Aerial view of Boulder, Colorado

Boulder, Colorado

Boulder is a breathtaking city placed at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder County in the US State of Colorado. The metropolis is surrounded by nature, making it the perfect balance of the town and outdoor living. A famous city for its mountainous skyline and highly rated services, it is a great place to host thousands of tourists. Only a 30-minute drive to Denver gives the feeling that the city feels like a prominent suburb of the state capital. Boulder is one of the nation's top cities because of its comfortable city living and proximity to nature.

Geography And Climate Of Boulder

Aerial view of the shopping and dining downtown center of Boulder, Colorado
Aerial view of the shopping and dining downtown center of Boulder, Colorado. 

Boulder rests in northern Colorado in the Boulder Valley, where the prairie meets the Rocky Mountains. The city center stands at 1,624 meters above sea level, and the neighboring national parks and forests are convenient for venturous locals and sightseers. East of the city is the Great Plains of Colorado, and to the west stands the mighty front range mountains. The Wyoming border is situated 129 kilometers north of the city limit. Directly east by 303 kilometers, visitors can stand in three states simultaneously on top of the Colorado – Kansas – Nebraskan tri-point marker. Almost 500 kilometers south, the state's boundary line ends, and the Land of Enchantment, the state of New Mexico, begins. Boulder covers a total area of 70.877 sq. km, of which 2.689 sq. km is covered by water, and 68.188 sq. km is occupied by land. 

The location of Boulder is in a high desert climate. Mainly mild temperatures and very low humidity provide a very relaxed destination in the summer. June is the wettest of the summer months, with an average of 42 millimeters of rain. Temperatures can hit 35˚C in July, and the warm temperatures extend into August. Snowfall can start as early as September, but average lows dip below freezing by the beginning of November. December is the coldest month, where temperatures range between -6˚C to 6˚C. Throughout the mild winter, an average of 225 cm of snow falls on Boulder. Despite the cold and snowy weather, the region receives roughly 300 sunny days out of 365 days.

Brief History Of Boulder

View of the Boulder County Courthouse, a historic building on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado
View of the Boulder County Courthouse, a historic building on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado. Editorial credit: Page Light Studios / Shutterstock.com

The Boulder Valley was once home to the Arapaho Tribe across Colorado, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Arapaho tribe lived among the Cheyenne and made allies with the Sioux Tribe. They called themselves Hinono'eino, which means "our people." European miners entered the area in the 1850s, and the Arapaho tribe disbursed into outlying states. By 1859, the city was established as Boulder City, which was a part of the territory of Nebraska. Two years later, the Federal Bill recognized Colorado as a state. Boulder was a headquarters for the mining industry, and the town supported hardware and supply stores, transportation services, hotels, casinos, and saloons. In 1877, forty-four students, one professor, and one president attended the first year the University of Colorado opened. The population of Boulder grew to 3,000 within the next few years, followed by the coming of electricity and the completion of the central train station in the year 1890. It became a popular destination for Texan tourists at the turn of the century, and it was a place they were able to escape the hot summers. 50 to 70 years ago, the city saw a significant boost in business. Ball Aerospace and IBM moved in and generated new jobs for the increasing population.

Population And Economy Of Boulder

Aerial view of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado
Aerial view of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.

The seat of Boulder County has many university students, and they make up a third of the city's population, with over 30,000 student bodies. 104,668 people reside in Boulder, and the median age is almost ten years younger than the U.S. average at 28.6 years old. 70% of citizens possess a bicycle, and it ranks among the top cities that walk, carpool or cycle to work. Cycling is so popular that the city workers clear snow on the bike trails in the winter. A metropolis that ranks highly in health, education, and quality of life has an average household income of $109,410. The typical price of a detached home is valued at $700,000, while renters are paying approximately $1,500 per month. There are roughly 60,000 workers in the city, with the most prominent industries including educational, professional, scientific, technology, and healthcare industries. Anheuser-Busch and Coors produce the most beer globally at their Boulder manufacturing facilities.

Attractions In Boulder

Pearl Street Mall

View of the Pearl Street Mall, a landmark pedestrian area in downtown Boulder, Colorado
View of the Pearl Street Mall, a landmark pedestrian area in downtown Boulder, Colorado. Editorial credit: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com

Lined with over 1000 businesses, Pearl Street is in the heart of Boulder and hosts the top shopping, art galleries, and dining experiences. Historical buildings will take visitors back to when gold prospectors used to roam the roads. Today, it is a pedestrian road full of statues and pieces of history that can educate strollers on the history of the street.

The Museum of Boulder

The Boulder Historical Society established the original museum in 1944. In the following years, a county vote was passed to preserve, collect, and protect the region's history. The museum occupied the 2nd floor of a school in the center of Boulder. Until 1985, the museum received its permanent location in the Harbeck House located on University Hill. Guests can learn about the history of Boulder by examining 45,000 historical documents, photographs, and exhibits.

Chautauqua Park

A senior couple hikes at the famous Chautauqua Park Hiking Area in Boulder, Colorado
A senior couple hikes at the famous Chautauqua Park Hiking Area in Boulder, Colorado. Editorial credit: Page Light Studios / Shutterstock.com

Boulder started purchasing and preserving land over 100 years ago, and Chautauqua Park is 80 acres of land placed on the city's western boundary. The landscape gives legendary views of the Flatiron mountains and is the headway for multiple hiking and biking trails. People may enjoy the dining hall and auditorium, the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage, playgrounds, tennis courts, and open fields inside the park.

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