Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in America. In fact, the mile high city has added 100,000 residents in the last 7 years and is a huge reason why Colorado is the 2nd fastest growing state.*
To some this is a reason to celebrate and to others a point of contention. It’s true that you will find Denver natives complaining about this infusion of people and what it has done to traffic congestion and rent prices. And as a member of the mass infusion of new residents, (I moved here in 2016 and grew up in Illinois) I try to empathize with how frustrating it must be to see their hidden gem exposed to the nation. But I do truly believe that no matter how much Denver’s growth provides some challenges that the benefits far outweigh the cons.
I grew up in the Midwest and can tell you from firsthand experience that it’s much better for a city to deal with the problems of growth rather than the problems of decline. Cities around the nation would kill for the kind of growth Denver has been experiencing. Especially in the category of 25-35 year old residents of which Denver leads the nation. I believe the things the city can do with this new infusion of people, tax dollars and jobs is really exciting.
Denver has always been one of the best places to live in America and that wasn’t going to stay a secret forever. I could have moved anywhere in the nation 3 years ago and chose here. So brace yourself locals, more growth is coming.
Below I will lay out 6 reasons why Denver is so popular:
1. City and Mountains.
There are not a lot of places in America that can combine urban and mountain experiences as well as Denver. Downtown is exploding with growth and with that brings all the restaurants, cafes, shopping, music and culture that any city dweller could hope for. But that doesn’t mean someone has to sacrifice time in nature. The city itself boasts the most parks per capita in America and is within driving distance (30 minutes - 2 hours) of a vast wilderness of beautiful trails, mountain peaks, waterfalls and Rocky Mountain National Park.
2. All The Major Sports
Tuck this gem away for your next trivia night or conversation with your sports loving friend but Denver is one of only 13 U.S. cities that is represented in all four major sports leagues. (MLB. NBA. NFL. NHL) Denver also has an original MLS team (Colorado Rapids) along with professional teams in lacrosse and rugby. To the segment of the population that loves sports, this is a big deal. Sports teams not only provide a sense of civic pride and unity but they also give people something fun to do year round.
3. Coffee and Beer.
Only 4 other cities can boast more coffee shops per capita than Denver and there are over 20 independent, local roasters. You can find everything from award winning nitro cold brew (Novo Roasters) to one of the best espresso shots you will ever have. (Sweet Bloom Roasters and Little Owl Coffee) In terms of craft beer, Colorado has been doing it longer and better than most other states. For comparison, California has 600 breweries (Pop: 50 million+) and Colorado has 350 breweries (Pop: 5 million). Denver has 150 of those breweries in city limits. Walk a mile in any direction and you will find great coffee or beer.
4. Good Vibes
The unofficial motto of Denver is definitely, “No worries”. Spend only a short amount of time in this city and you will hear this from everyone you come in contact with. Not just from the hipster with a man bun but the guy in a expensive business suit as well. And for the most part, people really mean it. People here are generally laid back and kind. Denver feels like the West Coast and Midwest had a baby.
5. Continued Vision and Growth
In the 1980’s Denver was losing more people than it was gaining. The mayor at the time, Federico Pena set out an ambitious and detailed plan to make Denver one of the best cities in the nation. This plan was followed and built upon by 3 successive mayors. The detail and planning by local officials has resulted in a regional light rail network, revitalized downtown and a renovated Union Station just to name a few. The city continues to push forward with new ideas such as a green roof initiative and bold ideas in the fields of housing and transportation.
6. Small Big City
Even with all this rapid growth, Denver continues to feel like a small city. It’s very common to run into someone I know while walking downtown and it doesn’t take longer than 20 minutes to get most places. Denver allows you to experience all the perks of living in a big city while still maintaining a small feel. And even with all the complaints about traffic, I could easily list off 20 other cities with far worse traffic issues. At its peak, I don’t think Denver will look or feel anything like New York, Chicago or Houston.
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*Citation: http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/denver-population/