Westminster, Colorado
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Westminster, Colorado | |
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| Coordinates: 39°52′24″N 105°3′26″W / 39.87333°N 105.05722°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  State of Colorado |
| Counties[1] | Adams County Jefferson County |
| Settled | 1859 |
| Platted | 1885 as DeSpain Junction, later Harris |
| Incorporated | May 24, 1911[2] as the Town of Westminster |
| Government | |
| - Type | Home Rule Municipality[1] |
| - Mayor | Nancy McNally |
| - City Manager | Brent McFall |
| Area | |
| - Total | 32.9 sq mi (85.1 km2) |
| - Land | 31.5 sq mi (81.6 km2) |
| - Water | 1.4 sq mi (3.5 km2) |
| Elevation [3] | 5,384 ft (1,641 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 107,940 |
| - Density | 3,203.9/sq mi (1,237.0/km2) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP codes[4] | 80003, 80005, 80020-80021, 80023, 80030-80031, 80035-80036, 80221, 80234, 80241, 80260 |
| Area code(s) | Both 303 and 720 |
| FIPS code | 08-83835 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0204703 |
| Highways | I-25, US 36, US 287, SH 95, SH 121, SH 128 |
| Website | City of Westminster |
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Westminster is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Westminster is a northwest suburb of Denver. The Westminster Municipal Center is located 9 miles (14 km) north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 105,753 on 2006-07-01.[5] Westminster is the seventh most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 235th most populous city in the United States. In July, 2006, it was ranked as the 24th best place to live in the USA by Money magazine.[6]
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[edit] History
Gold discovered in the South Platte River Valley in 1858 brought national attention to the area that would become Westminster, Colorado. The promise of fortune and the Land Act of 1862 encouraged many settlers from the east to make Colorado their home instead of heading on to California. Before the settlements came, wildlife like antelope and buffalo made their homes in this area. There is also evidence of Arapaho Indians near the Crown Point (Gregory Hill) area.[7][dead link]
After the first permanent settler, Pleasant DeSpain, built his home in 1870 on 160 acres (near what is now West 76th Avenue and Lowell Street), the area became known as DeSpain Junction and began attracting other settlers including horse breeder Edward Bruce Bowles who was instrumental in constructing the town's train depot in 1881. In 1885, Connecticut real estate developer C.J.Harris arrived in DeSpain Junction and began buying up land. Soon the town was renamed Harris, but was also known as Harris Park.[7]
In 1891, construction began on the Westminster Castle, which was to become "The Princeton of the West" and can still be seen today at West 83rd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. By 1911, the town had incorporated and was renamed one final time to Westminster, in honor of Westminster University.[8]
[edit] Geography
Westminster is located at 39°51′45″N 105°02′53″W / 39.8625°N 105.04806°W (39.862500, -105.048056).[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.9 square miles (85.1 km²), of which, 31.5 square miles (81.6 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²) of it (4.14%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 100,940 people, 38,343 households, and 26,034 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,203.9 people per square mile (1,236.9/km²). There were 39,318 housing units at an average density of 1,248.0/sq mi (481.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.19% White, 1.23% African American, 0.74% Native American, 5.48% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 5.52% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.23% of the population.
There were 38,343 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $56,323, and the median income for a family was $63,776. Males had a median income of $41,539 versus $31,568 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,482. About 3.1% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Transportation
Westminster is on several state highways: I-25, US 36, US 287, SH 95, SH 121, and SH 128.
The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) provides bus service to Westminster and the rest of the metropolitan area. RTD plans to build commuter rail and bus rapid transit lines servicing Westminster as part of the Fastracks project that originate in Denver and travel to Longmont and Boulder respectively.
Westminster is served by Denver International Airport and nearby Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.
[edit] Education
High schools in or near Westminster include Hidden Lake High School, Mountain Range High School, Pomona High School, Iver C. Ranum High School, Standley Lake High School, Northglenn High School, Legacy High School and Westminster High School. Adams County School District 50 plans to build a new high school in the southern part of the city, which will also be named Westminster High School. The district will then close Westminster High School,and Ranum High School.
[edit] Open space
One of the outstanding amenities provided to the citizens of Westminster is the city's trail and open space system. The Big Dry Creek Trail is one of the jewels of the open space system, extending approximately 10 miles (16 km) from the eastern boundary of the city to Standley Lake. Other trails, available for jogging, biking, wildlife viewing and enjoying the outdoors, have been constructed along the Farmers’ High Line Canal, Walnut Creek and Little Dry Creek. In addition, the city has preserved large expanses of land in the magnificent Standley Lake Regional Park, the Westminster Hills area, and areas reflecting the history of Westminster. Other significant open space areas are the lakes and ponds conserved at Ketner Lake Open Space, Hidden Lake Open Space, McKay Lake Open Space, Margaret’s Pond and Vogel Pond, to name a few. City Park, the recreational centers and many other neighborhood and community parks provide facilities for all citizens.[11]
[edit] Shopping
The city's major mall is the Westminster Mall (Colorado), anchored by Dillard's, JCPenney and Sears.
[edit] Notable Residents
- Don Leroy Bonker (1937- ), United States Congressman
- Frank Caeti (1973- ), actor and comedian
- Bryan Erickson (1972- ), electronic musician
- Derrick Martin (1985- ), National Football League player
- Frank Willis Mayborn (1903-1987), newspaper publisher
- Roy Harrison McVicker (1924-1973), United States Congressman
- George D. "Pete" Morrison (1890-1973), silent film actor
- Alma Bridwell White (1862-1946), founder and bishop of the Pillar of Fire Church
- Donald Justin Wolfram (1919-2003), general superintendent of the Pillar of Fire Church
[edit] See also
- Colorado cities and towns
- Colorado counties
- Colorado metropolitan areas
- Colorado school districts
- Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Colorado" (CSV). 2006 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. 2007-06-28. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-08.csv. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
- ^ MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2006: Top 100 1-25
- ^ a b "The Early Settlers". Historic Westminster, Colorado. City of Westminster. http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/city/history/EarlySet.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-27.
- ^ "The Princeton of the West". Historic Westminster, Colorado. City of Westminster. http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/city/history/Princeton.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-27.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Open Space - City of Westminster, Colorado
[edit] External links
- City of Westminster website
- Westminster History (Westminster Historical Society)
- Westminster, Colorado is at coordinates 39°51′45″N 105°02′53″W / 39.862500°N 105.048056°WCoordinates: 39°51′45″N 105°02′53″W / 39.862500°N 105.048056°W
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