Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Wheat Ridge is a home rule municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, and is part of the Denveru2013Aurorau2013Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its municipal center is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol.
History
Wheat Ridge began as a popular rest stop for travelers during the late 1850s Gold Rush, then evolved into an agricultural and suburban community known as “Carnation City” in the 1900s. Wheat Ridge incorporated in 1969 in response to increasing annexation pressure from neighboring municipalities.
Geography
Wheat Ridge is located in central Colorado, west of Denver and north-northwest of Colorado Springs, at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Colorado State Highway 391. The city has a total area of 9.55 square miles (24.70 km2), of which 9.30 sq mi is land and 0.25 sq mi (0.65 sq km) is water.
Demographics
According to the 2010 census, the city had 30,166 residents, 13,976 households, and 7,489 families, with Hispanics and Latinos of any race accounting for 20.9% of the population, compared to 1.6% for whites.
Economy
In 2013, 65.2% of the population over the age of 16 was employed, with a median home value of $237,500 and a median selected monthly owner cost of $1,556 for those with a mortgage and $406 for those without.
Community Development
According to the Wheat Ridge Community Development Agency (WCDDA), there has been a resurgence in community development efforts focused on improving social connections between community members as well as improving the built environment in the city to better facilitate these connections.
Wheat Ridge Envision Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan
On October 12, 2009, City Council approved the Envision Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan. The city hired Clarion Associates, a comprehensive plan development firm, to assist in updating the plan.
Points of interest
The Baugh House, one of several historic structures in the Wheat Ridge Historic Park, is an 1860 hand-hewn log cabin encased in a circa 1904 frame farmhouse. The Wheat Ridge Historical Society restored the house, which was designated on August 14, 2012.
Notable people
Wheat Ridge is home to Atlanta Braves pitcher Mark Melancon and Jolly Rancher founders Bill and Dorothy Harmsen, as well as U.S. Olympic cyclist Linda Brenneman.
References
Physiographic Provinces of Colorado [Map]”. Colorado Geological Survey. “General Map of Colorado”. Colorado Life Zones. “Census of Population and Housing”. State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. “Physiographic Provinces of Colorado [Map]”. Colorado Geological Survey.
How did Wheat Ridge Colorado get its name?
Wheat Ridge got its start during the Gold Rush of 1859, when the city served as a rest stop for miners on their way to mountain gold camps; it was later renamed Wheat Ridge after travelers passing along the Overland Trail noticed golden ridges of wheat.
Is Wheat Ridge a good neighborhood?
Wheat Ridge is an amazing and eclectic city that is close to the heart of Denver without being in the middle of a big city. Everything you could possibly need is right around the corner, from takeout to gardening tools to small boutiques. Wheat Ridge is also quite safe and vibrant.
What state is Wheat Ridge in?
Wheat Ridge is 9.5 square miles in size and sits at an elevation of 5,459 feet, with a population of 30,365 people living in 13,847 households.
How Safe Is Wheat Ridge Colorado?
Wheat Ridge has a crime rate that is higher than 83% of Colorado’s cities and towns of all sizes, according to FBI crime data. Wheat Ridge is not one of the safest communities in America, according to FBI crime data, and it is not one of the safest communities in America.
What’s made of wheat?
Wheat is milled into flour, which is then used to make bread, crumpets, muffins, noodles, pasta, biscuits, cakes, pastries, cereal bars, sweet and savory snack foods, crackers, crisp-breads, sauces, and confectionery (such as liquorice).
Is Lakewood Colorado Safe?
In terms of crime, Lakewood is safer than the Colorado state average and safer than the national average, as shown in the table below, which compares crime in cities with comparable overall population within the city’s boundaries. When only the crime rate is considered, Lakewood is safer than the Colorado state average and safer than the national average.
What is there to do in Wheat Ridge Colorado?
There are 15 things to do in and around Wheat Ridge, Colorado, that are worth checking out.
- Anderson Park.
- Clancy’s Irish Pub.
- History Colorado Center.
- The Molly Brown House Museum.
- Brass Armadillo Antique Mall.
- The Bardo Coffee House.
- The Molly Brown House Museum.
What county is Wheat Ridge CO?
Wheat Ridge Municipal Center, a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County with a population of 30,166 in 2010, is only about 5 miles northwest of the Colorado State Capitol building.
What is Lakewood Colorado known for?
Lakewood is also one of Denver’s top places for outdoor activities, with more than 80 maintained parks, including Bear Creek Lake Park, the city’s most popular playground, and the mixed-use Belmar and Colorado Mills outlet malls.
Does Denver have high altitude?
Denver is located at a high altitude of 5,280 feet (1 mile) above sea level, and visitors from lower elevations frequently underestimate the effects of altitude on their health and physical abilities. When living at a high altitude, the body gradually adjusts to the lower air pressure and decreased oxygen.
What is the elevation of Golden Colorado?
Many major highways, including I-70, C470, US Highway 6, and Highways 58 and 93, provide easy access to both the city and the mountains. The city is located at an elevation of 5,675 feet and covers 9 square miles, with 9 miles of bike lanes and 29 miles of bicycle/pedestrian trails.
What county is Lakewood CO in?
Lakewood, Jefferson County’s largest city and a hub for new energy and technology companies and organizations, has a population of over 150,000 people and covers 44 square miles.