This area of my website will help familiarize you with Colorado and both central Denver neighborhoods and the south metro Denver area. Whether you're here for a visit or joining our community, you have discovered the most progressive area in this beautiful state.
Information you need to get the most of your relocation is available here. And once you are here, I hope that you, especially if your are newcomers, will find information vital to settling into south metro Denver or central Denver. Stop back and visit any time! Or call me, toll-free, at 1-800-797-0717, to chat or just to ask a quick question. I love Denver, and love helping people get successfully settled in!
Click on the following links for more specific information about south Metro Denver and Colorado.
Climate & Altitude
Transportation
Housing
Education
Healthcare
About Colorado
Colorado is in the West Central United States, one of the Rocky Mountain states. It is bordered by Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Utah.
Area, 104,247 sq mi (270,000 sq km).
Population (2000) 4,301,261, a 30.6% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital and largest city, Denver.
Nickname, Centennial State.
Motto, Nil Sine Numine [Nothing without Providence].
State bird, Lark Bunting.
State flower, Rocky Mountain Columbine.
State tree, Colorado Blue Spruce.
One of the most scenic states in the country, Colorado has recreational parks including Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with its narrow gorge cut by the Gunnison River, Dinosaur National Monument in NW Colorado, and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in South Central Colorado. Mesa Verde National Park and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, once home to the Anasazi cliff dwellers, are in the southwestern corner of the state, a beautiful but formidable area of mesas and canyons.
Agriculture, especially the raising of cattle and sheep and production of dairy goods, is economically important in the state. Crops include wheat, hay, corn, and sugar beets. Since the 1950's manufacturing has been the major source of income in the state. Food processing is a major industry; others include the manufacture of computer equipment, aerospace products, transportation equipment, and electrical equipment; printing and publishing; and the production of fabricated metals, chemicals, and lumber. Federal facilities including army and air force bases, prisons, and the Denver Mint, as well as regional offices, contribute greatly to the economy. A new $4 billion international airport opened near Denver in Feb.1995.
Tourism plays a vital role in Colorado's economy. The state's climate, scenery, historical sites, and extensive recreational facilities bring millions of visitors annually. Numerous resorts in towns such as Vail and Aspen attract visitors year-round as well as during ski season. Besides fine hunting, fishing, and skiing there are many special events held in the state, including arts festivals, rodeos, and fairs.
*Information from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
I will be happy to expand on this information. Just give me a call and we can talk about what additional relocation information would be helpful to you. Thanks!
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Living with the Climate & Altitude in Denver and the Colorado Mountains
Summer Weather
Summer in Colorado is a very pleasant experience, but knowing what to expect is a must. Summer weather can be particularly dramatic as clouds quickly form over the mountains in the morning and drift over the plains by the afternoon, often producing daily thunderstorms.
For most Coloradans, summer is a favorite time of year as low humidity allows cool nights and cool breezes. Even on the hottest days, many people find the "dry heat" quite tolerable. On average, Colorado receives more days of sunshine per year than Florida. Many newcomers are surprised to see how little it rains here.
Snow! (and the rest of the year)
The other seasons are pleasant as well. Most years the snow in Colorado falls mostly in the mountains, making
the skiers happy! Snow in Denver is generally short-lived, either evaporating or melting quickly. Fall and Spring are delightful, with cooler days and pleasantly crisp evenings.
No matter what the season is, because of the high elevation, certain precautions should be taken to ensure that the high altitude does not negatively impact your stay in Denver.
Prevention of Altitude Sickness
Here are some tips so you can enjoy your stay in Colorado 100% of the time:
- Do not overexert yourself for the first 24 hours.
- If you begin to show symptoms of moderate altitude illness, do not go higher until symptoms decrease.
- Make sure each member of your party is properly acclimated before going higher. People acclimate at different rates.
- Stay properly hydrated. You need to drink plenty of fluids per day to remain properly hydrated - 3 to 4 quarts per day.
