Despite the fact that it is now considered a Denver suburb, Colorado Arvada actually got started as its own independent community. At one time, in fact, Arvada was considered to be the celery capital of the world.
A quaint little suburb of the city of Denver Colorado Arvada is located in Jefferson County. According to the census in 2000, Colorado Arvada had a population of 102,153, making it a significant city in its own right.
God discovery was first documented on June 22, 1850 in Arvada before it had been settled as such. A prospector, Lewis Ralston, was on his way to California. He took a shot in a stream with his gold pan and ended up with a golf nugget worth $5. It was in 1858 that Lewis Ralston then brought some prospectors back to his magic spot. Soon after that, farmers arrived and then a railroad was laid through the area in 1870. Then, the town plat was filed to name Colorado Arvada after the brother-in-law of one of the settlers. This was the beginning of Arvada.
Despite the strong roots in history held by Colorado Arvada, it is known widely to be one of the most progressive cities in the Denver area. In Arvada, there is a strong civic leadership that understands, values, and supports business, quality of life, and community growth can all be nurtured in one area. This allows Arvada to maintain its cherished hometown feel, while still growing and progressing as an independent city.
When the census of 2000 was performed on Colorado Arvada, there were 102,153 people in it, 39,019 households, and 27,742 families living inside the city. The population density of Colorado Arvada was 1,207.6/km2 (3,128.1/mt2). Colorado Arvada had 39,733 units of housing. Racially, in Arvada, the make up is varied between no less than 9 races. The two largest represented races are 91% white and 9.82% Hispanic or Latino.
The mean income of Colorado Arvada in the city is $55,541, while the median income for a family in Arvada is $63,273. Men of Arvada have a median income of $42,126 versus $30,802 for females in Arvada. The per capita income of Colorado Arvada is $24,679. About 5% of the population and 3.5% of the families in Arvada live below the poverty line.
Visitors to Colorado Arvada will enjoy its unique blend of historic and modern architecture. The Historical Society in Arvada offers a tour of old downtown, where visitors can see the 1926 Arvada Flour Mill, which is not on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors may also visit Colorado Arvada's 105,000-square-foot Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. The center has two art galleries, a museum, performing arts theaters and classrooms for the many art education programs offered. Each summer the center offers outdoor concerts that are always a big draw to Colorado Arvada.
In historic old town Arvada, there is the Festival Playhouse. The claim of the playhouse is that It has the largest Mardi Gras poster exhibit outside of New Orleans. Also, visitors will enjoy the fully restored English telephone booth located just outside the playhouse.