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Arvada, Colorado

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City of Arvada, Colorado
City
Location in Jefferson County and the state of Colorado
Location in Jefferson County and the state of Colorado
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
Counties[1]Jefferson County
Adams County
Settled1859[2]
PlattedDecember 1, 1870[2]
IncorporatedAugust 24, 1904[2][3]
Named forHiram Arvada Haskin
Government
 • TypeHome Rule Municipality[1]
 • MayorBob Frie[4]
 • City ManagerCraig Kocian[5]
Area
 • Total
35.759 sq mi (92.616 km2)
 • Land35.142 sq mi (91.018 km2)
 • Water0.617 sq mi (1.598 km2)
Elevation
5,344 ft (1,662 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
106,433
 • Density3,029/sq mi (1,169/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
80001-80007 and 80403[6]
Area code(s)Both 303 and 720
FIPS code08-03455
GNIS feature ID0204709
HighwaysI-70, I-76, SH 72, SH 93, SH 95, SH 121
WebsiteCity of Arvada
Site of the first documented discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain Region
Eighth most populous city in Colorado
"Monsella" tulip, blooming in Arvada 2006
Cable-stayed bridge At Gold Strike Park
The water tower situated in Olde Town Arvada

The City of Arvada (/[invalid input: 'icon']ɑːrˈvædə/) is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area of the U.S. state of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. The 2010 United States Census recorded 106,433 residents, making Arvada the eighth most populous city in the State of Colorado.[7]

History

The first documented discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain region occurred on June 22, 1850, when Lewis Ralston, a Georgia prospector headed for the California gold fields, dipped his sluice pan into a small stream near its mouth at Clear Creek.[2] Ralston found about 1/4 ounce (6 g) of gold then worth about five dollars. Ralston's companions named the stream Ralston's Creek in his honor, but they all left the next morning, drawn by the lure of the California gold fields.

During the Pike's Peak Gold Rush in 1858, Ralston brought another group of prospectors back to the site of his first discovery. The placer gold in the area soon played out, but hard rock deposits of gold were found in the mountains to the west. Some of the miners abandoned their search for gold and returned to farm the rich bottom land along Ralston Creek and Clear Creek. They found an eager market for their crops among other gold seekers. The Territory of Colorado was formed on February 28, 1861, and the farms in the valley expanded to feed the growing population of the region.

In 1870, the Colorado Central Railroad laid tracks through the area on its route from Golden to link up with the Kansas Pacific Railroad and the Denver Pacific Railroad at Jersey Junction, 3 miles (5 km) north of Denver. On December 1, 1870, Benjamin F. Wadsworth and Louis A. Reno platted the Ralston Point townsite along the railroad. To avoid confusion with other communities along Ralston Creek, Ralston Point was soon renamed Arvada in honor of Hiram Arvada Haskin, brother-in-law of settler Mary Wadsworth.[8] Benjamin Wadsworth became the first postmaster of Arvada. Colorado was granted statehood on August 1, 1876, and the Town of Arvada was formally incorporated on August 14, 1904. A vibrant agricultural community, Arvada claimed the title "Celery Capital of the World."

Arvada grew rapidly during the latter half of the 20th century as a suburb of nearby Denver, the state capital. Arvada became a Statutory City on October 31, 1951, and a Home Rule Municipality on July 23, 1963. By the end of the millennium, the population of Arvada exceeded 100,000.

Missionary shooting

Main article: 2007 Colorado YWAM and New Life shootings

On December 9, 2007, Matthew J. Murray walked into the Youth With a Mission Center in Arvada and, after he was refused his request to stay overnight, opened fire and killed two people, injuring two more. A memorial was held the following Wednesday, December 12, in which Youth With a Mission leaders forgave Murray's family for what happened.[9]

Government

The city of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality with a council-manager form of government. The Arvada City Council has seven members: a mayor and two councilmembers elected at large, and four councilmembers elected from council districts.

Arvada City Council[4]
Office Incumbent
Mayor Bob Frie
Councilmember At-large Don Allard
Councilmember At-large Marc Williams
Councilmember, District One Rachel Zenzinger
Councilmember, District Two Mark McGoff
Councilmember, District Three Shelley Cook
Councilmember, District Four and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Dyer

The City Council selects the city manager. The Arvada City Manager is Craig Kocian.[5] Mr. Kocian has resigned and will end his tenure on September 30, 2011 [10]

Geography

Arvada is located at 39°49′12″N 105°6′40″W / 39.82000°N 105.11111°W / 39.82000; -105.11111 (39.819962, -105.110975)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.8 square miles (85 km2).84.6 km²; (32.7 sq mi) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (0.58%) is water.

Plutonium contamination

Main article: Radioactive contamination from the Rocky Flats Plant

Radioactive contamination of both the immediate, surrounding area and the entire greater Denver metropolitan area has resulted from decades of radioactive isotope releases, largely plutonium (Pu-239), into the environment from the Rocky Flats Plant, a former nuclear weapons production facility located about 15 miles upwind of Denver that has since been shut down and disassembled.

In terms of major related events, on September 11, 1957 portions of the Denver metropolitan area -- substantially including Arvada -- became contaminated with radioactive Pu-239 from a then highly-classified plutonium fire.[11][12] Another major plutonium fire in 1969[13] produced similar effects, but was monitored and reported by civilian agencies, which led to the U.S. government's divulgence of the 1957 fire.

