Patrick Neville
Patrick Neville is a Colorado politician and a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 45th District, which includes much of Douglas County. A Republican, Neville serves as the Minority Leader of the House, having been elected to this position at the beginning of his second term in January, 2017, his father, Tim Neville, is a former Colorado State Senator. Neville earned a BA in economics from the University of Colorado Denver. Neville went to Columbine High School. Neville was first elected to the State House in 2014. Running for re-election in 2016, he beat his Democratic challenger, he won his 2018 election with 62% of the vote. Campaign website State House website State House website
Colorado
Colorado is a state of the Western United States encompassing most of the southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains. It is the 8th most extensive and 21st most populous U. S. state. The estimated population of Colorado was 5,695,564 on July 1, 2018, an increase of 13.25% since the 2010 United States Census. The state was named for the Colorado River, which early Spanish explorers named the Río Colorado for the ruddy silt the river carried from the mountains; the Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, on August 1, 1876, U. S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state. Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state one century after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Colorado is bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, Oklahoma to the southeast, New Mexico to the south, Utah to the west, touches Arizona to the southwest at the Four Corners.
Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains, high plains, canyons, plateaus and desert lands. Colorado is part of the western and southwestern United States, is one of the Mountain States. Denver is most populous city of Colorado. Residents of the state are known as Coloradans, although the antiquated term "Coloradoan" is used. Colorado is notable for its diverse geography, which includes alpine mountains, high plains, deserts with huge sand dunes, deep canyons. In 1861, the United States Congress defined the boundaries of the new Territory of Colorado by lines of latitude and longitude, stretching from 37°N to 41°N latitude, from 102°02'48"W to 109°02'48"W longitude. After 158 years of government surveys, the borders of Colorado are now defined by 697 boundary markers and 697 straight boundary lines. Colorado and Utah are the only states that have their borders defined by straight boundary lines with no natural features; the southwest corner of Colorado is the Four Corners Monument at 36°59'56"N, 109°2'43"W.
This is the only place in the United States where four states meet: Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The summit of Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet elevation in Lake County is the highest point in Colorado and the Rocky Mountains of North America. Colorado is the only U. S. state that lies above 1,000 meters elevation. The point where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County and into Cheyenne County, Kansas, is the lowest point in Colorado at 3,317 feet elevation; this point, which holds the distinction of being the highest low elevation point of any state, is higher than the high elevation points of 18 states and the District of Columbia. A little less than half of Colorado is flat and rolling land. East of the Rocky Mountains are the Colorado Eastern Plains of the High Plains, the section of the Great Plains within Nebraska at elevations ranging from 3,350 to 7,500 feet; the Colorado plains are prairies but include deciduous forests and canyons. Precipitation averages 15 to 25 inches annually. Eastern Colorado is presently farmland and rangeland, along with small farming villages and towns.
Corn, hay and oats are all typical crops. Most villages and towns in this region boast both a grain elevator. Irrigation water is available from subterranean sources. Surface water sources include the South Platte, the Arkansas River, a few other streams. Subterranean water is accessed through artesian wells. Heavy use of wells for irrigation caused underground water reserves to decline. Eastern Colorado hosts considerable livestock, such as hog farms. 70% of Colorado's population resides along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in the Front Range Urban Corridor between Cheyenne and Pueblo, Colorado. This region is protected from prevailing storms that blow in from the Pacific Ocean region by the high Rockies in the middle of Colorado; the "Front Range" includes Denver, Fort Collins, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and other townships and municipalities in between. On the other side of the Rockies, the significant population centers in Western Colorado are the cities of Grand Junction and Montrose.
