History of Denver in Timeline
Denver is the capital and most populous city of Colorado, situated in the South Platte River Valley, east of the Rocky Mountains. Its population was 715,522 in 2020, marking a significant increase since 2010. Denver is the 19th most populous city in the U.S. and the anchor of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan area, home to nearly 3 million residents. It serves as the economic and cultural hub of the Front Range Urban Corridor, which has a population exceeding 5 million.
1900: Denver population makeup
In 1900, whites represented 96.8% of Denver's population.
1901: Home rule bill introduced
In 1901, a bill proposing a state constitutional amendment to allow home rule for Denver and other municipalities was introduced in the legislature and passed.
1902: Denver consolidation
In 1902, Denver City consolidated with Arapahoe County.
1902: City and County of Denver formed
In 1902, voters approved a statewide referendum, and on December 1, the City and County of Denver came into being, separating from Arapahoe and Adams counties.
1904: Robert Speer became mayor
In 1904, Robert Speer became mayor of Denver, and he sought to expand and beautify the city's parks.
1908: Democratic National Convention
Denver hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1908.
1908: Denver hosted its first convention
In 1908, Denver first hosted a convention.
1910: Samsonite Founded
In 1910, Samsonite began in Denver as Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company.
1911: Qwest Corporation Founded
In 1911, Qwest Corporation was founded in Denver as Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company.
1916: Robert Speer became mayor again
In 1916, Robert Speer became mayor of Denver again, and he sought to expand and beautify the city's parks.
1919: Gates Corporation Established
In 1919, The Gates Corporation was established in S. Denver.
1923: Benjamin F. Stapleton became mayor of Denver
In 1923, Benjamin F. Stapleton began his first term as mayor of Denver.
1923: Russell Stover Candies Made First Candy
In 1923, Russell Stover Candies made its first chocolate candy in Denver.
1929: Construction began on Denver Municipal Airport
In 1929, construction began on the Denver Municipal Airport, later renamed Stapleton International Airport.
1931: End of Benjamin F. Stapleton's first term as mayor of Denver
In 1931, Benjamin F. Stapleton's first term as mayor of Denver ended.
1933: Democratic control of Colorado's 1st congressional district began
Since 1933, Colorado's 1st congressional district has been in Democratic hands for all but two terms.
1935: Benjamin F. Stapleton became mayor of Denver for his second term
In 1935, Benjamin F. Stapleton began his second term as mayor of Denver.
October 31, 1937: Continental Airlines Moved HQ to Denver
On October 31, 1937, Continental Airlines moved its headquarters to Stapleton Airport in Denver.
1947: Amanda Knecht Visits Brest
In 1947, Amanda Knecht visited the war-ravaged city of Brest, France, and subsequently inspired her students to raise money to help rebuild the children's wing of Brest's hospital.
1947: End of Benjamin F. Stapleton's second term as mayor of Denver
In 1947, Benjamin F. Stapleton's second term as mayor of Denver ended.
1948: Denver-Brest Sister City Relationship Begins
In 1948, Denver established a sister city relationship with Brest, France, becoming the second-oldest such relationship in the United States.
1950: Frontier Airlines Operations Began
In 1950, the original Frontier Airlines began operations at Denver's old Stapleton International Airport.
1953: Rocky Flats Plant opens
From 1953 to 1989, the Rocky Flats Plant produced fissile plutonium "pits" for nuclear warheads.
1954: Scott's Liquid Gold Founded
In 1954, Scott's Liquid Gold, Inc. began making furniture polish in Denver.
1957: Fire at Rocky Flats Plant
In 1957, a major fire at the Rocky Flats Plant contaminated some parts of Denver with plutonium-239.
1958: Leakage from nuclear waste storage
Between 1958 and 1968, leakage from nuclear waste stored at the Rocky Flats Plant contaminated some parts of Denver with plutonium-239.
1958: Village Inn Founded
In 1958, Village Inn restaurants began as a single pancake house in Denver.
1962: Big O Tires First Franchise
In 1962, Big O Tires, LLC, opened its first franchise in Denver.
