Denver metropolitan area

Last updated
Denver–Aurora–Centennial, CO
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Downtown denver.jpg
Skyline of Downtown Denver
Denver metropolitan area
Denver–Aurora–Greeley, CO CSA
Country Flag of United States.svg United States
State Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado
Largest city - Denver
Other principal cities
Area
 • Total
21,770 km2 (8,405 sq mi)
Population
 (April 1, 2020)
 • Total
2,963,821
GDP
[1]
 • Total$288.8 billion (2022)
Time zone UTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)

Denver is the central city of a conurbation region in the U.S. state of Colorado. The conurbation includes one continuous region consisting of the six central counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson. The Denver region is part of the Front Range Urban Corridor and its metropolitan planning organization is the Denver Regional Council of Governments.

Contents

The United States Office of Management and Budget has delineated the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area consisting of ten Colorado counties: the City and County of Denver, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County, Adams County, Douglas County, the City and County of Broomfield, Elbert County, Park County, Clear Creek County, and Gilpin County. [2] The population, as of the 2020 Census, is 2,963,821, an increase of 16.5% since 2010. [3]

The Office of Management and Budget also delineated the more extensive 12-county Denver–Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area comprising the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. [2]

The central part of the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) includes Denver and three immediately adjacent counties: Jefferson County to the west, Adams County to the north and east, and Arapahoe County to the south and east. The continuously urbanized area extends northwest into the City and County of Broomfield, bordering Jefferson and Adams counties, and south into Douglas County, adjoining Arapahoe County. Also included in the federally defined MSA are four rural counties: Elbert County on the southeastern prairie and Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Park counties in the Rocky Mountains.

Counties

The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area comprises ten counties. [4] The sortable table below includes the following information:

  1. The official name of the county, [5]
  2. The county population as of April 1, 2020, as enumerated by the 2020 United States census
  3. The county population as of April 1, 2010, as enumerated by the 2010 United States Census, [6]
  4. The percent population change from April 1, 2010, to April 1, 2020.
The Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area

County2010 Census2020 CensusChange
600,158715,522+19.22%
Arapahoe County 572,003655,070+14.52%
Jefferson County 534,543582,910+9.05%
Adams County 441,603519,572+17.66%
Douglas County 285,465357,978+25.40%
55,88974,112+32.61%
Elbert County 23,08626,062+12.89%
Park County 16,20617,390+7.31%
Clear Creek County 9,0889,397+3.40%
Gilpin County 5,4415,808+6.75%
Total2,543,4822,963,821+16.53%

Metropolitan area cities and towns

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900 162,323—
1910 246,76752.0%
1920 299,08721.2%
1930 352,56317.9%
1940 407,76815.7%
1950 563,83238.3%
1960 868,95354.1%
1970 1,116,22628.5%
1980 1,450,76830.0%
1990 1,650,48913.8%
2000 2,157,75630.7%
2010 2,543,48217.9%
2020 2,963,82116.5%
2022 (est.)2,985,8710.7%
data source: [7]

Places with over 100,000 inhabitants

Places with 10,000 to 100,000 inhabitants

Places with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants

Communities previously part of the Denver metro area

Regional cooperation

The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG, pronounced Doctor Cog) is a regional planning and inter-governmental coordination organization in a nine-county region. The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) provides funding for scientific and cultural facilities in a seven-county region including:

In addition, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) provides mass transit, including a light rail system. In 2005 the RTD developed a twelve-year comprehensive plan, called "FasTracks", to build and operate rail transit lines and expand and improve bus service throughout the region.

Economy

The most prosperous parts of the area are in the south and the northwest, while the most industrialized areas are in the northeast, specifically in the northern part of Denver proper and extending to areas such as Commerce City in Adams County.[ citation needed ]

Changes in house prices for the area are publicly tracked on a regular basis using the Case–Shiller index; the statistic is published by Standard & Poor's and is also a component of S&P's 10-city composite index of the value of the residential real estate market. The Denver MSA is also home to one of the fastest growing tech scenes outside of Silicon Valley in the country.

Electricity is provided by Xcel Energy. Cable television is provided by Comcast. [8]

Sports

The following table shows sports teams in the Denver metropolitan area that average more than 12,000 fans per game:

ClubSportLeagueVenueCityCapacityAttendanceSinceTitles
Denver Broncos Football NFL Mile High Denver76,12576,93919603 (1998, 1999, 2016)
Colorado Rockies Baseball MLB Coors Field Denver50,39831,33419930
Colorado Avalanche Ice hockey NHL Ball Arena Denver18,00716,17619953 (1996, 2001, 2022)
Colorado Rapids Soccer MLS Dick's Sporting Goods Park Commerce City 18,06115,65719961 (2010)
Denver Nuggets Basketball NBA Ball Arena Denver19,11514,70019671 (2023)
Colorado Mammoth Box Lacrosse NLL Ball Arena Denver18,00714,07720032 (2006, 2022)

Air quality

The center of the metropolitan area sits in a valley, the Denver Basin, and suffers from air pollution known colloquially as the brown cloud, building up if the air is stagnant as it often is in the winter. Severity of pollution in this area has varied enormously over the years. In the late 1980s the area was frequently in violation of multiple National Ambient Air Quality Standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) was formed in 1989 to create plans to address the problem. Through a variety of measures the area's air quality was improved and in 2002 the EPA designated the area in compliance with all federal health-based air quality standards. Denver was the first major city in the United States to reach compliance with all six of these standards after previously violating five of them. [9] Since then the EPA introduced a new standard for small particulates and made the existing ozone standard stricter. In 2003 the new ozone standard was frequently exceeded in the area and was occasionally exceeded as far away as Rocky Mountain National Park. The RAQC hopes to implement plans enabling the area to comply with the new standards by 2007.[ citation needed ]

