City of Denver

Denver, dubbed the Mile High City, is the commercial, financial, and transportation capital of the Rocky Mountain region. Denver has also been known historically as the Queen City of the Plains because of its important role in the agricultural industry of the plains regions along the foothills of the Colorado Front Range. Geographically, Denver is located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains.


Denver was established by a party of prospectors on November 22, 1858, after a gold discovery at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. Town founders named the dusty crossroads for James W. Denver, Governor of Kansas Territory, of which eastern Colorado was then a part. Other gold discoveries sparked a mass migration of some 100,000 in 1859-60, leading the federal government to establish Colorado Territory in 1861.


Denver is an energetic city that offers urban adventure and abundant outdoor activities. With numerous distinctive neighborhoods, including a vibrant downtown and historic district, Denver offers an array of exciting and unique experiences. Located near at the foot of the Rocky Mountains the city provides breathtaking views and basks in 300 days of sunshine annually. The Mile High City invites you to sample from world class attractions, a thriving arts and cultural scene, exciting nightlife, top quality restaurants and great shopping.