1963: Democratic Mayor elected
Since the 1963 municipal election, the mayor's office in Denver has been occupied by a Democrat.
1966: Lowry Air Force Base Ceases Flight Operations
In 1966, Lowry Air Force Base ceased flight operations.
1967: Denver Nuggets Joined ABA
In 1967, the Denver Nuggets joined the American Basketball Association.
1968: Leakage from nuclear waste storage
Between 1958 and 1968, leakage from nuclear waste stored at the Rocky Flats Plant contaminated some parts of Denver with plutonium-239.
March 1969: First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference
In March 1969, Denver hosted the First National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference.
1969: Russell Stover Moved to Kansas City
In 1969, Russell Stover Candies moved to Kansas City.
1970: Denver selected to host Winter Olympics
In 1970, Denver was selected to host the 1976 Winter Olympics.
1970: Last Republican to win Denver in a gubernatorial election
In 1970, John A. Love was the last Republican to win Denver in a gubernatorial election.
1970: Neighborhood Boundaries Established
In 1970, the system of neighborhood boundaries and names dates was created when city planners divided the city into 73 statistical neighborhoods.
1970: Broncos Sold Out Home Games
Since 1970, the Denver Broncos have sold out every home game (except for strike-replacement games).
1971: Shane Company First Jewelry Sale
In 1971, The Shane Company sold its first diamond jewelry in Denver.
November 1972: Colorado voters decline to fund Winter Olympics
In November 1972, Colorado voters struck down ballot initiatives allocating public funds to pay for the high costs of the 1976 Winter Olympics.
1972: Denver hosted the Libertarian Party of the United States National Convention
In 1972, Denver hosted the Libertarian Party of the United States National Convention, notable for nominating Tonie Nathan for vice president.
1972: Johns Manville Corp. Relocated
In 1972, Johns Manville Corp. relocated its headquarters to Denver from New York.
1973: Re/Max Made Denver HQ
In 1973, Re/Max made Denver its headquarters.
1974: Rehabilitation of the South Platte River began
Since 1974, Denver and surrounding areas have been rehabilitating the South Platte River and its tributaries for recreational use.
1975: Richard Lamm elected Governor
In 1975, Richard Lamm was elected to the first of three terms as Colorado governor.
1976: Colorado Rockies Played
From 1976, the Colorado Rockies played in Denver.
1976: Denver Withdrew Olympic Bid
In 1976, Denver withdrew its winning bid to host the Winter Olympics.
1980: CH2M Hill Relocated
In 1980, CH2M Hill relocated from Oregon to the Denver Technological Center.
1980: Construction on SH 470 was delayed until 1980
In 1980, construction on SH 470 was delayed until after state and local legislation was passed.
1981: Snowfall Averages
From 1981 to 2010, snowfall averaged 53.5 inches.
1981: Denver hosted the Libertarian Party of the United States National Convention
In 1981, Denver hosted the Libertarian Party of the United States National Convention.
1981: Study linking contamination to health issues
In 1981, a study by Carl Johnson linked contamination from the Rocky Flats Plant to an increase in birth defects and cancer incidence in central Denver.
1981: Oil Prices Dropped
In 1981, the price of oil dropped from $34 a barrel, contributing to later economic downturn.
1981: Dynasty Set in Denver
In 1981, the prime time drama Dynasty was set in Denver (though mostly filmed in Los Angeles).
July 1982: World Theatre Festival
In July 1982, Denver hosted the World Theatre Festival at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
1982: Colorado Rockies Moved
In 1982, the Colorado Rockies moved to the New York metropolitan area to become the New Jersey Devils.
1984: Denver supported a Democrat for president
In 1984, Denver supported a Democrat for president, Walter Mondale, despite Ronald Reagan's national landslide.
1984: Last Republican Senator to carry Denver
In 1984, William L. Armstrong was the last Republican Senator to carry Denver during his landslide victory.
1986: Denver Economy Dropped
In 1986, the price of oil dropped to $9 a barrel, causing the Denver economy to decline.