- Eat a high carbohydrate diet while at altitude (70%+ calories)
Sun Safety
Sun in Colorado is intense year-round. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, waterproof sunscreen and loose-fitting light colored clothing. A sunscreen of at least 15 should be used by most people.
Keep very young children's skin from being exposed to the sun.
Concentrate your outdoor activities, if possible, before 11 AM and after 3PM.
If you become overheated, sit in the shade & drink plenty of water.
Just because its cloudy, don't think you won't burn. UVB levels are less but are not absent.
High Altitude Cooking
Cooking at high altitude can be challenging. In metro Denver, water boils at 202 degrees F.
This means that food cooks at lower temperatures and their cooking times will be longer. Lower air pressure also causes baked goods to rise faster, so less leavening is needed. Water evaporates much more quickly at high altitude than at sea level.
When baking, reduce each teaspoon of baking power by 1/4; decrease each cup of sugar by 2-3 teaspoons; increase by 3-4 tablespoons each cup of liquid. Oven temperature should be increased by 25 degrees F. Reduce by 25 degrees F when using glass containers. Slightly increase all cooking times and for best results, use smaller pans, grease and flour or use parchment paper, especially for cakes.
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Navigating Denver
One of the nicest benefits of driving around Denver is that you can see the gorgeous, snow-capped Rocky Mountains from almost any location. Once you see this magnificent range, you have found due west. Navigating around town now become much simpler.
Well-maintained interstates and major thoroughfares are typical throughout most of Colorado. Road repairs take place throughout the year, including the winter months. Road crews work around-the-clock to keep roads clear and safe. Interstate highways are the first roads plowed after a snowstorm, followed by secondary streets. Residential streets are rarely plowed unless a snowfall is heavy (most snow quickly melts or evaporates!).
The very modern Denver International Airport, easily accessible to the east of the city, makes flying into Denver easy and connects Denver with the rest of the country and with destinations around the world.
Interstate 25
From the south, Castle Rock is the gateway to south metro Denver. Continuing north, you will drive by the Inverness Business Park and through the Denver Tech Center, a center for high tech businesses. Northbound I-25 takes you just west of downtown Denver and gives easy access to central Denver neighborhoods, charming and livable and convenient to the city center.
I-25 is also referred to as the Valley Highway. It is currently undergoing construction to widen the lanes. This huge project is call T-REX.
Light Rail
A new light rail from southeast suburbs to downtown Denver opened in 2006 (http://www.rtd-denver.com/LightRail/index.html).
Interstate 225
Joining I-25 to the south and I-70 to the north, this stretch of highway runs through the southeastern portion of the metro area.
Interstate 70
Just north of downtown Denver, I-70 goes west into the Rocky Mountains and many of the state's major ski areas. I-70 east takes you to Denver International Airport (DIA), the eastern plains of Colorado and continuing on into Kansas.
C-470
This major highway runs from I-70 in the West to I-25 in the Southeast. Many mountain and west metro-area residents use C-470 to approach the south metro Denver area. South metro Denver residents use C-470 to head toward the mountains and I-70.
E-470
The metro area's only toll road, E-470 connects with C-470 at I-25 to the south, and turns north to intercept eastbound I-76 near the southern tip of Brighton. May south metro Denver residents use E-470 to DIA.
RTD - Regional Transportation District
With approximately 181 fixed routes including Local, Express and Regional service, RTD provides bus and light rail service to residents of 6 counties and two city/county jurisdictions in a 2,400 square mile area. With annual ridership over 80 million, passengers enjoy 1,127 wheelchair-accessible buses and 49 light rail vehicles daily.
Park & Ride
There are 14 south metro Denver locations where you can park for the day and take advantage of the buses or light rail. Visit www.RTD-Denver.com for complete information.
Denver International Airport
DIA opened in 1995 and ranks as the nation's 5th and the world's 10th busiest airport. Twenty-three airlines offer regularly scheduled passenger service to DIA, including several international flights and domestic charters departing daily. DIA is designed to accommodate three streams of aircraft simultaneously during all types of weather. For more information, contact www.flydenver.com.
