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Golden, CO

Frequently asked questions

Golden, CO

Golden is a home rule city that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 20,399 at the 2020 United States Census. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the base of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on June 16, 1859, the mining camp was originally named Golden City in honor of Thomas L. Golden. Golden City served as the capital of the provisional Territory of Jefferson from 1860 to 1861, and the capital of the official Territory of Colorado from 1862 to 1867. In 1867, the territorial capital was moved about 12 miles (19 km) east to Denver City. Golden is now a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the Front Range Urban Corridor.

The Colorado School of Mines, offering programs in engineering and science, is located in Golden. In addition, it is also home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Earthquake Information Center, Coors Brewing Company, CoorsTek, Boston Market, Spyderco, Software Bisque, American Mountaineering Center, and Colorado Railroad Museum. It is the birthplace of the Jolly Rancher, a candy bought out by the Hershey Foods Corporation, and home to Yeti Cycles. Western showman William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody is buried nearby on Lookout Mountain.

Established during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, Golden City quickly became a leading economic and political center of the region. Its geographic location made it a center of trade between the gold fields to the west and settlements to the east. Golden City was established on June 16, 1859, along Clear Creek west of Denver. The city is named after Thomas L. Golden. Other important businessmen and prospectors like William A.H. Loveland and George West were among the first people to settle in Golden.

By the end of 1860, Golden City had been popularly elected the seat of Jefferson County and was the capital of the provisional Jefferson Territory. As drafted in the territorial constitution, the capital of the Jefferson Territory was initially proposed to be Golden, then with a population of 700, as a result of its proximity to mountain mining towns, and greater ability to hold a congressional quorum than Denver. Golden City was temporarily removed from the status of territory capital as a result of an act passed on November 5, 1861, by the territorial government.

Colorado City, a small town to the south of Denver, became the new temporary territorial capital but saw only one short event at this location. This status was quickly revoked, however, as on August 4, 1862, the territorial government voted formally to move back to Golden.

Golden lies just north of I-70 and west of Denver at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. It is situated between Lookout Mountain and the two Table Mountains, within a sheltered valley fed by Clear Creek. Clear Creek flows through town from the west, out of its canyon shared by US 6, and exits the valley it carved between North Table Mountain and South Table Mountain in which is located at the Coors Brewery. At the 2020 United States Census, the city had a total area of 6,225 acres (25.193 km2) including 59 acres (0.240 km2) of water.

Golden provides amazing programs that help its residents with their health and wellness needs. Life Time Fitness is known for its upscale amenities and comprehensive fitness offerings, Life Time Fitness has several locations in Colorado. The YMCA is offering fitness classes, gym equipment, swimming pools, and community programs. Orangetheory Fitness, with studios in various cities across Colorado, Orangetheory Fitness provides high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts in a group setting. Planet Fitness is known for its affordable memberships and judgment-free atmosphere, Planet Fitness has multiple locations in Colorado. CrossFit Gyms, there are numerous CrossFit gyms in Colorado for those interested in high-intensity functional training. Boutique Fitness Studios, Colorado also has a variety of boutique fitness studios specializing in yoga, pilates, cycling, barre, and other fitness disciplines.

Top sites in Golden, CO are Colorado Railroad Museum, Mines Museum of Earth Science, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, and The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. 

Population: 20,151 (2024). ZIP codes: 80401-80403, 80419, 80439. Area codes: 303, 720. Elevation: 5,675′. Area: 6,225 acres (25.193 km2).

FAQs

Why is Golden Colorado famous?

At the city’s center lies Clear Creek, once known as Cannonball Creek for its cannonball-sized river rocks used in the Armory Building. Golden City became known as the last “flat place” before the Rockies, and it soon became a supply center for miners headed to find gold in the western mountains. Several factors influenced the town’s growth: miners’ supply needs, agriculture, and industries. With Golden as a former gold rush town, industries popped up to support the incoming miners and their families.

Is Golden Colorado worth visiting?

Golden offers everything a mountain town should: gorgeous mountain views in all directions; a river with kayaking and rafting flowing through the center of town; miles and miles of hiking and biking trails; historic buildings from Colorado’s gold rush days; a half dozen breweries with outdoor beer gardens and food trucks and a flower-lined main street filled with outdoor recreation stores, galleries, and one-of-a-kind shops. The BIG difference is, Golden is only 5,675 feet high! So instead of watching your flatlander friends huff and puff and complain about the altitude, head to Golden where they can enjoy the feel of a mountain town without the extreme altitude gain.

Is Golden Colorado expensive to live in?

Golden is part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metro metro area, which is ranked 55 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. According to C2ER (the Council for Community and Economic Research), the cost of living in Golden is estimated to be 106.8% of the national average making it an average US city. The median household income in Golden is $83,976, which is 4% more than that of the state. The median income for an individual is $36,514, which is 14% less than that of the state.

Sources

City of Golden

Wikipedia

Visit Golden

Zero Down

Life Time Fitness

YMCA

Orangetheory Fitness

Planet Fitness

CrossFit Gyms

Boutique Fitness Studios

Colorado Railroad Museum 

Mines Museum of Earth Science 

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre 

The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave

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