Thornton, Colorado

Thornton, Colorado
Home rule municipality [1]
Thornton welcome sign on Interstate 25
Flag
Location of the City of Thornton in Adams and Weld counties, Colorado
Thornton Location of Thornton in the United States Show map of Colorado Thornton Thornton (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 39°54′11″N104°57′16″W / 39.90306°N 104.95444°W / 39.90306; -104.95444
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Counties [2]	Adams County Weld County
City [1]	Thornton
Incorporated	June 12, 1956 [3]
Named for	Daniel I.J. Thornton
Government
• Type	Home rule municipality [1]
• Mayor	Janifer "Jan" Kulmann (Since 2019)
• City Manager	Kevin Woods (Since 2017)
Area [4]
• Total	37.947 sq mi (98.282 km2)
• Land	35.924 sq mi (93.043 km2)
• Water	2.023 sq mi (5.239 km2)
Elevation [5]	5,351 ft (1,631 m)
Population  (2020) [4]
• Total	141,867
• Rank	6th in Colorado 191st in the United States
• Density	3,949/sq mi (1,525/km2)
•  Metro	2,963,821 (19th)
•  CSA	3,623,560 (17th)
•  Front Range	5,055,344
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP codes [6]	Denver 80221, 80229, 80233, 80241, 80260 Brighton 80602
Area code(s)	Both 303 and 720
FIPS code	08-77290
GNIS feature ID	0181265
Highways
Website	City of Thornton
Sixth most populous Colorado city

Thornton is a home rule municipality located in Adams and Weld counties, Colorado, United States. ^[1] The city population was 141,867, all in Adams County, at the 2020 United States Census, an increase of +19.44% since the 2010 United States census. ^[4] Thornton is the sixth-most-populous city in Colorado and the 191st-most-populous city in the United States. Thornton is 10 miles (16 km) north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver and is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Thornton consisted solely of farmland until 1953, when Sam Hoffman purchased a lot off Washington Street about seven miles (11 km) north of Denver. The town he laid out was the first fully planned community in Adams County, and the first to offer full municipal services from a single tax levy, including recreation services and free trash pickup. Thornton was named in honor of then-incumbent Colorado Governor Dan Thornton. ^[7]

The Thornton Community Association (TCA) was formed in 1954 to help guide the new community's development. By the end of 1955, Thornton had 5,500 residents in over 1,200 homes. The TCA was instrumental in Thornton's 1956 incorporation as a city. Oyer G. Leary was elected the first mayor. ^[8]

Geography

Thornton is located at 39°54′11″N104°57′16″W / 39.90306°N 104.95444°W / 39.90306; -104.95444 (39.903043, -104.954406). ^[9]

At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of 24,286 acres (98.282 km²) including 1,295 acres (5.239 km²) of water. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	11,353		—
1970	13,326		17.4%
1980	42,054		215.6%
1990	55,031		30.9%
2000	82,384		49.7%
2010	118,772		44.2%
2020	141,867		19.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Thornton, Colorado – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [10]	Pop 2010 [11]	Pop 2020 [12]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	59,635	71,147	72,316	72.39%	59.90%	50.97%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,106	1,903	2,660	1.34%	1.60%	1.87%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	560	566	748	0.68%	0.48%	0.53%
Asian alone (NH)	2,013	5,058	8,250	2.44%	4.26%	5.82%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	64	97	130	0.08%	0.08%	0.09%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	78	184	658	0.09%	0.15%	0.46%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	1,345	2,215	5,713	1.63%	1.86%	4.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	17,583	37,602	51,392	21.34%	31.66%	36.23%
Total	82,384	118,772	141,867	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2010 census, there were 118,772 people, 41,359 households, and 30,254 families living in the city. The population density was 3,409.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,316.3/km²). There were 43,230 housing units at an average density of 1,240.8 per square mile (479.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.4% White, 4.4% Asian, 1.8% African American, 1.1% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.4% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 31.7% of the population. ^[13]

There were 41,359 households, out of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86, and the average family size was 3.32. ^[13]

The distribution of the population by age was 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.0 years. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female. ^[13]

The median income for a household in the city was $65,578, and the median income for a family was $74,233. Males had a median income of $49,154 versus $39,596 for females. The city's per capita income was $26,100. About 7.8% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Recreation

Thornton has 81 city parks and nearly 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of parks and open space. ^[14] There are over 80 miles (130 km) of trails throughout the city. Recreational facilities include the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center ^[15] and the Thornton Community Center. ^[16] Golf courses include the Thorncreek Golf Course ^[17] and Todd Creek Golf. ^[18]

Transportation

Highways

Six highways run through the city of Thornton:

• Interstate 25 passes through Thornton twice. First it enters from Sherrelwood and Welby to the south, then passing through Northglenn, before reentering Thornton. It then exits the city north into Broomfield.
• Interstate 76 briefly passes through the southeastern edge of Thornton.
• State Highway 7 (East 160th Avenue) runs along much of northern Thornton. It enters the city from Todd Creek to the east and exits to Broomfield to the west.
• State Highway 44 (East 104th Avenue) begins in Thornton and then heads east into Commerce City.
• State Highway 224 (East 74th Avenue) runs along Thornton's southern border for less than 1,000 feet (300 m).
• E-470 runs through northern Thornton in between Todd Creek to the east and Broomfield to the west.

