Denver was founded in 1858 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, quickly becoming a critical center for trade and transportation in the region. Originally part of a single Arapahoe County, the area was split into Arapahoe, Denver, and Adams counties in 1902. The new state of Denver reunites these counties, consolidating the broader metro area. The RTD light rail system, which began operation in 1994, now connects the city from Union Station in Lower Downtown (LoDo) to the Denver Tech Center (DTC) and Aurora to Denver International Airport (DIA), one of the largest airports in the world by land area.

Denver houses key federal institutions, including the U.S. Mint, Buckley Space Force Base, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Redevelopment projects such as Stapleton and Lowry have revitalized key parts of the city, transforming former military and industrial sites into thriving urban spaces.

The Denver Broncos play at Empower Field at Mile High and have won three Super Bowls: XXXII, XXXIII, and 50. Denver made history when it was awarded the 1976 Winter Olympics but rejected the event via a voter referendum in 1972, citing concerns about the environmental and financial impact. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and the Plains Conservation Center provide thousands of acres of protected land for outdoor recreation and wildlife preservation.

Denver boasts over 250 urban parks, including City Park, which contains the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The city is home to architectural landmarks such as the Denver Art Museum, by Daniel Libeskind and the Denver Public Library, by Michael Graves, as well as the Denver Performing Arts Complex, one of the largest in the nation. The State Capitol, with its iconic gold dome, and the City and County Building, which hosts the annual Parade of Lights, stand as key civic monuments.