Jefferson County, Colorado

Ammunition Igloo Arvada Downtown Arvada Flour Mill Astor House Hotel Barnes-Peery House Baugh, James H., House Bear Creek Canyon Scenic Mountain Drive Bergen Park Blue Jay Inn Bradford House II Brook Forest Inn Building 710, Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, Region 6 Operations Center Calvary Episcopal Church Camp George West Historic District Churches Ranch Colorado Amphitheater Colorado National Guard Armory Colorow Point Park Conifer Junction Schoolhouse Coors, Herman, House Corwina Park, O'Fallon Park, Pence Park Craig, Katherine, Park Crown Hill Burial Park Davies' Chuck Wagon Diner Deaton Sculptured House Dedisse Park Denver and Intermountain Railroad Interurban No. 25 Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Caboose No. 0578 Evergreen Conference District Everhardt Ranch Fillius Park First Presbyterian Church of Golden-Unger House Fort, The Fruitdale Grade School Genesee Park Golden Cemetery Golden High School Green Mercantile Store Green Mountain Ranch Hildebrande Ranch Hill Section, Golden Hill Cemetery Hiwan Homestead Humphrey House Jewish Consuptives' Relief Society La Hacienda Lariat Trail Scenic Mountain Drive Little Park Lookout Mountain Park Lorraine Lodge Loveland Building and Coors Building Midway House Morrison Historic District Morrison Schoolhouse Mount Vernon House North Fork Historic District North Fork Historic District (Boundary Increase) Office of Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center Peterson House Pioneer Sod House Quaintance Block Queen of Heaven Orphanage Summer Camp Red Rocks Park District Reno Park Addition Historic District Richards Mansion Rio Grande Southern Railroad Engine No. 20 Rio Grande Southern Railroad, Motor No. 2 Rio Grande Southern Railroad, Motor No. 6 Rio Grande Southern Railroad, Motor No. 7 Rockland Community Church and Cemetery Rocky Flats Plant Romano, Samuel and Albina, House Rooney Ranch Russell-Graves House Schnell Farm Shaffer, John C., Barn Starbuck Park Staunton Ranch Rural Historic Landscape Stocke-Walter Addition Historic District Stone House Thiede Ranch Tower of Memories Twelfth Street Historic Residential District

1115 Washington Avenue 1211 Washington Avenue 700 Tenth Street 922 Washington Avenue A Daring Rescue Arapahoe City Billy Drew Bridge Bird Track Bone Deposition Brewing on Clear Creek-Coors History Bridge Load Ordinance Background Brontosaur Bulges Buffalo Bill Buffalo Bill's Grave — Frequently Asked Questions Buffalo Bill's Grave — Why is Buffalo Bill Buried Here? Castle Rock Charles E. Kirk Clear Creek Colorado National Guard Armory Columbine High School Cretaceous Time Dinosaur Ridge Down by the Old Mill Stream Early History of Clear Creek Farming Ferrell/Berthoud Home (Miners Hotel) First Bicycle Mishap in Golden First Building Site First Resident/Agriculturalist Front Range Foothills Fun on Courthouse Hill Gold Gold in Clear Creek Golden Alarm Bell Golden and Clear Creek Golden City Goosetown Tavern Greeley’s Crossing Horace Greeley’s Crossing Point Irrigation and Farming John Brisben Walker Jolly Rancher 1113 Washington Avenue Lariat Loop Byway: Buffalo Bill Museum Lariat Loop Byway: Denver Mountain Parks Late Jurassic Time Morrison Fossil Area Native Americans on Clear Creek Our Changing Landscape-From Sea Floor to Mountain Top Palm Fronds Play in the Wind Porcelain and Malted Milk Recreation: Past to Present Red Rocks Amphitheatre Red Rocks Park Rock Deformation Rock Flour Millstone Settlement of Clear Creek Valley Settler Farm Wife’s Initiative Stop 7: Laramie Formation (68 mya) Clay Pits Fault, Fire Clay Mining, Reclamation Stop 7a: White Ash Mine Summer White House Territorial Capital of Colorado The Astor House The Boston Company The Rocky Mountains The White Ash Mine Disaster Theropod Track Tourism Transportation Triceratops Tracks Triceratops Trail Volcanic Ash Water Carves Canyons West Alameda Parkway / Dinosaur Ridge What is the Historical Significance of this Site? What You Can See From Here Today White Ash Mine Disaster Who Was Buffalo Bill? Windy Saddle Park / Connecting to the Past Winter Wind on the Mesa
Jefferson County, Colorado, is located in the central part of the state and has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was first inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Ute and Arapaho, who lived off the land and utilized the region's natural resources.

In the early 1800s, European and American settlers started to arrive in the area, attracted by its fertile lands and abundant wildlife. Charles Hagerman built the first permanent structure in the county in 1859, establishing a small farming community. The discovery of gold in the nearby Colorado mountains soon brought a rush of miners to the area, leading to the establishment of mining camps and towns.

Jefferson County witnessed significant growth in the late 19th century with the construction of railroads, which connected the region to the rest of the country. The Colorado Central Railroad, completed in 1878, contributed to the development of several towns within the county, including Golden and Arvada. These towns became centers of commerce and attracted businesses, schools, and other essential services.

The 20th century saw Jefferson County transform from a predominantly agricultural and mining economy to a more diverse and urbanized area. The construction of major highways, such as Interstate 70, spurred suburbanization and further economic growth. The county experienced a population boom, fueled by the growth of nearby Denver.

Today, Jefferson County encompasses a mix of urban and rural areas, offering residents a high quality of life with access to natural attractions like the Rocky Mountains and numerous parks. The county continues to attract new businesses and residents while preserving its rich history and natural beauty.
Brief timeline of the history of Jefferson County, Colorado:

  • 1859 - Gold is discovered in Jefferson County, leading to a gold rush in the area.
  • 1861 - Jefferson County is established as one of the original 17 counties in the Colorado Territory.
  • 1864 - The first school in the county, Arvada Flour Mill School, is built.
  • 1870 - The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad reaches Jefferson County, improving transportation and commerce in the area.
  • 1903 - The Colorado State Home for Dependent and Neglected Children, now known as the Wheat Ridge Regional Center, is established in Jefferson County.
  • 1933 - Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is opened to the public, becoming a popular venue for concerts and events.
  • 1950 - The Jefferson County Airport, later known as the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, opens for operation.
  • 1957 - Jefferson County Junior College, now known as Red Rocks Community College, is established.
  • 1970 - The Jefferson County Government Center is constructed in Golden, becoming the primary seat of government.
  • 1999 - The Jefferson County Public Library system is formed, merging several smaller libraries in the county.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Jefferson County, Colorado.

Audiobooks about the history of Colorado.