The city of Boulder is located in the state of Colorado, at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Boulder has a population of about 105,000 residents and is found about 25 miles northwest of the state capital, Denver. Boulder is the 12th most populous city in Colorado and the principal city of the Boulder, Colorado Metropolitan Statistical area. The city of Boulder has a lot to offer and a rich history, and in this article, we outline all the essential information you need if you are considering a move to this city.
History of Boulder, Colorado
Boulder’s first residents were the indigenous people of the Ute tribe and culture, who had inhabited much of the Great Basin area for centuries. The increase in the number of European settlers and gold prospectors in the mid-1880s led to the Ute being driven off their ancestral land. The remaining natives signed treaties with the US government to preserve their land, but they were eventually relocated to reservations.
The Pikes Peak Gold Rush began in July 1858 and lasted well into the formation of the Colorado territory in February 1861. The gold rush took place in the territories of western Kansas and southwestern Nebraska. Over one hundred thousand people were involved in the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, and it is recognized as one of the largest gold rushes in the history of North America. The gold rush resulted in massive immigration of prospectors into the area of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The prospectors represented the first significant European-American population to inhabit the region. Mining camps such as Boulder City and Denver City sprung up quickly following this immigration of prospectors. Eventually, the larger camps developed into cities as people settled and started businesses, while many small camps became ghost towns.
Boulder became a city in the early 1900s, and city leaders even began coining the city the ‘Athens of the West. The growth of the University of Colorado also triggered the growth of Boulder into the bigger city it is today. The university constructed many buildings and dormitories, which resulted in higher uptake of students; this higher uptake improved the revenue streams of businesses located within Boulder, thus fuelling its growth. When world war 1 broke out, barracks were erected on campus, and the University of Colorado became one of the first to offer the Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
Modern Boulder
Today, Boulder is a thriving city in the Southwest region. It has become a widely renowned high-tech force in mining and agricultural regions. Businesses are drawn to the city’s skilled workforce, available venture capital, and its promotion of a healthy lifestyle; The city of Boulder has about six times as many start-ups as the national average. Boulder’s free-thinking atmosphere in terms of growth and development has attracted recognizable brands like Celestial Seasonings, which has paved the way for establishing other companies. Boulder is a rising tech hub, and this industry is the largest employer in the city since the city is host to tech giants, namely Google, Amazon, Twitter, and Apple.
Boulder City’s Infrastructure
- Real estate – The rising interest in Boulder city has resulted in a spike in real estate prices, with homes in Boulder being about 1.5 times more expensive than those in neighbouring Denver. However, Boulder consistently ranks highly for home price growth and stability.
- Transportation Infrastructure – Boulder is located in the middle of the United States and is easily accessible from the east and west coasts. Boulder boasts easy access to three airports, including Denver International Airport, the 5th busiest airport in the US and located just 33miles from Boulder. Boulder also has one of the country’s best pedestrian/biking trail networks and multiple highways that allow easy travel of goods and people.
- Public transportation – In the US, Boulder ranks second for public transportation ridership. The Regional Transit provides affordable local and regional bus services throughout Denver, including Boulder county. Boulder’s Community Transit Network is a fleet of buses that offers transportation through Boulder. Passengers can pay standard fares or use a variety of passes such as the Eco pass to ride. Discounts are also offered to senior citizens and riders with disabilities.
Boulder’s Recreational Attractions
While you will spend most of your free time admiring Boulder’s breath-taking natural beauty, be sure to save some time to visit Boulder’s other attractions, such as:
- Museum of Boulder
- Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
- CU Art Museum
- CU Museum of Natural History
- CU heritage Centre
- Shelby American Collection Museum
Boulder attracts top athletes in sports ranging from cycling, rock climbing, and cycling. Boulder has over 300 miles of biking and hiking trails accompanied by 45,000 acres of beautiful mountain landscape just west of the city; these, among many more attractions, will satisfy your recreation needs.
Main Residential Areas In Boulder
Boulder has many neighbourhoods that differ in price, architecture, and amenities. The following is an overview of the leading residential areas.
- Downtown Boulder – It is an excellent place to live if you still want to be connected to the hustle and bustle of the city while avoiding Boulder’s parking problems. In 2021, the average housing price for a single-family home in the downtown area was 1.2 million dollars.
- Mapleton Hill – It is a historic part of Boulder where large homes were built in the late 1800s and early1900s. This area is widely coveted due to its walking distance from Downtown and hiking trails.
- Whitter – This neighbourhood lay to the east of the city and was one of the first settlements in Boulder. Whitter is an appealing neighbourhood due to its proximity to Downtown and its relatively low price tag.
- Flatirons – This neighbourhood is characterized by narrow streets and abundant trees between the Foothills and the Boulder Creek base and is a short distance from Downtown.
- Martin Acres – This neighbourhood was originally built as a Boulder suburb in the 1950s and 60s. It is conveniently located between Broadway and Highway 36 and is one of the most affordable neighbourhoods in Boulder.
Overall, Boulder offers a wide range of housing options, which may be attractive to prospective settlers. Its robust education system, such as the University of Colorado, makes it a prime location for education. In contrast, big tech companies such as Google make it a prime economic region and offer many job opportunities.