 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
||||||
 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
|||||
 |
||||||
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
The Neighborhoods of Northwest Denver
The area of Denver known today as the Highlands is a wonderful collection of North Denver neighborhoods and historical townships.
History
This area of town was first “discovered” and platted in December 1858 by General William Larimer, a land promoter. He waded across the Platte River near the confluence of Cherry Creek to plat a town on the hilly slope above the original settlements of Auraria and Denver City. He named the town “Highland.” By spring of 1859, there was a ferry crossing the Platte River at 7th Street, and the Rocky Mountain News reported on May 2nd that “a large number of new houses are going up in Highland.” By the end of May, there were 42 registered voters. The term “North Denver” came to be in 1861 when the three townships of Denver City, Auraria and Highland merged into one. North Denver served as a gateway to the mountains, gold fields and trading routes west.
Early Real Estate Transactions
Early real estate developers in the area included William Larimer, John Brisbane Walker, Dr. William Bell, William Lang, Carlton Ellis and John McDonough. Many prominent families built homes in the area to avoid the dust, smog, congestion and rowdiness of Denver. Some of their homes still stand today. By 1873 there was a thriving community west of the Platte River. According to the Denver Daily News on October 29, 1873, “A look around the North Side shows that part of Denver to be pushing ahead in a very surprising and handsome manner. New neat buildings appear on every hand, and the several stores are doing a lively business.”
Neighborhoods of Northwest Denver
(click on map to enlarge)
Neighborhood Resources
DenverGov neighborhood website
Neighborhood Papers
Neighborhood Reads
Rediscovering Northwest Denver by Eloise Wiberg
The Community & Residents Today
The Highlands area today is a thriving, diverse and historically rich part of our urban core. The ethnic and socio-economic diversity is by design, and the character of the neighborhoods has been developed over the past 125 years by an engaged population. Primarily residential, the neighborhoods are dotted with parks, small boutiques, shopping areas, and a growing arts community.
Major Neighborhoods and Boundaries
The Highlands neighborhood is part of North Denver. The outside boundaries are I-25, Sheridan Blvd., Colfax, and 52nd Avenue. North Denver is conveniently located near downtown, Lodo, Invesco Field, Pepsi Center, Coors Field, Auraria Campus, Six Flags Elitch Gardens and the interstates. It is the closest Denver neighborhood to Boulder and will be close to the new Regional Transportation Center at Union Station.
Highlands
Speer - I-25 – Inca – West 38th Avenue – Federal
Neighborhoods within this area: Potter Highlands and its Historic District, East Highland, Highland Park, Navajo Street Arts District and Stoneman’s Row Historic District.
Sunnyside
West 38th Avenue – I-25 – 52nd Avenue – Federal
Sunnyside is a large neighborhood which includes Chaffee Park
Berkeley
West 38th Avenue – Federal – 52nd Avenue – Sheridan
Neighborhoods within this area: Regis, Grandview, Harkness Heights, Boulevard Place, Berkeley and Argyle Park. This area includes the emerging Tennyson Street Shops and Galleries.
West Highlands
West 29th Avenue – Federal – West 38th Avenue – Sheridan
Neighborhoods within this area: West Highlands, Highlands Garden Village, and Highland Square.
Sloan’s Lake
West 17th & 19th Avenues – Federal – West 29th Avenue – Sheridan
Neighborhoods within this area: Sloan's Lake, Witter Cofield & its Historic District. This area contains Sloan’s Lake Park and West 29th Avenue Shopping District.
Jefferson Park
Invesco Field – I-25 – Speer Blvd. – West 29th Avenue – Federal
This area is part of the original town of Highland and contains both commercial and residential real estate.
Architecture
The Highlands area has some of the oldest residential houses in Denver. You will find primarily Victorian, Queen Ann, Denver Square, Craftsman and Tudor style homes built prior to 1940. Some are historically significant and designated as historic landmarks.
Community Involvement
A strong network of neighborhood associations promotes and protects the values of the homes and communities of North Denver and the Highlands. Politics are very strong and new community groups have formed to build better schools as well as to influence direction and growth of the city.
Highlands does not have covenant-controlled neighborhoods, but there is a prevailing desire to protect and preserve the architectural integrity of the homes.
The Arts & Dining
North Denver has emerged as a strong arts-based area with galleries, theaters, fine restaurants and cultural events.
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
