty, including the area of modern Denver. However, the legitimacy of this agreement was immediately contested by many Cheyennes who argued that the signatories had not understood what they signed, that it had been signed by a small minority without the consent of the rest of the tribe, and that they had been bribed to sign by a large distribution of gifts. The territorial government of Colorado, however, claimed the treaty was a solemn obligation and considered those Indians who refused to abide by it as hostile and planning war. This disagreement on the validity of the treaty escalated to bring about the Colorado War of 1864 and 1865, during which the brutal Sand Creek massacre against Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples occurred. The aftermath of the war was the dissolution of the reservation in Eastern Colorado and the signing of the Medicine Lodge Treaty, which stipulated that the Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples would be relocated outside of their traditional territory. This treaty term was achieved, even though the treaty was not legally ratified by the tribal members, as per the treaty's own terms. Thus, by the end of the 1860s, this effectively and completely cleared the Denver area of its indigenous inhabitants. The city's early years were marked by this violent displacement, as the decision to route the nation's first transcontinental railroad through Cheyenne City, rather than Denver, threatened the prosperity of the young town. Citizens mobilized to build a railroad to connect Denver to it, spearheaded by visionary leaders including Territorial Governor John Evans, David Moffat, and Walter Cheesman. Within three days, $300,000 had been raised, and citizens were optimistic, though fundraising stalled before enough was raised, forcing these visionary leaders to take control of the debt-ridden railroad. Despite challenges, on the 24th of June 1870, citizens cheered as the Denver Pacific completed the link to the transcontinental railroad, ushering in a new age of prosperity for Denver.

When was Denver founded and by whom?

Denver was founded 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 establish the settlement.

Why was the city named Denver?

The city was named Denver City to curry favor with James W. Denver, the governor of the Kansas Territory. This political maneuver aimed to secure the town as the county seat of Arapahoe County, although Governor Denver had already resigned from office.

What treaty ceded Denver land to the United States government?

The Treaty of Fort Wise signed on the 18th of February 1861 ceded more than 90 percent of the lands designated for the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples. This agreement included the area of modern Denver and was contested by many Cheyennes who argued the signatories did not understand the terms.

When did Denver become the capital of Colorado?

Denver became the capital of Colorado after the rapid growth of the city and the completion of the Denver Pacific railroad link on the 24th of June 1870. The city was designated the capital due to its strategic location and economic potential following the gold rush.

What is the official elevation of Denver?

The official elevation of Denver is exactly one mile above sea level. This elevation is defined by the benchmark on the steps of the State Capitol building, making it the only state capital in the United States that is a consolidated city-county.

Why did Denver voters reject the 1976 Winter Olympics?

Colorado voters rejected ballot initiatives allocating public funds for the 1976 Winter Olympics in November 1972. The movement against hosting the games was based largely on environmental issues and was led by State Representative Richard Lamm.

The Silver Crash and The Carnation Gold

Denver's economic history is a rollercoaster of boom and bust, defined by the volatile nature of mining and agriculture. The city prospered as a service and supply center after the railroad link was established, attracting millionaires with their mansions and creating a mixture of crime and poverty typical of a rapidly growing city. Horace Tabor, the Leadville mining millionaire, built a business block at 16th and Larimer and the elegant Tabor Grand Opera House, while luxurious hotels like the Brown Palace Hotel followed. However, the Silver Crash of 1893 unsettled political, social, and economic balances, leading to a depression that left the city reeling. In the early years, land parcels were often traded for grubstakes or gambled away by miners in Auraria, and the city suffered from a depression in 1893 after the crash of silver prices. Between the years 1880 and 1895, the city underwent a huge rise in corruption, as crime bosses such as Soapy Smith worked side by side with elected officials and the police to control elections, gambling, and bunco gangs. Yet, amidst the financial turmoil, a unique economic boom emerged in the form of the floriculture industry. Between the 1880s and 1930s, Denver's floriculture industry developed and thrived, a period that became known locally as the Carnation Gold Rush. This industry provided a stark contrast to the mining busts, as it utilized the city's climate and soil to produce flowers for national markets. The influx of new residents, including immigrant German, Italian, and Chinese laborers, soon followed by African Americans from the Deep South and Hispanic workers, strained available housing and created social tensions. Competition among the different ethnic groups was often expressed as bigotry, and social tensions gave rise to the Red Scare. Americans were suspicious of immigrants, who were sometimes allied with socialist and labor union causes. After World War I, a revival of the Ku Klux Klan attracted white, native-born Americans who were anxious about the many changes in society. Unlike the earlier organization that was active in the rural South, KKK chapters developed in urban areas of the Midwest and West, including Denver, and into Idaho and Oregon. Corruption and crime also developed in Denver, creating a complex social fabric that would define the city for decades.

