Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Denver

DENVER, the capital of Colorado, the county-seat of Denver co. It is at the junction of the South Platte river and Cherry creek, and on the Santa Fe, the Colorado and Southern, the Burlington, the Denver and Salt Lake, the Rock Island, and the Union Pacific railroads. Denver is the logical distributing point for territory extending over 1,700 miles east and west and over 1,600 miles north and south and containing a population of approximately 21,000,000 people. The city is situated at an altitude of one mile above sea-level and it is within 15 miles of the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. On account of the remarkable clearness of the atmosphere and the mildness of the climate, Denver makes an especially desirable residence for persons suffering with pulmonary complaints. It has an area of over 60 square miles. Although the city is distinctly residential, it is also an important industrial center. It has a manufacturing output of over $100,000,000 annually. Its proximity to the important great mining regions of Colorado makes it the central distributing point for this region. Mining machinery is manufactured on a large scale. There are large stock yards comprising more than 150 acres and representing an investment of nearly $15,000,000. It is

an important jobbing center for the surrounding country. It is the center of a retail trade for territory extending 600 miles in every direction. Denver is the financial center of the Rocky Mountain region. It has a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of the 10th District. The clearings of the banks of the city in 1919 amounted to $1,574,992,155. There are 5 National banks. Within the city are 35 parks with a total area of 1,321 acres. This includes the city park with an area of 480 acres. There are over 230 miles of surface streets and 57 miles of paved streets. All down-town streets have ornamental lighting systems. Among the notable public buildings are the postoffice, costing, with its site, $2,500,000; the State capitol costing $2,800,000; the Municipal Auditorium, costing $750,000, and having a seating capacity of 12,000; the Colorado Museum of Natural History; St. John's Cathedral; and many handsome business buildings. There is a civic center, 13 acres in extent, which cost $1,500,000 for the land alone. This contains a Greek open air theatre. There is an excellent school system, with a total enrolment of over 40,000 pupils, with a teaching staff of approximately 1,300. There are 60 grade schools, 5 high schools, 1 evening school, 1 opportunity school, and 5 junior high schools. Within the city limits are the University of Denver, the Wolcott School for Girls, the Loretta Heights Academy, the Colorado Women's College, and the Sacred Heart College for Boys. There is a public library erected at a cost of $300,000, with 6 branch libraries.

Denver was founded in 1858 and in the following year was incorporated as a city and was named in honor of General J. W. Denver, then Governor of Kansas. It was re-incorporated in 1861 and in 1867 became the capital of the territory. It was first connected by rail with the East and South in 1870, on completion of the Denver Pacific and Kansas Pacific railroads. Pop. (1900) 133,859; (1910) 213,381; (1920) 256,491.