Sister cities

Though Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Denver, Lakewood, and Longmont have their own individual sister city relationships, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) as a whole has a sister city relationship with the Baghdad Governorate of Iraq. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkley, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Berkley is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Adams County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Berkley CDP was 12,536 at the United States Census 2020. Denver post office 80221 serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Washington, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

North Washington is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) in Adams County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the North Washington CDP was 733 at the United States Census 2020. The Denver Post is headquartered and printed in North Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Creek, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Todd Creek is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Adams County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Todd Creek CDP was 5,028 at the United States Census 2020. The Todd Creek Village Metropolitan District and the Todd Creek Village Park and Recreation District provide services to the community, which lies in ZIP Code 80602.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welby, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Welby is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Adams County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Welby CDP was 15,553 at the United States Census 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byers, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Byers is an unincorporated town, a post office, and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Byers post office has the ZIP Code 80103. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Byers CDP was 1,322.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watkins, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Watkins is an unincorporated town and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe and Adams counties, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The census-designated place borders Aurora, and the Watkins post office, which lies within the Aurora city limits, has the ZIP Code 80137. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Watkins CDP was 682.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry Creek, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Cherry Creek is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Cherry Creek CDP was 11,488 at the United States Census 2020. The ZIP code 80111 serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver–Aurora combined statistical area</span> Combined Statistical Area in Colorado, United States

The United States Office of Management and Budget has defined the 12-county Denver–Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area comprising the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population was 3,214,218 as of July 1, 2012, an increase of +3.99% since the 2010 United States Census, and ranking as the 16th most populous metropolitan combined statistical area and the 17th most populous primary statistical area of the United States. The population estimate for 2020 was 3,652,385.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Regional Council of Governments</span>

The Denver Regional Council of Governments is a nonprofit membership organization of local governments in the Denver region of the US state of Colorado. DRCOG is the designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and the Transportation Planning Region (TPR) for the region, as well as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aetna Estates, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Aetna Estates is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Aetna Estates CDP was 1,496 at the United States Census 2020. The unincorporated community is surrounded by Aurora and lies in ZIP Code 80018.

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Brick Center is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Brick Center CDP was 105 at the United States Census 2020. The Bennett post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comanche Creek, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Comanche Creek is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Comanche Creek CDP was 442 at the United States Census 2020. The Strasburg post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dove Valley, Colorado</span> Human settlement in Colorado, United States of America

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holly Hills, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Holly Hills is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. Holly Hills is an enclave of the City and County of Denver. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Holly Hills CDP was 2,683 at the United States Census 2020. The Denver post office 80222 serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverness, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Inverness is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Inverness CDP was 2,226 at the United States Census 2020. The Inverness Metropolitan Improvement District and the Inverness Water & Sanitation District provide services to the area, which lies in ZIP code 80112.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoria, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Peoria is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Peoria CDP was 153 at the United States Census 2020. The Byers post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaw Heights, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Shaw Heights is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Adams County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Shaw Heights CDP was 5,185 at the United States Census 2020. The Westminster post office serves the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Front Range urban corridor</span> Megaregion in Colorado and Wyoming, United States

The Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains, encompassing 18 counties in the US states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the western boundary of the corridor which serves as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. The region comprises the northern portion of the Southern Rocky Mountain Front geographic area, which in turn comprises the southern portion of the Rocky Mountain Front geographic area of Canada and the United States. The Front Range Urban Corridor had a population of 5,055,344 at the 2020 census, an increase of +16.65% since the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Square Mile, Colorado</span> Census Designated Place in Colorado, United States

Four Square Mile is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The population was 22,872 at the 2020 census. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The CDP is surrounded by Denver on the north, west, and south and by Aurora on the east. The name is derived from the four square miles bounded by Quebec Street, Mississippi Avenue, Havana Street and Yale Avenue. Annexation of the Arapahoe County enclave was contested between Denver and Aurora in the early 1970s, with Denver annexing east from Quebec Street and Aurora west from Havana Street. Denver’s annexations were ultimately stopped by the Poundstone Amendment; Aurora is not similarly limited but made its most recent annexation to Dayton Street in 1984, leaving nearly three of the four square miles unincorporated. The Four Square Mile CDP includes Sullivan, a previous unincorporated community designation. The area lies in ZIP codes 80231 and 80247.

References

  1. ↑ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO (MSA)". Federal Reserve Economic Data . Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  2. 1 2 "OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget . February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013– via National Archives.
  3. ↑ Star, Indianapolis. "Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007" (CSV). 2007 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  5. ↑ "Colorado Counties as of May 1, 2011". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. May 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties of Colorado: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011". 2011 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. April 2012. Archived from the original (CSV) on November 14, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  7. ↑ DIvision, US Census Bureau Systems Support. "Ranking Tables for Metropolitan Areas (PHC-T-3)". www.census.gov.
  8. ↑ "About Provider - Comcast Corporation - Nationwide - National Broadband Map". National Broadband Map. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  9. ↑ "?" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2004.
  10. ↑ "Bagdad–Denver region partnership". Denver Regional Council of Governments. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
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