The Mile High Paradox

Denver's identity is inextricably linked to its elevation, which is exactly one mile above sea level, a fact that has shaped its climate, culture, and even its political decisions. The city's official elevation is defined by the elevation of the spot of a benchmark on the steps of the State Capitol building, making it the only state capital in the United States that is a consolidated city-county. This unique geography has led to a cool semi-arid climate with generally low humidity and around 3,100 hours of sunshine per year, although humid microclimates can be found nearby depending on exact location. The region can be subject to sudden changes in weather, with July being the warmest month and December the coldest. Winters consist of periods of snow and very low temperatures alternating with periods of milder weather due to the warming effect of Chinook winds. In winter, daytime highs occasionally exceed 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but they also often fail to reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit during periods of cold weather. The city has experienced extremes in temperature ranging from 0 degrees Fahrenheit on the 9th of January 1875, up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit as recently as the 28th of June 2018. The high elevation and aridity result in large diurnal temperature variation throughout the year. Tornadoes are rare west of the I-25 corridor, but the suburbs east of Denver and the city's east-northeastern extension, Denver International Airport, can see a few tornadoes, often weak landspout tornadoes, each spring and summer. The Denver Convergence Vorticity Zone, also known as the Denver Cyclone, is a variable vortex of storm-forming air flow usually found north and east of downtown, and which often includes the airport. Heavy weather from the DCVZ can disrupt airport operations. In a study looking at hail events in areas with a population of at least 50,000, Denver was found to be ranked 10th most prone to hail storms in the continental United States. The city has had three of the top 10 costliest hailstorms in U.S. history, on the 11th of July 1990; the 20th of July 2009; and the 8th of May 2017. Despite these weather challenges, the city has grown to become the 19th-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous state capital, with a population of 715,522 at the 2020 census.

The Olympic Rejection

In 1970, Denver was selected to host the 1976 Winter Olympics to coincide with Colorado's centennial celebration, but in November 1972, Colorado voters rejected ballot initiatives allocating public funds for the games, and the games moved to Innsbruck, Austria. The notoriety of being the only city ever to decline to host an Olympiad after being selected has made subsequent bids difficult. The movement against hosting the games was based largely on environmental issues and was led by State Representative Richard Lamm, who was subsequently elected to three terms as Colorado governor. This decision marked a turning point in Denver's relationship with its environment and its citizens' willingness to prioritize public welfare over grandiose projects. The rejection of the Olympics was a rare moment of civic defiance that set a precedent for future environmental and social movements in the city. Denver explored a potential bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, but no bid was submitted, cementing its unique status as the first city to back out after having won its bid to host the Olympics. The city's history of political activism continued with the 1972 Democratic National Convention, which was notable for nominating Tonie Nathan for vice president, the first woman, as well as the first Jew, to receive an electoral vote in a United States presidential election. In 1972, 1981, and 2008, Denver also hosted the Libertarian Party of the United States National Convention. The 1972 Convention was notable for nominating Tonie Nathan for vice president, the first woman, as well as the first Jew, to receive an electoral vote in a United States presidential election. On the 3rd of October 2012, the University of Denver hosted the first of the three 2012 presidential debates. In July 2019, Mayor Hancock said that Denver will not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with immigration raids. The city has also been a center of the Chicano Movement, with the boxer-turned-activist Rodolfo Corky Gonzales forming an organization called the Crusade for Justice, which battled police brutality, fought for bilingual education, and, most notably, hosted the First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference in March 1969. These events highlight Denver's role as a crucible for social change and political innovation.