The Continental Divide of the Americas extends along the crest of the Rocky Mountains. The area of Colorado to the west of the Continental Divide is called the Western Slope of Colorado. West of the Continental Divide, water flows to the southwest via the Colorado River and the Green River into the Gulf of California. Within the interior of the Rocky Mountains are several large parks which are high broad basins. In the north, on the east side of the Continental Divide is the North Park of Colorado; the North Park is drained by the North Platte River, which flows north into Nebraska. Just to the south of North Park, but on the western side of the Continental Divide, is the Middle Park of Colorado, drained by the Colorado River; the South Park of Colorado is the region of the headwaters of the South Platte River. In southmost Colorado is the large San Luis Valley, where the headwaters of the Rio Grande are located; the valley sits between the Sangre De Cristo Mountains and San Juan Mountains, consists of large desert lands that run into the mountains.
The Rio Grande drains due south into New Mexico and Texas. Across the Sangre de Cristo Range to the east of the S
Commerce City, Colorado
The City of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and as of 2013 is the 18th most populous municipality in Colorado; the city population was 45,913 at the 2010 United States Census, a population increase of 118.7% in the ten years since the 2000 census. Commerce City is a mixed residential and industrial community, known for an oil refinery with a capacity of 90,000 barrels per day, operated by Suncor. Dick's Sporting Goods Park, a soccer stadium in Commerce City, hosts the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. In 1859 after fighting in Bleeding Kansas, pro-slavery John D. "Colonel Jack" Henderson built a ranch, trading post, hotel on Henderson Island in the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory north of Denver, from which he sold meat and provisions to gold seekers on their way up the South Platte River Trail to the gold fields during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Henderson Island was the first permanent settlement in the South Platte River Valley between Fort Saint Vrain in the Nebraska Territory and the Cherry Creek Diggings in the Kansas Territory.
Henderson Island is today the site of the Adams County Regional Park and Fairgrounds. Among the first establishments in the modern Commerce City were cemeteries. Riverside Cemetery, founded in 1876, is located in the city's southwest corner at East 52nd Avenue and Brighton Boulevard. Rose Hill Cemetery, in the heart of historic Commerce City, was established in 1892 on what at the time was an open plain by the United Hebrew Cemetery Association; the first school in the area began in 1871 as a one-room schoolhouse, with other schools added in 1899 and in 1907. This latter school is now part of the North Building at the former site of Adams City High School, now Adams 14 School District Administration Buildings. Several towns were founded in this part of Adams County in the 19th century. Derby, a Burlington Railroad station in 1887, was laid out as a town in 1889, although it was vacated by 1891. Irondale was first settled in 1889, named after a foundry, opened that year, it was incorporated as the town of Irondale in 1924, but unincorporated in the 1930s due to increasing vacancy.
Meanwhile, Adams City was laid out in 1903, with developers hoping the county seat would be established there. Until the late 1920s, the area was devoted to agriculture, including wheat fields and pig farms. Industry moved with a refinery established in 1930 and grain elevators built in the late 1930s. Rocky Mountain Arsenal was founded in 1942 due east of the growing community. In 1946 and 1947, Adams County School District 14 was formed from surrounding schools, Adams City was redeveloped about that time. In 1951, as Denver was considering annexing the area, a plan to incorporate all of southern Adams County was developed. On 1952-07-08, area residents voted 251 to 24 to incorporate Commerce Town, comprising neighborhoods such as Rose Hill and southern Adams City. Commerce Town annexed part of Derby in 1962, increasing the population over fourfold, enough for the town to gain the status of a city; the city name was duly changed to Commerce City. On 2007-04-03, the citizens of Commerce City voted overwhelmingly to retain their city's name.