1987: MediaNews Group Purchased Denver Post
In 1987, MediaNews Group purchased the Denver Post.
June 15, 1988: F3 Tornado Strikes
On June 15, 1988, an F3 tornado struck 4.4 miles (7.1 km) south of downtown Denver.
1988: SCFD Approved
In 1988, voters in the Denver Metropolitan Area approved the Scientific and Cultural Facilities Tax (SCFD).
1989: Rocky Flats Plant closes
From 1953 to 1989, the Rocky Flats Plant produced fissile plutonium "pits" for nuclear warheads.
July 11, 1990: Costliest Hailstorm
On July 11, 1990, Denver had one of the top 10 costliest hailstorms in U.S. history.
1993: World Youth Day
From August 10–15, 1993, Denver hosted the Catholic Church's 6th World Youth Day.
1993: Colorado Rockies Created
In 1993, the Colorado Rockies were created as an expansion franchise.
1994: Frontier Airlines Reincarnated
In 1994, Frontier Airlines was reincarnated at DIA.
1994: Lowry Air Force Base Closed
In 1994, Lowry Air Force Base officially closed.
1994: Last statewide Republican officeholder to carry Denver
In 1994, Victoria Buckley was the last statewide Republican officeholder to carry Denver by a 1.2% margin.
1994: SCFD Renewed
In 1994, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities Tax (SCFD) was renewed by voters.
1995: Stapleton International Airport Closed
In 1995, Stapleton International Airport was closed, being replaced by Denver International Airport (DIA).
1995: Colorado Avalanche Joined
In 1995, the Colorado Avalanche joined after relocating from Quebec City.
1996: Avalanche Won Stanley Cup
In 1996, the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup.
1997: Denver hosted the G7 summit
Between June 20 and 22 in 1997, Denver hosted the G7 summit.
1997: Broncos Won Super Bowl
In 1997, the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl.
1998: Emergency Vets Series Started
In 1998, the Animal Planet series Emergency Vets began filming at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital.
1998: Broncos Won Super Bowl Again
In 1998, the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.
1999: Avalanche and Nuggets Played at Ball Arena
In 1999, the Avalanche and Nuggets began playing at Ball Arena.
2000: Denver hosted the National Convention of the Green Party
In 2000, Denver hosted the National Convention of the Green Party.
2001: Samsonite Factory Closed
In 2001, Samsonite closed its NE Denver factory.
2001: South Platte River Greenway project wins award
In 2001, The South Platte River Greenway project was recognized as one of the best urban reclamation projects in the U.S., winning the Silver Medal Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.
2001: Avalanche Won Stanley Cup Again
In 2001, the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup for a second time.
2001: Newspapers merged operations
In 2001, the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News merged operations under a joint operating agreement.
2002: Bill Owens last Republican governor to receive at least 40% of Denver's vote
In 2002, Bill Owens remains the last Republican governor to receive at least 40% of Denver's vote.
2002: Emergency Vets Series Ended
In 2002, the Animal Planet series Emergency Vets ended.
2004: SCFD Renewed Again
In 2004, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities Tax (SCFD) was renewed by voters again.
2004: City Acquired Clyfford Still Estate
In 2004, the city of Denver acquired the estate of abstract expressionist painter Clyfford Still.
2004: FasTracks Approved
In 2004, voters approved the FasTracks project, a commuter rail, light rail, and bus expansion plan intended to serve Denver's neighboring suburbs and communities.
2005: Denver voted to legalize private marijuana possession
In 2005, Denver voted to make the private possession of less than an ounce of marijuana legal for adults 21 and older.
2005: Molson Coors Established US HQ
In 2005, Molson Coors Brewing Company established its U.S. headquarters in Denver.
2005: Colorado Convention Center Expansion Completed
In 2005, a $310.7 million expansion of the Colorado Convention Center was completed.
November 17, 2006: T-REX project completed
On November 17, 2006, the T-REX (Transportation Expansion Project) for the southern I-25 corridor was completed.