In 1989 a combined FBI and EPA raid of the plant for investigation of environmental crimes effectively ended production and further potential for plutonium fires. Superfund decontamination results have been withheld by the U.S. Government, however significant Pu-239 contamination has been found outside Rocky Flats as recently as August 2010.[14][15]

Transportation

Arvada is the western terminus of Interstate 76, which begins at the intersection of Interstate 70 and State Highway 121. Other state highways in Arvada include SH 72, SH 93 and SH 95. Major highways near Arvada include Interstate 25, Interstate 270, U.S. Highway 36, and U.S. Highway 287.

The Amtrak California Zephyr passes through the City of Arvada westbound each morning and eastbound each evening. This route through the scenic heart of the Rocky Mountains is one of the most popular rail routes in the United States. Full Amtrak passenger and parcel service is available at the nearby Denver Union Station.

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) currently serves Arvada with seven local bus routes (31, 51, 52, 72, 76, 80, and 100), four express bus routes (55X, 58X, 72X, and 80X), and one regional bus route (GS). RTD plans to provide Arvada with a commuter rail Gold Line along the old Colorado Central Railroad route (now operated by the Union Pacific Railroad) by 2015.

Arvada is served by Denver International Airport and nearby Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

In 2008 the League of American Bicyclists designated Arvada as a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community.[16]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910840—
19209158.9%
19301,27639.5%
19401,48216.1%
19502,35959.2%
196019,342719.9%
197049,844157.7%
198084,57869.7%
199089,2355.5%
2000102,15314.5%
2010106,4334.2%

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 102,153 people, 39,019 households, and 27,742 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,128.1 people per square mile (1,207.6/km²). There were 39,733 housing units at an average density of 1,216.7 per square mile (469.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.04% White, 0.66% African American, 0.65% Native American, 2.17% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.08% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.82% of the population.

There were 39,019 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,541, and the median income for a family was $63,273. Males had a median income of $42,126 versus $30,802 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,679. About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or older.

Economy

Arvada is largely a commuter town to Denver and Boulder. The primary retail corridors are along Wadsworth Boulevard, 52nd Avenue, and Ralston Road.

Police Scandal

Arvada was home to one of the largest police scandals in Colorado in 2010 when a neighboring police agency was needed and requested by the chief of police to intervene in the criminal conduct of Arvada's police force. Arvada's city council had chosen not to intervene in the previous criminal conduct of several members of the Arvada police, despite a cost to the city of close to half a million dollars defending the criminal actions of one police officer alone, during a period of budget crises.[17] The police officers involved had been routinely breaking and entering into peoples homes in the hope they would find criminal activity, as was found by several federal jury trials.[17] Police chief Don Wick sought other avenues of investigation and contacted the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office[18] to conduct an investigation into the criminal conduct of some members of the Arvada Police Department. This was prompted by the assault of a man that the police department had arrested and was in handcuffs. Two officers (Whitney Bauma and Noah Rolfing) watched Charles Humphrey punch a restrained man, then all of them collaborated to cover up the crime. [17][19] At least 6 police officers resigned because of the investigation.[20]. "This has been one of the greatest challenges facing our department in its history. It's been an emotional time for everyone involved," Wick said. "This has impacted officers on the streets to our non-sworn staff who are critical to the operation of the organization." [21][22] Charges were ultimately dropped, but the Arvada police department stood by the resignation of these former police officers because their conduct was not appropriate for a police officer. [23]

Sister cities

Arvada has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

Notable residents

Arts

Business

Politics

Religion

Sports

See also

Template:Satop

1956 Canadian Pontiac Pathfinder Sedan Delivery, displayed at an Arvada car show in 2008.

References

  1. ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "Arvada History". City of Arvada, Colorado. Archived from the original (HTTP) on 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  3. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  4. ^ a b "City Council Members" (HTTP). City of Arvada, Colorado. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  5. ^ a b "City Manager's Office". City of Arvada, Colorado. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  6. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. August 18, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  7. ^ "American Factfinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  8. ^ "Profile for Arvada, Colorado". ePodunk. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  9. ^ Holusha, John (2007-12-09). "Gunman Kills 2 at Missionary Center Near Denver". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  10. ^ http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-c-2011-02-16-218981.114125-sub17482.114125-Kocians-quarter.html
  11. ^ "Citizen Summary Rocky Flats Historical Public Exposures Studies". Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  12. ^ http://www.rockyflatsnuclearguardianship.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/leroy-moore-papers/1957-fateful-year-may92-1.pdf
  13. ^ http://www.colorado.edu/journalism/cej/exhibit/index.html
  14. ^ http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2010/2010-08-05-01.html
  15. ^ http://coloradoindependent.com/95372/invasive-weeds-at-rocky-flats-raise-nuclear-concerns
  16. ^ http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/pdfs/bfc_masterlist_09_10.pdf
  17. ^ a b c http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-arvada-police-excessive-force-cover-up-txt,0,3401480.story
  18. ^ http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/24860911/detail.html?treets=den&tml=den_break&ts=T&tmi=den_break_1_05300109022010
  19. ^ http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/25778288/detail.html
  20. ^ Robles, Yesenia (September 4, 2010). "Sixth Arvada police officer resigns in excessive-force case". Denver Post.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference 9news.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ http://www.9news.com/rss/story.aspx?storyid=163150
  23. ^ http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/204722/222/Arvada-officer-found-not-guilty-in-excessive-force-case
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