The Mile High Kennel Club is no longer operational. With the onset of widespread off-track gambling, the physical moving of races around the country to different parks became unnecessary; the City of Commerce City has purchased the land with future development use unknown at this time. A new Adams City High School has been constructed on land at Quebec Street; this was part of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The new school campus opened in 2009. Commerce City is located at 39°50′27″N 104°54′4″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.9 square miles, all of it land. As of the census of 2000, there were 20,991 people, 6,668 households, 4,974 families residing in the city; the population density was 812.2 people per square mile under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The racial makeup of the city was 74.15% White, 3.39% African American, 1.23% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 13.15% from other races, 5.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race are 46.8% of the population. The median income for a household in the city was $33,680, the median income for a family was $37,279. Males had a median income of $28,450 versus $22,877 for females; the per capita income for the city was $23,445. About 15.3% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over. Commerce City is home to an oil refinery with a capacity of 90,000 barrels per day; this facility existed as two separately owned refineries, one on each side of Brighton Boulevard. Suncor Energy bought the west refinery from ConocoPhillips in 2003. A project to upgrade this facility began in August of that year. Suncor purchased the east refinery from Valero in June 2005 with the eventual goal of combining the two operations.
As a result of a lawsuit by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and a number of states alleging violations of the Clean Air Act, Valero agreed in June 2005 to make pollution-reducing changes to its refineries, including the Commerce City facility. Suncor's purchase ag
Firestone, Colorado
The Town of Firestone is a Statutory Town in Weld County, United States. The population was 10,147 at the 2010 census; the town was named for a landowner. The town was incorporated in 1908. Firestone is located at or about 30 miles north of Denver. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2010, the town has a total area of 10.4 square miles. As of the census of 2010, there were 3,134 households in the town; the population density was 978.5 people per square mile. There were 3,499 housing units at an average density of 337.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 87.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.2% of the population. There were 621 households in 2000 out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 19.0% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.6% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.41. In the town, the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males. In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $55,313, the median income for a family was $59,219. Males had a median income of $37,230 versus $30,147 for females; the per capita income for the town was $20,428. About 4.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over. Firestone has more than thirty-five parks and twelve miles of scenic trail, the Firestone/Legacy Trail is over twelve miles long located where the old rail road tracks were, that serviced the coal industry, for much of the trail. Firestone falls within the St. Vrain Valley School District, with three elementary schools and one middle school.
Eric Uptagrafft, sport shooter In April 2017, an explosion caused by an untapped gas well destroyed a home on Twilight Avenue, killing two people and injuring a third. This incident prompted a state-wide discussion about drilling throughout the state. On May 24, 2018, the drilling company responsible for the blast, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. announced it had reached a settlement for an undisclosed sum with the family affected by the blast. Colorado municipalities Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area Front Range Urban Corridor Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area Town of Firestone website CDOT map of the Town of Firestone
Denver
Denver the City and County of Denver, is the capital and most populous municipality of the U. S. state of Colorado. Denver is located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains; the Denver downtown district is east of the confluence of Cherry Creek with the South Platte River 12 mi east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is named after James W. Denver, a governor of the Kansas Territory, it is nicknamed the Mile High City because its official elevation is one mile above sea level; the 105th meridian west of Greenwich, the longitudinal reference for the Mountain Time Zone, passes directly through Denver Union Station. Denver is ranked as a Beta world city by World Cities Research Network. With an estimated population of 704,621 in 2017, Denver is the 19th-most populous U. S. city, with a 17.41% increase since the 2010 United States Census, it has been one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States.
The 10-county Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated 2017 population of 2,888,227 and is the 19th most populous U. S. metropolitan statistical area. The 12-city Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area had an estimated 2017 population of 3,515,374 and is the 15th most populous U. S. metropolitan area. Denver is the most populous city of the 18-county Front Range Urban Corridor, an oblong urban region stretching across two states with an estimated 2017 population of 4,895,589. Denver is the most populous city within a 500-mile radius and the second-most populous city in the Mountain West after Phoenix, Arizona. In 2016, Denver was named the best place to live in the United States by U. S. News & World Report. In the summer of 1858, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, a group of gold prospectors from Lawrence, Kansas established Montana City as a mining town on the banks of the South Platte River in what was western Kansas Territory; this was the first historical settlement in what was to become the city of Denver.