Mass transit

The Regional Transportation District provides bus and commuter rail service to Thornton. Commuter rail service to the city began on September 21, 2020, on the N Line. There are three commuter rail stations within the city, Original Thornton/88th station, Thornton Crossroads/104th station, and Eastlake/124th station, which currently serves as the northern terminus of the N Line.

Education

Thornton is served primarily by four school districts: Adams County School District 12, Adams County School District 14 Mapleton Public Schools, and Brighton School District 27J. These include: Eight high schools (Thornton High School and Horizon High School {Both Adams 12}, Riverdale Ridge High School {Brighton 27J}, and five of Mapleton's small-by-design high schools), eleven middle schools (Five in Adams 12, one in Brighton 27J, five in Mapleton) and twenty elementary schools (Twelve in Adams 12, two in Brighton 27J, and six in Mapleton).

There are also several charter schools in or near Thornton, including Stargate School, Colorado Virtual Academy, New America School, and Westgate Community Charter School.

Lord of Life Lutheran School is a Christian Pre-K–8 school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Thornton. ^[19]

Thornton has several libraries and is served by the Rangeview Library District, also known as Anythink Libraries. ^[20]

Retail

Thornton has several shopping areas, such as Larkridge Mall, Thornton Town Center, and Thorncreek Crossing Shopping Center. Larkridge is home to national anchor tenants, big box retailers and restaurants, and has a pedestrian village. DaveCo Liquor Store is the largest liquor store in the world. ^[21]

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Thornton include:

• Tesho Akindele (born 1992), soccer forward ^[22]
• Josh Bredl (born 1991), pro wrestler ^[23]
• Edward Casso (born 1974), Colorado state legislator ^[24]
• John Denney (born 1978), football long snapper ^[25]
• Dalton Knecht (born 2001), forward for the Los Angeles Lakers
• Mike Manning (born 1987), actor ^[26]
• Nikki Marshall (born 1988), soccer forward, defender ^[27]
• Beth Martinez Humenik, Colorado state legislator ^[28]
• Mike McCoy (1953–2016), football cornerback ^[29]
• Adrian Mora (born 1978), welterweight boxer ^[30]
• Joseph Salazar, Colorado state legislator ^[31]
• Kyle Sleeth (born 1981), baseball starting pitcher ^[32]
• Neal Ulevich (born 1946), photojournalist ^[33]

See also

• Geography portal
• History portal
• North America portal
• United States portal
• Colorado portal

• Colorado
  • Bibliography of Colorado
  • Index of Colorado-related articles
  • Outline of Colorado
• List of places in Colorado
  • List of counties in Colorado
  • List of municipalities in Colorado
• List of statistical areas in Colorado
  • Front Range Urban Corridor
  • North Central Colorado Urban Area
  • Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area
  • Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area

References

1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
2. "Colorado Counties". State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
3. "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
4. "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service . Retrieved January 6, 2008.
7. "Thornton History", City of Thornton website
8. Wagner, Alvin (1977). "Thornton Was First Planned Community". Adams County: Crossroads of the West. Vol. II. Brighton, Colorado: Board of Adams County Commissioners. ISBN   0-930952-01-4.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Thornton city, Colorado". United States Census Bureau .
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Thornton city, Colorado". United States Census Bureau .
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Thornton city, Colorado". United States Census Bureau .
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 19, 2015.
14. Thornton city parks and recreation facilities Archived July 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
15. Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center Archived February 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
16. Thornton Community Center
17. Thorncreek Golf Course
18. Todd Creek Golf
19. "Lord of Life Lutheran School" . Retrieved February 27, 2020.
20. Rangeview Library District
21. "Largest off licence (liquor store) | Guinness World Records".
22. Groke, Nick (January 28, 2014). "Tesho Akindele of Colorado Mines takes unusual route to MLS". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
23. "Josh Bredl". WWE Tough Enough. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
24. "Edward Casso's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
25. "John Denney". Miami Dolphins. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
26. Samuelson, Ruth (November 2, 2009). "Meet Real World DC Cast Member Mike". Washington City Paper. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
27. "Nikki Marshall". University of Colorado Athletics. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
28. "Beth Martinez Humenik's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
29. "Former Packers defensive back Mike C. McCoy dies at age 62". ESPN. February 22, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
30. "Adrian Mora". BoxRec. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
31. "Joseph Salazar's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
32. "Kyle Sleeth". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
33. "Member Profile: Neal Ulevich". Blurb. Retrieved April 27, 2016.

External links

• City of Thornton website
• CDOT map of the City of Thornton