2006: Denver Parks and Recreation
As of 2006, Denver had over 200 parks and 29 recreation centers.
2006: Denver Outlaws Established
In 2006, Denver established a Major League Lacrosse team, the Denver Outlaws. The Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League won championships in this year also.
2006: Denver Recognized as Best City for Singles
In 2006, Denver was recognized for the third year in a row as the best city for singles.
2006: Samsonite Headquarters Moved
In 2006, Samsonite moved its headquarters to Massachusetts after a change of ownership.
2007: Denver required the mayor to appoint an 11-member review panel
In 2007, Denver passed an initiative requiring the mayor to appoint an 11-member review panel to monitor compliance with the 2005 marijuana ordinance.
2007: Colorado Rapids Stadium Opened
In 2007, the Colorado Rapids opened their stadium in Commerce City.
2007: Rockies Advanced to World Series
In 2007, the Colorado Rockies advanced to the World Series but were swept by the Boston Red Sox.
2008: Democratic National Convention
Denver hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2008.
2008: Denver hosted the Democratic National Convention
In 2008, Denver hosted the Democratic National Convention.
February 2009: Rocky Mountain News closed
In February 2009, the Rocky Mountain News closed after the papers merged operations in 2001.
March 29, 2009: Final Ski Train Run
On March 29, 2009, the Ski Train, which transported passengers between Denver and Winter Park Ski Resort, made its final run.
July 20, 2009: Costliest Hailstorm
On July 20, 2009, Denver had one of the top 10 costliest hailstorms in U.S. history.
2009: Denver is a large market for television
According to the 2009-2010 rankings from Nielsen Media Research, Denver is the 16th-largest market in the country for television.
2009: Denver-Boulder radio market ranking
According to the Fall 2009 Arbitron ranking, the Denver-Boulder radio market is the No. 20 market in the United States.
April 2010: Denver launched B-Cycle
In late April 2010, Denver launched B-Cycle, a citywide bicycle sharing program, which was the largest in the United States at the time of its launch.
August 2010: Plutonium contamination
As of August 2010, Plutonium contamination was still present outside the former plant site.
2010: Denver is a large market for television
According to the 2009-2010 rankings from Nielsen Media Research, Denver is the 16th-largest market in the country for television.
2010: Languages spoken in Denver
As of 2010, 72.28% of Denver residents aged five and older spoke only English at home, while 21.42% spoke Spanish.
2010: Snowfall Averages
From 1981 to 2010, snowfall averaged 53.5 inches.
2010: Increased Real Estate Investment
From 2010 onward, the Downtown region of Denver saw increased real estate investment with the construction of several new skyscrapers.
2010: B-Cycle Launched
In 2010, B-Cycle, Denver's citywide bicycle sharing program, launched and was the largest in the United States at the time.
2010: Zoning code update
In 2010, Denver adopted a comprehensive update of its zoning code.
2010: Denver MSA gross metropolitan product
In 2010, the Denver MSA had a gross metropolitan product of $157.6 billion, making it the 18th largest metro economy in the United States.
2010: Denver population
Since 2010, Denver's population experienced a 19.22% increase.
2011: Denver ranked 6th in percentage of bicycle commuters
According to data from the 2011 American Community Survey, Denver ranked 6th among US cities with populations over 400,000 in terms of the percentage of workers who commute by bicycle.
2011: Denver-Boulder radio market ranking
According to the Spring 2011 Arbitron ranking, the Denver-Boulder radio market is the No. 19 market in the United States.
2011: Rate of homelessness
In 2011, Denver had a homeless rate of 19 per 10,000 residents, lower than many other major cities.
April 2012: History Colorado Center Opened
In April 2012, the state history museum, History Colorado Center, opened.
October 3, 2012: University of Denver hosted a presidential debate
On October 3, 2012, the University of Denver hosted the first of the three 2012 presidential debates.
April 2013: W Line Opens
In April 2013, the W Line, also known as the West Line, began service as part of the FasTracks project, connecting Denver to Golden/Federal Center.
