The City and County of Denver  is the capital and the most populous city of the State of Colorado. Denver is located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The Denver downtown district is located immediately east of the confluence of Cherry Creek with the South Platte River, approximately 15 miles east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is nicknamed The Mile-High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile (5,280 feet above sea level.

Concealed from the west by bold foothills and towering 14,000-foot peaks, and protected to the east by an expansive and unforgiving high desert terrain, it is a place where everybody seems to be from somewhere else. Today, modern-day pioneers flock to Denver for world-class skiing and biking, serene hiking and intense rock climbing. They travel here from far and wide to imbibe famous microbrews, stand in the humbling presence of massive peaks or find prosperity in the booming computer and telecommunications economy. The end result: blended but cohesive neighborhoods, brimming with a diverse collection of cultures and exuding character and charm.

Shop away at the Denver Pavilions and Tabor Center or take in a Broadway show at one of the eight theaters comprising the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Spend a day wandering the shores of Downtown Aquarium or seek adventure at Elitch Gardens. After a long day of sightseeing, kick back in a brew pub and enjoy a microbrew, or treat yourself to a fine dining experience at one of downtown's excellent restaurants. Historic Lower Downtown The ghosts of the red light district from Denver's gold rush days may still haunt the streets of lower downtown, but they are not alone anymore. The area, termed LoDo by locals, was virtually empty 10 years ago. But since the opening of Coors Field, home to baseball's Colorado Rockies, this 20-block district of 19th-century brick buildings has come alive with energy and entertainment. The original commercial core of Denver underwent a major renovation and now sports a seemingly endless variety of trendy pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, shops and luxurious loft apartments. Larimer Square, at the southern end of LoDo,

Denver is a geographically isolated city sitting exactly one mile above sea level and over 600 barren miles from the next closest major city. Concealed from the west by bold foothills and towering 14,000-foot peaks, and protected to the east by an expansive and unforgiving high desert terrain, it is a place where everybody seems to be from somewhere else. Today, modern-day pioneers flock to Denver for world-class skiing and biking, serene hiking and intense rock climbing. They travel here from far and wide to imbibe famous microbrews, stand in the humbling presence of massive peaks or find prosperity in the booming computer and telecommunications economy. The end result: blended but cohesive neighborhoods, brimming with a diverse collection of cultures and exuding character and charm.

Historic Lower Downtown The ghosts of the red light district from Denver's gold rush days may still haunt the streets of lower downtown, but they are not alone anymore. The area, termed LoDo by locals, was virtually empty 10 years ago. But since the opening of Coors Field, home to baseball's Colorado Rockies, this 20-block district of 19th-century brick buildings has come alive with energy and entertainment. The original commercial core of Denver underwent a major renovation and now sports a seemingly endless variety of trendy pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, shops and luxurious loft apartments. Larimer Square, at the southern end of LoDo, occupies a portion of Denver\'s oldest street. University Park Washington Park's wild southern neighbor is University Park, home of the University of Denver. The area is a hot spot of cultural and displays some of south Denver's finest architecture. South Pearl Street is a cozy little shopping spot and is home to the popular Japanese joint, Sushi Den. Golden Located on the western fringe of Denver, surrounded by a jagged hogback and a plethora of wide buttes, Golden is a charming small town (do not ever say it is a suburb) that echoes Colorado's gold rush heritage. Home of the Coors Brewing Company and the Buffalo Bill Museum. Golden is an excellent spot to experience a part of Western Americana. The locals have traded in their horses for mountain bikes, and the town boasts some of the best trail riding in the country at famed Apex Park and White Ranch Park.

Created as a separate county in 1902 from Arapahoe County, the City of Denver was and still is the hub of not only Colorado but the Rocky Mountain Region. Denver, however, existed long before it became a county in its own right. It was in 1858 that gold flakes were discovered at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. Three separate small mining "tent towns" were quickly established - Denver, Auraria, and a third small one. With a barrel of whiskey as the prize, they merged into one and officially became the town of Denver. It was named after James Denver, Territorial Governor of Kansas Territory. And as they say, the RUSH was on!

Denver is a lively city with a great love of the outdoors. Here you'll find the nation's largest city park system, 90 golf courses and an incredible 650 miles of paved bike trails. Down every street there are mountain views. The mountain panorama visible from Denver is 120 miles long and includes nearly 200 named peaks.

Housing Cost

Homes in the Denver area range greatly, from $100,000 up to $2,000,000.

Demographics

Estimated population in July 2005: 557,917. Denver covers 153.4 square miles.

Denver is a geographically isolated city sitting exactly one mile above sea level and over 600 barren miles from the next closest major city.

Area codes: 303, 720

Climate

Denver, CO climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 30's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 88.30 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of -3.30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be big during summer with a difference that can reach 47 degrees Fahrenheit, and big during winter with an average difference of 51 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Denver is 18.17 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 2.60 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com