Aerial view of the Denver suburb of Arvada, Colorado.

Arvada, Colorado

Arvada is a home rule municipality spread across Adams and Jefferson Counties in the US State of Colorado. With a population of 124,402, Arvada is Colorado's 7th most populous city. The settlement's beginnings can be traced back to the Gold Rush era, and its Olde Town offers visitors further background on how miners played a significant part in developing the city, which is the location of Colorado's first known gold strike. Aside from its cultural sites, Arvada also has a lot of magnificent natural attractions that draw tourists from all over the world.

Geography And Climate Of Arvada

Aerial view of Arvada, Colorado
Aerial view of Arvada, Colorado. Image Credit: Mvanderkolk via Wikimedia Commons

Arvada forms a portion of the Front Range Urban Corridor and the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The State Capital Denver is situated 11 km to the northwest of the Olde Town Arvada historic area. This home rule municipality covers a total area of 102.485 sq. km, of which 100.776 sq. km is occupied by land, and 1.709 sq. km is covered by water. 

According to the Köppen Climate Classification, Arvada experiences a humid continental climate. Summers in Arvada are pleasant, winters are cold and snowy, and it is partly overcast all year. The average annual temperature usually ranges between 24°F to 88°F, with temperatures seldom falling below 7°F or rising over 96°F. The perfect time of year to visit Arvada for warm-weather activities, according to the tourist score, is from mid-June to early September.

History Of Arvada

The water tower in Olde Town Arvada
The water tower in Olde Town Arvada. Image Credit: ChrisEngelsma via Wikimedia Commons

Arvada's abundant history predates the statehood of Colorado in 1876 and includes the very first finding of the valuable metal that sparked the West's Gold Rush. Arvada was also a celery-producing agricultural powerhouse. Lewis Ralston found the first known finding of gold while panning in Clear Creek in June 1850. While Ralston traveled to California in search of gold, he returned in 1858 to lead a group of gold hunters back to the ancient territories of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe to see if wealth might be discovered on the banks of the creek that now bears his name. 

Explorers discovered gold at the junction of Ralston and Clear Creeks, but not enough to earn a considerable profit. They continued upstream in the expectation of discovering better resources and possibly gold veins. They finally found it at Gregory Gulch, the famous discovery that sparked the 1859 Gold Rush. The city of Arvada was established and given a name by 1870, with a population of around 100 people.

Population And Economy Of Arvada

As per the latest US Census, Arvada has a population of 124,402 inhabitants. Arvada's population is currently expanding at a pace of 1.42% each year. Arvada is Colorado's 7th most populous city and the country's 229th most populous. Expanding over 102.485 sq. km, Arvada has a population density of 1,234 per sq. km. Arvada has a median household income of $105,753 and a poverty rate of 5.15%. Arvada's economy employs 66.1k people. Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Retail Trade are the most important industries in Arvada.

Attractions In And Around Arvada

Olde Town Arvada

Signs in Olde Town Arvada
Signs in Olde Town Arvada. 

Olde Town Arvada is the pulsing center of the city, with its unique historic charm and modern comforts. Arvada's Olde Town is great for a weekend getaway or a fast evening escape. It is simple to go about the neighborhood and discover things to do both throughout the day and at night. Visitors may stroll through streets dotted with shops, galleries, restaurants, coffee houses, distilleries, and a winery. One must reap the benefits of their wide event agenda, which offers live music, kid-friendly activities, and plenty of outdoor activities. Visitors will want to schedule many visits to see everything that the bustling traditional cuisine scene, activities, and shopping has to offer.

Arvada Center For The Arts And Humanities

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Arvada, Colorado
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Arvada, Colorado. Image Credit: Jeffrey Beall via Wikimedia Commons

It is one of the country's biggest and most prestigious diverse cultural centers. The center has 144,000 square feet of classroom and gallery space, as well as a theater. The center combines dance, music, emotions, and laughter together onstage, from inventive reinventions of Broadway favorites to emotional parables of human connection.

Arvada Skatepark

Arvada Skatepark is one of the largest in the United States and has held several important skating contests. The park's 40,000-square-foot skating surface was developed and built by Team Pain, a Florida-based skate park design and construction business. The park not only captivates skaters of all ability levels but also impresses viewers. The "eggshell," a huge bowl, a medium bowl, seats, ledges, rails, and step-ups are among its sculpted elements.

Indian Tree Golf Club

Enjoy the day and play a game of golf at the Indian Tree Golf Club, which is named after a renowned "Indian tree." This Indian tree, according to legend, was a hackberry tree put on a nearby hill. The energy and magical aura of this lone tree may be felt throughout the course. Initially opened in 1969, the Golf Club has subsequently experienced various repairs and modifications.

Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival

Attend the Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival, a guitar exhibition, and performance event that celebrates the art, expertise, and love that goes into making an archtop guitar. For one September weekend, Arvada honors the world of archtop guitars. This amazing festival brings over 30 of the world's greatest guitar builders to showcase their works. In and around Olde Town Arvada, top musicians, professors, and music doctors also provide classes and perform.

Visitors might want to stay for more than just a weekend if they want to experience Arvada's gorgeous outdoors. If you're looking for a city with lots of natural attractions and a genuine small-town feel, Arvada is the ideal location.

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