2013: Continental Merged with United Airlines
In 2013, Continental, which had moved to Houston from Denver, merged with United Airlines.
2013: History Colorado Center Recognized
In 2013, True West Magazine named History Colorado Center as one of the top-ten "must see" history museums in the country.
2013: Metropolitan Statistical Area Population
In 2013, the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated population of 2,697,476.
2014: Life expectancy in Denver
According to a report, residents of Denver had a 2014 life expectancy of 80.02 years.
2014: Coldest major U.S. city ranking
As of 2014, Weather Channel ranked Denver the 18th-coldest major U.S. city.
2014: Peak of B-Cycle Ridership
In 2014, B-Cycle ridership peaked, then steadily declined.
2014: Denver Outlaws Won Championship
In 2014, the Denver Outlaws won their first championship.
2014: Colorado rated as a bicycle-friendly state
In 2014, the League of American Bicyclists rated Colorado as the sixth most bicycle-friendly state in the nation.
2015: Percentage of Denver households lacking a car
In 2015, 9.6 percent of Denver households lacked a car.
2015: Denver Ranked Best Place for Business
In 2015, Denver ranked No. 1 on Forbes' list of the Best Places for Business and Careers.
2015: Commuter railway system operations
In 2015, a new commuter railway system commenced operations in the Denver metropolitan area.
2015: Broncos Won Super Bowl Again
In 2015, the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl again.
April 2016: A Line Opens
In April 2016, the commuter rail A Line started operating from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport. Ridership exceeded early expectations.
November 2016: Denver Unemployment Rate
In November 2016, Denver's unemployment rate was 2.6%, one of the lowest in the nation.
December 2016: Denver-Aurora-Broomfield MSA Unemployment Rate
As of December 2016, the unemployment rate for the Denver–Aurora–Broomfield MSA was 2.6%.
2016: Percentage of Denver households lacking a car
In 2016, 9.4 percent of Denver households lacked a car.
2016: Denver named best place to live
In 2016, Denver was named the best place to live in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.
2016: Denver Outlaws Won Again
In 2016, the Denver Outlaws won their championship again.
2016: Ski Train Revival
In 2016, the Ski Train service was revived on a trial basis, generating significant local interest.
2016: SCFD Sales Tax Extended
In 2016, voters extended the SCFD sales tax until 2030.
February 2017: R Line Opens
In February 2017, the light rail R Line through Aurora opened as part of the FasTracks expansion project.
May 8, 2017: Costliest Hailstorm
On May 8, 2017, Denver had one of the top 10 costliest hailstorms in U.S. history.
2017: Walk Score rankings
2017 rankings by Walk Score placed Denver twenty-sixth among 108 U.S. cities with a population of 200,000 or greater.
2017: Passenger Rail Studies Reinvigorated
In 2017, the Colorado legislature reinvigorated studies of passenger rail service along the Front Range, potentially connecting Denver to Fort Collins and Pueblo, or further to Amtrak connections.
2017: Winter Park Express Returns
In 2017, the Ski Train returned to service under Amtrak with the name "Winter Park Express", operating on weekends and holidays during winter ski seasons.
June 28, 2018: Extreme high temperature
On June 28, 2018, Denver reached an extreme high temperature of 105 °F (41 °C).
2018: Chipotle Moved Headquarters
In 2018, Chipotle Mexican Grill moved its headquarters to Newport Beach, California.
2018: Electric scooter services arrived in Denver
In 2018, electric scooter services began placing scooters in Denver, leading to the creation of an official program.
2018: Denver Bandits Established
In 2018, the Denver Bandits were established as the first professional football team for women in Colorado.
2018: Denver Outlaws Won
In 2018, the Denver Outlaws won their championship.
2018: SCFD Extended
In 2018, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities Tax (SCFD) was allowed to operate until this year.
April 26, 2019: G Line Opens
On April 26, 2019, the G Line, a part of the FasTracks expansion project, opened to the suburb of Arvada. The opening was delayed from its originally planned date in the Fall of 2016.