The Nuclear Shadow

From 1953 to 1989, the Rocky Flats Plant, a Department of Energy nuclear weapon facility that was about 15 miles from Denver, produced fissile plutonium pits for nuclear warheads. A major fire at the facility in 1957, as well as leakage from nuclear waste stored at the site between 1958 and 1968, resulted in the contamination of some parts of Denver, to varying degrees, with plutonium-239, a harmful radioactive substance with a half-life of 24,200 years. A 1981 study by the Jefferson County health director, Carl Johnson, linked the contamination to an increase in birth defects and cancer incidence in central Denver and nearer Rocky Flats. Later studies confirmed many of his findings, and plutonium contamination was still present outside the former plant site. It presents risks to building the envisioned Jefferson Parkway, which would complete Denver's automotive beltway. The legacy of Rocky Flats has cast a long shadow over the city, raising questions about environmental justice and the cost of national security. The Denver Federal Center, Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and United States Courthouse, the Denver Mint, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are all part of the city's government presence. The area is home to the former nuclear weapons plant Rocky Flats, which has been a source of controversy and concern for decades. The city has also been a center of the Chicano Movement, with the boxer-turned-activist Rodolfo Corky Gonzales forming an organization called the Crusade for Justice, which battled police brutality, fought for bilingual education, and, most notably, hosted the First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference in March 1969. These events highlight Denver's role as a crucible for social change and political innovation. The city has also been a center of the Chicano Movement, with the boxer-turned-activist Rodolfo Corky Gonzales forming an organization called the Crusade for Justice, which battled police brutality, fought for bilingual education, and, most notably, hosted the First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference in March 1969. These events highlight Denver's role as a crucible for social change and political innovation.

The Modern Metropolis

Denver has evolved into a major cultural hub with a variety of museums and cultural institutions, including the Denver Performing Arts Complex and Denver Art Museum. The city is home to a wide array of museums, many of which are nationally recognized, including a new wing for the Denver Art Museum by architect Daniel Libeskind, the nation's second-largest Performing Arts Center after Lincoln Center in New York City, and bustling neighborhoods such as LoDo, filled with art galleries, restaurants, bars and clubs. The city has also been recognized for its outdoor-oriented lifestyle, with many Denver residents spending the weekends in the mountains, skiing in the winter and hiking, climbing, kayaking, and camping in the summer. Denver and surrounding cities are home to a large number of local and national breweries, and the city hosts the annual Great American Beer Festival each fall. The city has one of the country's largest populations of Mexican Americans and hosts four large Mexican-American celebrations, including Cinco de Mayo, El Grito de la Independencia, the annual Lowrider show, and the Dia De Los Muertos art shows/events. Denver is known for its dedication to New Mexican cuisine and the Chile, and it is best known for its green and red chile sauce, Colorado burrito, Southwest omelette, breakfast burrito, empanadas, chiles rellenos, and tamales. The city has also been a pioneer in the fast-casual restaurant industry, with many popular national chain restaurants founded and based in Denver, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, which was founded in Denver, but moved its headquarters to Newport Beach, California in 2018. The city has also been a center of the Chicano Movement, with the boxer-turned-activist Rodolfo Corky Gonzales forming an organization called the Crusade for Justice, which battled police brutality, fought for bilingual education, and, most notably, hosted the First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference in March 1969. These events highlight Denver's role as a crucible for social change and political innovation. The city has also been a center of the Chicano Movement, with the boxer-turned-activist Rodolfo Corky Gonzales forming an organization called the Crusade for Justice, which battled police brutality, fought for bilingual education, and, most notably, hosted the First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference in March 1969. These events highlight Denver's role as a crucible for social change and political innovation.