Arvada Visitors Center

Arvada Welcomes You! The citizens of Arvada, CO have a great deal of pride in their city. Located just northwest of Denver, our state’s capitol, Arvada is a community unlike many others. Arvada consistently competes with the larger metropolitan areas in the areas of business and commerce but retains a small-town charm that other suburbs can’t replicate. With such great assets as the Arvada Center, the Apex Center and a historic shopping district, Olde Town, Arvada is thriving. A highly educated workforce, low crime rate and excellent quality of life (where outdoor adventures abound!) have all contributed to the popularity of Colorado’s 8th largest city. The start The early beginnings of Arvada can be summed up in one word: GOLD! The first documented discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain region occurred on June 22, 1850, when Lewis Ralston, a Georgia prospector headed for the California gold fields, dipped his sluice pan into a small stream near its mouth at Clear Creek. Ralston found about ¼ ounce worth about five dollars. Ralston’s companions named the stream “Ralston’s Creek” in his honor. Ralston continued on to California but returned to “Ralston’s Creek” with the Green Russell party eight years later. Members of this party founded Auraria (later Denver City) in 1858 and touched off the gold rush to the Rockies. Arvada grew rapidly during the latter half of the 20th century as a suburb of nearby Denver. Arvada became a Statutory City on October 31, 1951. Currently, Arvada boasts a population of more than 100,000. Today Arvada encompasses nearly 23,000 acres and is home to one of the top twenty Colorado’s wealthiest zip codes. Showcasing an extensive trail system that connects residents to the larger regional trail system and includes 125 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, Arvada is just minutes from DIA, downtown Denver and popular mountain communities. Residents enjoy quaint neighborhoods, a robust mix of businesses and strong civic guidance. Arvada has been the recipient of state and national level awards for its business retention program. We hope you enjoy your visit to our city and we will keep working to make Arvada a wonderful place to live, work and play!