Westminster, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Westminster, Colorado
Home rule municipality
City of Westminster
Houses in Westminster with the Front Range in the background.
Flag
Location of the City of Westminster in Adams and Jefferson counties, Colorado.
Westminster, Colorado Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Counties	Jefferson County Adams County
City	Westminster
Settled	1859
Platted	1885 as DeSpain Junction, later Harris
Incorporated	May 24, 1911 as the Town of Westminster
Government
• Type	Home rule municipality
Area
• Total	33.898 sq mi (87.796 km2)
• Land	31.585 sq mi (81.806 km2)
• Water	2.313 sq mi (5.990 km2)
Elevation	5,384 ft (1,641 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	116,317
• Rank	8th in Colorado 250th in the United States
• Density	3,683/sq mi (1,422/km2)
• 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	80003, 80005, 80020-80021, 80023, 80030-80031, 80035-80036, 80221, 80234, 80241, 80260
Area code(s)	Both 303 and 720
FIPS code	08-83835
GNIS feature ID	0204703
Interstate highway
U.S. highways
State highways
Eighth most populous Colorado city

The City of Westminster is a home rule municipality located in Adams and Jefferson counties, Colorado, United States. The city population was 116,317 at the 2020 United States Census with 71,240 residing in Adams County and 45,077 residing in Jefferson County. Westminster is the eighth most populous city in Colorado. The city is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor. The Westminster Municipal Center is located 9 miles (14 km) north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.

History

Westminster University, also known as Westminster Castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and overlooks the city of Denver.

Gold discovered in the South Platte River Valley in 1858 brought national attention to the area that would become Westminster, Colorado. The promise of fortune and the Land Act of 1862 encouraged many settlers from the east to make Colorado their home instead of heading on to California. Before the settlements came, wildlife like antelope and buffalo made their homes in this area. There is also evidence of Arapaho Indians near the Crown Point (Gregory Hill) area.

After the first permanent white settler, Pleasant DeSpain, built his home in 1870 on 160 acres (near what is now West 76th Avenue and Lowell Street), the area became known as DeSpain Junction and began attracting other settlers including horse breeder Edward Bruce Bowles who was instrumental in constructing the town's train depot in 1881. In 1885, Connecticut real estate developer C. J. Harris arrived in DeSpain Junction and began buying up land. Soon the town was renamed Harris, but was also known as Darell Park.

In 1891, construction began on the Westminster Castle, which can still be seen as of today at West 83rd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. By 1911, the town had incorporated and was renamed one final time to Westminster, in honor of Westminster University.

Geography

Westminster is located at 39°52′N 105°03′W / 39.867°N 105.050°W / 39.867; -105.050 (39.862, -105.048). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.9 square miles (85 km²), of which, 31.5 square miles (82 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (4.14%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 100,940 people, 38,343 households, and 26,034 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,203.9 people per square mile (1,236.9/km²). There were 39,318 housing units at an average density of 1,248.0 per square mile (481.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.19% White, 1.23% African American, 0.74% Native American, 5.48% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 5.52% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.23% of the population.

There were 38,343 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $56,323, and the median income for a family was $63,776. Males had a median income of $41,539 versus $31,568 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,482. About 3.1% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Westminster is intersected by several state highways: I-25, US 36, US 287, SH 95, SH 121, and SH 128.

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) provides bus service to Westminster connecting it to Boulder and Denver via The Flatiron Flyer, a bus rapid transit service that travels in the US 36 express lanes.

The Westminster Center park-n-Ride operated by the RTD is located on both sides of U.S. 36 and is immediately across Sheridan Boulevard from the site. Approximately 1,546 people per weekday board at this facility, with approximately 498 buses per day serving this park-n-Ride.

RTD opened the B Line to the public in 2016 which brings commuter rail service between downtown Denver and Westminster Station. The 6 miles of commuter rail transports riders from the historic center of Westminster to the dynamic Union Station Transit Center where they can connect to the C/D, E, and W light rail lines, the University of Colorado A Line to Denver International Airport, as well as Local and Regional buses, and the FreeMallRide and FreeMetroRide downtown shuttles.

Westminster is served by Denver International Airport and nearby Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

Open space

Westminster has an extensive trail network and open space system. The highlight of the trail system is the Big Dry Creek Trail which extends approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the eastern boundary of the city to Standley Lake. Other trails parallel the Farmers' High Line Canal, Walnut Creek, and Little Dry Creek. In addition, the city has preserved large expanses of land in the Standley Lake Regional Park, the Westminster Hills area, and various sites which reflect the city's history. Westminster City Park, City Park Recreation Center, and many other neighborhood and community parks provide various recreation facilities. Westminster has several golf courses, including Legacy Ridge Golf Course, The Heritage Golf Course at Westmoor and the Hyland Hills golf course.

Economy

Companies based in Westminster include DigitalGlobe and the Western Fuels Association.

Top employers

Westminsters' top employers represent leading companies in high-tech, medical, energy, and other expanding fields. In 2019 the top ten primary employers in Westminster, ranked by number of employees included:

Education

High schools in or near Westminster include the Academy of Charter Schools, Hidden Lake High School, Jefferson Academy High School, Legacy High School, Mountain Range High School, Northglenn High School, Pomona High School, Standley Lake High School, and Westminster High School. In 2010 Adams County School District 50 opened a new Westminster High School replacing both the existing Westminster High School and Ranum High School, which graduated its last class that year.

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran School is a pre-k3 through 8th grade Christian school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Westminster.

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Westminster include figure skater Mariah Bell, Texas newspaper publisher Frank Willis Mayborn, silent film actor Pete Morrison.

Images for kids

See also

In Spanish: Westminster (Colorado) para niños