Mountain View, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mountain View, Colorado
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Mountain View Town Hall and Municipal Court
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Location of Mountain View in Jefferson County, Colorado
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Jefferson |
| Settled | 1879 |
| Platted | 1888 |
| Incorporated | October 11, 1904 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home rule municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.24 km2 (0.09 sq mi) |
| • Land | 0.24 km2 (0.09 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.00 km2 (0.00 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,641 m (5,384 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 541 |
| • Density | 2,250/km2 (6,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
Denver 80212
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| Area code(s) | Both 303 and 720 |
| FIPS code | 08-52350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413021 |
The Town of Mountain View is a small town in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. It's a special kind of town called a "home rule municipality," which means it has its own local government rules.
Mountain View is located just west of the big city of Denver. In 2020, about 541 people lived there. The town uses the Denver Post Office's ZIP Code 80212.
Contents
Town History
Mountain View became an official town in 1904. Before that, it was part of a neighborhood called Berkeley Annex, which started in 1888. This area was originally part of the Berkeley Farm, founded in 1879 by John Brisben Walker.
By 2008, the town had grown to about 500 residents. They lived in 272 houses, and there were about 20 businesses. The town is quite small, covering only about 12 city blocks. It is located between Wheat Ridge and Denver.
Around 2009, the town faced some financial challenges. Several businesses closed, and the money the town collected from sales taxes went down. At one point, town workers were paid late. To help with basic services, the Town Council added a fee to sewer bills. The State of Colorado even helped the town get its financial records in order. The town leaders wrote to residents, asking for help. They suggested three ideas: attract more businesses, become part of Jefferson County, or let a nearby community take over the town.
Town Geography
Mountain View is located at coordinates 39°46′32″N 105°3′22″W / 39.77556°N 105.05611°W.
The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 0.1 square miles (0.2 square kilometers). This small area is roughly 12 city blocks, and all of it is land.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 390 | — | |
| 1920 | 372 | −4.6% | |
| 1930 | 664 | 78.5% | |
| 1940 | 711 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 878 | 23.5% | |
| 1960 | 826 | −5.9% | |
| 1970 | 706 | −14.5% | |
| 1980 | 584 | −17.3% | |
| 1990 | 550 | −5.8% | |
| 2000 | 569 | 3.5% | |
| 2010 | 507 | −10.9% | |
| 2020 | 541 | 6.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
This table shows how the population of Mountain View has changed over many years. You can see that the number of people living in the town has gone up and down. In 2020, the population was 541 residents.
Town Economy
As of 2024, Mountain View gets a lot of its tax money from local businesses. About half of the town's sales tax income comes from certain types of businesses within its 12 square blocks. The other half comes from other businesses in town.
The Mayor, Emilie Mitcham, said that the town's finances are strong. Even with higher salaries for employees and good health insurance, the town spends less money than it brings in each year. This helps protect the town if there are unexpected financial problems.
Because Mountain View is so small, it used to have very few businesses to collect sales tax from. In the past, the town relied more on money from traffic tickets to pay its police and other town employees.
In 2009, the town held an emergency meeting to discuss its future. They faced a growing money problem. The town leaders said that police officers had been paid late sometimes. They also mentioned that many businesses had closed. The town looked for different ways to get money to keep services running.
Community Events
Since Mayor Emilie Mitcham was elected in 2022, Mountain View has started hosting more community events. The Mayor explained that these events help neighbors get to know each other. They also give people a chance to meet police officers and elected officials in a relaxed setting. This helps build stronger relationships within the town.
Some of the fun events hosted in Mountain View include:
- National Night Out
- Annual Town Picnic
- Annual Spring Fling
- Outdoor Movie Night
- Santa Visit and Toy Drive
The 2023 Annual Town Picnic was like a carnival. It had tasty food, rides and games like a zipline and a mechanical bull. There was also a henna artist and many other activities for everyone to enjoy.
Police Department
The Mountain View Police Department works to keep the town safe. They often participate in community events like National Night Out. This event, held on August 1, 2023, at the Town Hall, brings neighbors and police officers together. People can enjoy hot dogs and games while meeting the officers. National Night Out is a yearly event that helps build good relationships between the police and the community. This helps reduce crime and makes the town a safer place.
In 2023, Michael Nesbitt was appointed as the new Police Chief for Mountain View. He has been with the town's police department since 2018. Before becoming Chief, he served as the Interim Chief for four months. He also worked in other police departments before coming to Mountain View.
In the past, the Mountain View Police Department was known for giving out many traffic tickets. This was a way for the town to raise money. However, the town's economy has improved, and it now relies on a broader range of income sources.