The site faded however, by the summer of 1859 it was abandoned in favor of Auraria and St. Charles City. On November 22, 1858, General William Larimer and Captain Jonathan Cox, both land speculators from eastern Kansas Territory, placed cottonwood logs to stake a claim on the bluff overlooking the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, across the creek from the existing mining settlement of Auraria, on the site of the existing townsite of St. Charles. Larimer named the townsite Denver City to curry favor with Kansas Territorial Governor James W. Denver. Larimer hoped the town's name would help make it the county seat of Arapaho County but, unbeknownst to him, Governor Denver had resigned from office; the location was accessible to existing trails and was across the South Platte River from the site of seasonal encampments of the Cheyenne and Arapaho. The site of these first towns is now the site of Confluence Park near downtown Denver. Larimer, along with associates in the St. Charles City Land Company, sold parcels in the town to merchants and miners, with the intention of creating a major city that would cater to new immigrants.
Denver City was a frontier town, with an economy based on servicing local miners with gambling, saloons and goods trading. In the early years, land parcels were traded for grubstakes or gambled away by miners in Auraria. In May 1859, Denver City residents donated 53 lots to the Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express in order to secure the region's first overland wagon route. Offering daily service for "passengers, mail and gold", the Express reached Denver on a trail that trimmed westward travel time from twelve days to six. In 1863, Western Union furthered Denver's dominance of the region by choosing the city for its regional terminus; the Colorado Territory was created on February 28, 1861, Arapahoe County was formed on November 1, 1861, Denver City was incorporated on November 7, 1861. Denver City served as the Arapahoe County Seat from 1861 until consolidation in 1902. In 1867, Denver City became the acting territorial capital, in 1881 was chosen as the permanent state capital in a statewide ballot.
With its newfound importance, Denver City shortened its name to Denver. On August 1, 1876, Colorado was admitted to the Union. Although by the close of the 1860s, Denver residents could look with pride at their success establishing a vibrant supply and service center, the decision to route the nation's first transcontinental railroad through Cheyenne, rather than Denver, threatened the prosperity of the young town. A daunting 100 miles away, citizens mobilized to build a railroad to connect Denver to the transcontinental railroad. Spearheaded by visionary leaders including Territorial Governor John Evans, David Moffat, Walter Cheesman, fundraising began. Within three days, $300,000 had been raised, citizens were optimistic. Fundraising stalled before enough was raised, forcing these visionary leaders to take control of the debt-ridden railroad. Despite challenges, on June 24, 1870, citizens cheered as the Denver Pacific completed the link to the transcontinental railroad, ushering in a new age of prosperity for Denver.
Linked to the rest of the nation by rail, Denver prospered as a service and supply center. The young city grew during these years, attracting millionaires with their mansions, as well as the poverty and crime of a growing city. Denver citizens were proud when the rich chose Denver and were thrilled when Horace Tabor, the Leadville mining millionaire, built an impressive business block at 16th and Larimer as well as the el
Chris Kennedy (Colorado politician)
Chris Kennedy is a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives. He represents District 23, he was elected to his seat in 2016. A Lakewood resident, Kennedy attended the University of Colorado Boulder and was an engineer before he entered politics, he has served as Democratic chairman of Jefferson County and ran U. S. Representative Ed Perlmutter's 2014 reelection campaign. In his first term, Kennedy served on the House Finance Committee and the House Health and Environment Committee. In the 72nd General Assembly, Kennedy was elected as the Assistant Majority Leader and serves as Chair of the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee. Kennedy serves on the Appropriations Committee. Kennedy was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016, winning with 55.88% of the vote against Republican opponent Chris Hadsall. In 2018, Chris Kennedy defeated Republican Joan Poston with 61.75% to Poston's 38.25%. Official campaign website
Castle Rock, Colorado
Castle Rock is an affluent home rule municipality, the county seat of Douglas County, United States. The most populous municipality of the county, the community's population was 48,231 at the 2010 United States Census, with an estimated population of 55,747 as of 2014, it is named for the castle tower-shaped butte near the center of town. Located midway between Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock is part of the Denver metropolitan area and the Front Range Urban Corridor; the region in and around Castle Rock was home to the Arapaho and Cheyenne people. They occupied the land between the South Platte Rivers. White settlers were drawn to the area by rumors of gold and by land opened through the Homestead Act of 1862. However, it was the discovery of rhyolite stone, not gold, that led to the settlement of Castle Rock. Castle Rock was founded in 1874 when the eastern Douglas County border was redrawn to its present location. Castle Rock was chosen as the county seat because of its central location.
