Centennial, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Centennial, Colorado
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Centennial Civic Center located on East Arapahoe Road
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| Motto(s):
Spirit of the Past
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Centennial in Arapahoe County
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 Centennial, Colorado
Location in Colorado
Centennial, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Colorado |
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| County | Arapahoe County | |
| Incorporated | February 7, 2001 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Home rule municipality | |
| Area | ||
| • Home rule municipality | 77.355 km2 (29.867 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 76.976 km2 (29.721 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 0.379 km2 (0.146 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,744 m (5,722 ft) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Home rule municipality | 108,418 | |
| • Rank | 11th in Colorado | |
| • Density | 1,409/km2 (3,648/sq mi) | |
| • Metro | 2,963,821 (19th) | |
| • CSA | 3,623,560 (17th) | |
| • Front Range | 5,055,344 | |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) | |
| ZIP Codes |
80015-80016, 80111-80112, 80121-80122,
80161 (PO Box) |
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| Area code(s) | 303/720/983 | |
| FIPS code | 08-12815 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408300 | |
| 11th most populous Colorado city | ||
Centennial is a city located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. It's a "home rule municipality," which means it has the power to govern itself on local matters. In 2020, about 108,418 people lived here, making it the 11th largest city in Colorado. Centennial is part of the larger Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, a big group of cities and towns.
Contents
Discovering Centennial's History
Centennial was officially formed on February 7, 2001. Before that, it was made up of several smaller, unincorporated areas within Arapahoe County. People living in these areas voted on September 12, 2000, to become a city. They chose the name "Centennial" because Colorado became a state in 1876. That year was the 100th anniversary, or "centennial," of the United States Declaration of Independence. This is why Colorado is often called the "Centennial State"!
When Centennial became a city, it was the largest new city ever formed in U.S. history at the time, with over 100,000 residents. One big reason people wanted to create the city was to stop nearby towns from taking over parts of their area. The citizens also voted to keep city taxes low, at 1%, though the sales tax has since increased to 2.5%. In 2008, residents voted again to make Centennial a "home rule" city, giving it more control over its own rules.
The Centennial Airport is close to the city, but it's actually in an unincorporated part of Arapahoe County. The airport was named long before the city existed.
Exploring Centennial's Geography
Centennial is split almost in half by Interstate 25, a major highway. Most of the city's businesses and fun places are west of this highway. The city's borders are quite unusual, looking a bit like a puzzle piece on a map!
The area has many hills, small valleys, and ravines. Its open spaces are great for outdoor activities, with lots of trails and parks. Some popular spots include Dry Creek Dam, DeKoevend Park, and the High Line Canal Trail. You can also find the Willow Creek Trail, Big Dry Creek, and Little Dry Creek Trails here.
Centennial is home to many native animals that live in Colorado's Front Range area. Recently, there have been more coyotes, so residents learn how to keep their pets safe. The city is located at about 39°35'47" North and 104°50'38" West. In 2020, the city covered about 77.355 square kilometers (about 29.867 square miles), with a small part of that being water.
Centennial's Population and Diversity
Centennial has grown quite a bit over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 54,200 | — | |
| 1990 | 67,479 | 24.5% | |
| 2000 | 69,087 | 2.4% | |
| 2010 | 100,377 | 45.3% | |
| 2020 | 108,418 | 8.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The city is a mix of different cultures and backgrounds. Here's a look at the racial and ethnic makeup of Centennial:
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 82,664 | 81,391 | 82.35% | 75.07% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,146 | 3,545 | 3.13% | 3.27% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 284 | 266 | 0.28% | 0.25% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 4,340 | 6,794 | 4.32% | 6.27% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 94 | 109 | 0.09% | 0.10% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 131 | 508 | 0.13% | 0.47% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 2,261 | 5,387 | 2.25% | 4.97% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,457 | 10,418 | 7.43% | 9.61% |
| Total | 100,377 | 108,418 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The average age of people in Centennial is about 37.2 years old. For every 100 females, there are about 98 males.
Centennial's Economy and Jobs
Centennial is home to several important companies. National CineMedia and United Launch Alliance are two big ones based here. United Launch Alliance builds rockets for space missions!
Here are some of the top employers in Centennial:
| # | Employer |
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| 1 | Comcast |
| 2 | United Healthcare |
| 3 | Arrow Electronics |
| 4 | United Launch Alliance |
| 5 | CommonSpirit Health |
| 6 | Sierra Nevada Corporation |
| 7 | The Travelers Indemnity Company |
| 8 | Ring Central |
| 9 | Standard & Poor's |
| 10 | MasTec Advanced Technologies |
Schools in Centennial
Most students in Centennial attend schools within the Cherry Creek Public Schools district. A smaller part of the city, on the western side, is served by Littleton Public Schools. There are also several private schools in Centennial.
Private Elementary and Middle Schools
- St. Thomas More Parish School
- Highlands Baptist Academy
- Shepherd of the Hills Christian School
- Centennial Christian Academy
- C.A.R.E. Middle School
Seminary
- Gateway Seminary
Fun Places and Points of Interest
Centennial has some unique and interesting places to visit:
- The international headquarters for Gamma Phi Beta sorority is located here. This was the first women's organization to use the word "sorority."
- In 2008, Centennial was chosen as the location for Colorado's first IKEA store. It opened on July 27, 2011, and is the second-largest IKEA store in the entire United States!
- The headquarters of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is in Centennial. This group works to support cattle ranchers.
- Arrow Electronics, a very large company, also has its main office in Centennial. It's the biggest company headquartered in Colorado.
Notable People from Centennial
Many interesting people have lived in or were born in Centennial:
- Amy Barczuk (1990–), a soccer player
- Madisen Beaty (1995–), an actress
- Melissa Benoist (1988–), an actress
- Tory Bruno (1961–), the CEO of United Launch Alliance
- Tom Costello (1963–), a journalist for NBC NEWS
- Kevin Gausman (1991–), a baseball pitcher
- Kenny McKinley (1987–2010), a football wide receiver
- George Ratterman (1926–2007), a football quarterback
- Spencer Swalm (1951–), a Colorado state legislator
- Jack Tate (1963–), a Colorado state legislator
- Ken Tribbett (1991–), a soccer player
- Sean Tufts (1982–), a football linebacker
Cities and Towns Nearby
Centennial is surrounded by several other communities:
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Greenwood Village, Aurora | |
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Aurora | ||
 Centennial  |
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| Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Foxfield, Parker |
See also
In Spanish: Centennial (Colorado) para niños