May 2019: Denver decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms
In May 2019, Denver became the first U.S. city to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms.
July 2019: Denver announced it would not assist ICE with immigration raids
In July 2019, Mayor Hancock announced that Denver will not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with immigration raids.
2019: Bandits joined WNFC
In 2019, Denver Bandits became a part of the initial season for the Women's National Football Conference (WNFC).
2019: Molson Coors Announced Departure
In 2019, Molson Coors Brewing Company announced its departure from Denver.
2019: Average temperature at Denver International Airport
In 2019, an analysis showed the average temperature at Denver International Airport was 50.2 °F (10 °C), significantly cooler than downtown.
2019: DIA Passenger Volume
In the pre-pandemic year of 2019, DIA had the 5th highest number of passengers in the U.S., with 61 million.
2019: "Denver Moves: Pedestrians" plan
The 2019 "Denver Moves: Pedestrians" plan outlines a need for sidewalk funding.
January 2020: B-Cycle ceased operations
At the end of January 2020, the B-Cycle program announced it would cease operations.
September 21, 2020: N Line Opens
On September 21, 2020, the N Line, a component of the FasTracks project, opened, providing service to Commerce City and Thornton.
2020: Racial composition
According to the 2020 United States census, the racial composition of Denver was recorded.
2020: Denver population and households
According to the 2020 census, the City and County of Denver contained 715,522 people and 301,501 households.
2020: City and County of Denver Population
As of the 2020 census, the population of the City and County of Denver was 715,522.
2020: Denver census area
At the 2020 United States census, the City and County of Denver had an area of 99,025 acres.
2020: Stapleton neighborhood renamed Central Park
In 2020, due to Stapleton's racism, the Stapleton neighborhood was renamed Central Park during the George Floyd protests.
2020: Denver Metropolitan Statistical Area population
In 2020, the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 2,963,821, and the Denver–Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area had a population of 3,623,560.
2020: Stapleton neighborhood name change
In 2020, the Stapleton neighborhood's community association voted to change the name to Central Park.
2021: DIA Passenger Volume
In 2021, DIA was the 3rd busiest airport in the world with 58.8 million passengers.
2021: First snowless December
In the 2021 winter season, Denver began the month of December without any snowfall for the first time in history.
December 22, 2022: Record low temperature
On December 22, 2022, Denver experienced a low of −24 °F (−31 °C), with a wind chill of −40 °F (−40 °C).
2022: Denver ranked as having the 18th best park system
As of 2022, the Park Score by the Trust for Public Land reported Denver as having the 18th best park system among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.
2022: Denver explored potential bid for Winter Olympics
In 2022, Denver explored a potential bid for the Winter Olympics, but no bid was submitted.
2022: Denver voters passed Initiative 307
In 2022, Denver voters passed Initiative 307, dubbed "Denver Deserves Sidewalks", to complete sidewalk construction and repair.
2022: Colorado Mammoth Won Championship
In 2022, The Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League won championships.
2022: Avalanche Won Stanley Cup Third Time
In 2022, the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup for a third time.
2023: Front Range Passenger Rail Proposal
As of 2023, there is a current proposal to link the cities from Pueblo in the south, north to Fort Collins and possibly to Cheyenne, Wyoming via Front Range Passenger Rail.
2023: Denver's Top Employers
As of the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the report identifies Denver's top employers.
2023: Nuggets Won NBA Championship
In 2023, the Denver Nuggets won their first NBA championship.
2024: Ibotta's IPO
In 2024, Denver based Ibotta's initial public offering (IPO) was the largest tech IPO in Colorado's history.
2025: NWSL Team Awarded
In 2025, Denver was awarded a National Women's Soccer League team.
2030: SCFD Sales Tax Extended Until
In 2030, the Denver metro area is scheduled to vote again on the SCFD sales tax.
2040: Potential B Line Extension Completion
The completion of a commuter rail connection to Boulder and Longmont is planned by RTD by 2040, though no construction funds have been identified prior to 2040.