One of the first homesteaders in the area near today's Castle Rock was Jeremiah Gould. He owned about 160 acres to the south of "The Rock." At that time, the settlement consisted of just a few buildings for prospectors and cowboys. In 1874, Jeremiah Gould donated 120 acres to the new town, now home to the Douglas County government. For the beginning the six streets named Elbert, Wilcox, Perry and Front were laid out to build the actual town of Castle Rock; the Courthouse Square was defined and about 77 lots, each 50 by 112 feet, were auctioned off for a total profit of US$3,400. A new train depot brought the Rio Grande Railway to the area. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Castle Rock had a active Rhyolite quarrying industry. Many Swedish immigrants arrived in the area to work in the quarries. Castle Rock encompasses about 35 square miles, with a population of more than 42,000 in town and 70,000 in the surrounding area. Castle Rock is located at 39°22′20″N 104°51′22″W at an elevation of 6,224 feet.
Located in central Colorado at the junction of Interstate 25 and State Highway 86, Castle Rock is 28 mi south of downtown Denver and 37 mi north of Colorado Springs. The town lies a few miles east of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains on the western edge of the Great Plains. Castle Rock, the butte, the town's namesake, sits just north of the town center. Other prominent landforms visible from Castle Rock include Dawson Butte, Devils Head, Mount Evans and Pikes Peak. East Plum Creek, a stream within the South Platte River watershed, flows north through Castle Rock. Hangman's Gulch, which runs northwest west around the north side of the town center, drains into East Plum Creek as do multiple unnamed gulches in the southern and western areas of town. McMurdo Gulch and Mitchell Gulch run north northeast through eastern Castle Rock and drain into Cherry Creek east of town. Castle Rock is within the Colorado Foothills Life Zone; the hillsides are covered with large meadows of grass, small plants, scattered juniper trees and open ponderosa pine woodlands.
Other trees common in the area include Gambel pinyon pine. Local wildlife includes the American badger, American black bear, coyote, Colorado chipmunk, garter snakes, gray fox, mountain cottontail rabbit, mountain lion, mule deer, pocket gopher, porcupine and tadpoles. Birds that can be found in the area include the golden eagle, peregrine falcon, sharp-shinned hawk, black-billed magpie, red-tailed hawk, pinyon jay and western tanager. According to the United States Census Bureau, Castle Rock has a total area of 33.79 square miles, all of it land. Lying within the Front Range Urban Corridor, the town is part of the greater Denver metropolitan area. Castle Rock borders all to its north. Other nearby communities include Franktown to the east, Larkspur to the south, Perry Park to the southwest, Sedalia to the northwest. Castle Rock experiences a semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, wetter summers. On average, the town receives 18.79 inches of precipitation annually. Snowfall averages 61.8 inches per year.
On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, August is the month with the most precipitation. The hottest temperature recorded in Castle Rock was 99 °F in July 1973. Castle Rock's postal codes include many neighborhoods: Meadows and Crystal Valley Ranch Link to a Map of the Neighborhoods in Castle Rock, Colorado As of the 2010 census, there were 48,231 people, 16,688 households, 12,974 families residing in the town; the population density was 1,526.3 people per square mile. There were 17,626 housing units at an average density of 557.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 90.7% White, 1.7% Asian, 1.1% African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.9% from other races, 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 10.0% of the population. There were 16,688 households out of which 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.3% were non-families.
17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, 4.0% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86, the aver
