Barnum, Denver facts for kids
Barnum is a lively neighborhood located in Denver, Colorado. It's part of an area known as West Denver. In 2007, about 6,456 people lived here, in around 1,924 homes. It's a place with a rich history and a strong community spirit.
Contents
Exploring Barnum: A Denver Neighborhood
Barnum is a diverse and interesting part of Denver. It's known for its community feel and unique past.
Where is Barnum Located?
The Barnum neighborhood has clear boundaries. To the north, you'll find the Sixth Avenue Freeway. Federal Boulevard forms its eastern edge. To the south, the boundary is Alameda Avenue. Finally, Perry Street marks the neighborhood's western side.
Who Lives in Barnum?
Barnum is a neighborhood with many different people. In the year 2000, most residents were of Hispanic or Latino background. There were also people who identified as White, African American, Native American, and Asian. This mix of cultures makes Barnum a vibrant place to live.
The Story of Barnum: A Look Back
The history of Barnum is quite fascinating, especially because of its connection to a famous circus owner.
How Barnum Began
The story of Barnum started in 1865. A man named Daniel Witter bought a large piece of land southwest of Denver. He dreamed of building a fancy area called Villa Park. He imagined curving streets and beautiful homes for Denver's wealthy families.
However, Witter's dream didn't quite come true. The group trying to develop the land, the Denver Villa Park Association, ran into problems. They faced lawsuits and soon went bankrupt. The land was then put up for sale.
The Circus King's Connection
On March 21, 1878, something exciting happened. The famous American circus owner, P.T. Barnum, bought a huge piece of this land. He paid $11,000 for about 760 acres. A few years later, this land was divided into plots and became the Barnum subdivision.
There's a popular story in Denver that P.T. Barnum planned to make this area a winter home for his circus animals. However, this is just a legend! Barnum actually kept his animals in Connecticut or Florida during the winter. He only visited Colorado four times in his life.
P.T. Barnum eventually sold most of his land in Barnum. He then gave the rest to his daughter, Helen Buchtel, for just one dollar.
Helen Buchtel's Important Role
It's interesting that much of the early development in Barnum happened because of Helen Buchtel. She worked hard with her second husband, William Buchtel. William even became the mayor of Barnum when it became its own independent town in 1887. So, while P.T. Barnum gave the neighborhood its name, his daughter and son-in-law played a big part in making it grow.