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Denver Housing Types
South Metro Denver Communities
Residents of south metro Denver area communities such as Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village and Castle Rock will find a blend of city and country living. Many areas have a view of the Rocky Mountains or wildlife grazing in their neighborhoods while enjoying the conveniences of suburban life. Many neighborhoods are surrounded by open space and walking paths for residents to enjoy.
Central Denver Neighborhoods
In central Denver neighborhoods such as Park Hill, Cherry Creek and Baker there are charming older homes from which downtown Denver work, culture, and entertainment are easily accessible. Often city homes have been renovated and updated, and in many areas there are modern high-rise condo developments. Central Denver has an extensive bike path system and park system, with beautiful mature trees and extensive plantings of flowers in season, making the outdoors both extremely pleasant and highly convenient.
Wide Selection of Housing
Whether you are looking for an older neighborhood or a new subdivision, there is a wide selection of housing types and communities available in both central Denver neighborhoods and south metro Denver. Most types of homes are single family and are available in all price ranges. Subdivisions generally consist of planned neighborhoods of between 50 to 500 homes, often constructed by a single builder or group of builders. Gated communities, built with a master plan, offer upscale, custom-built homes, many on over-sized lots or acreages.
The architectural styles of existing homes range from brick bungalows to popular 2-story models. There is also a wide range of patio homes and condominiums.
What Will Best Suit YOUR Family?
Let me know what kind of lifestyle you enjoy, and I will tailor a list of neighborhoods and areas that best fit you. I am confident that we can find your perfect home, whatever your price range.
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About Denver Schools
If you are anticipating a move to the Denver area, you will be pleased with the educational resources available. Both south metro Denver communities and central Denver neighborhoods offer an abundant choice of public, private, parochial and preparatory institutions. You will find some of the nation's top-performing schools. There are also over 20 charter schools and approximately 30 private schools in the area.
Colorado students routinely score above the national average on both standardized achievement tests and college entrance exams. 75% of area high school students earn diplomas (5% above the national average). Thirty-five percent of area residents are college graduates, ranking the state second in the nation, with only Boston having a higher percentage of college graduates.
Area School Districts
Aurora www.aps.K12.co.us
Cherry Creek www.ccsd.K12.co.us
Denver www.denver.K12.co.us
Douglas County www.dcsd.K12.co.us
Englewood www.englewood.K12.co.us
Littleton www.littletonpublicschools.net
Higher Education
Arapahoe Community College www.arapahoe.edu
Colorado State University www.colostate.edu
Community College of Denver www.ccd.edu/
Metropolitan State College of Denver www.mscd.edu/
Regis University www.regis.edu
The University of Colorado www.colorado.edu
The University of Colorado at Denver www.cudenver.edu/Pages/home.aspx
and Denver Health Sciences Center
Downtown Denver Campus
The University of Denver www.du.edu
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Health Care in Denver
Throughout Colorado, you will find people taking advantage of our beautiful weather and staying active. Coloradans in general are very healthy and enjoy all kinds of sports and outdoor recreation. Colorado is ranked as one of the healthiest states because of our ability to reduce motor vehicle deaths, smoking and risks of heart attack.
Metro Denver is nationally recognized for its quality of healthcare and medical facilities. Several metro Denver facilities have gained national recognition for their programs and services. Included are National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, known for its research and treatment of asthma and tuberculosis and St. Anthony Hospital system, which instituted Flight for Life, the country's first emergency air ambulance service. Craig Hospital has been ranked in the Top Ten Rehabilitation Hospitals for 13 consecutive years by US News and World Report. Denver's Children's Hospital as been ranked 4th in the nation for hospitals that care for children.
Here are some hospitals and their links so that you may gather additional information.
Children's Hospital www.childrenshospitalden.org
Craig Hospital www.craighospital.com
National Jewish www.nationaljewish.org
Rose Medical Center www.rosemed.com
Swedish Medical Center www.swedishhospital.com
Univ. of Colorado Hospital www.uch.edu
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