LOCATION
Boulder
Boulder, at an elevation of 5,430 feet, is located around 35 miles northwest of Denver, via U.S. Highway 36. It is located in the Front Range Region of Colorado, with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains.
Lafayette
Lafayette, with its rich natural environment, is nestled in the high plains of the Rocky Mountains, six miles north of Denver at an elevation of 5,237 feet. It is located at the intersection of Interstates 167 and 90.
Louisville
Located on the growing technology corridor between Denver and Boulder, Louisville, at an elevation of 5350 feet, is approximately 20 miles northwest of Denver via U.S. Highway 36, and 10 miles east of Boulder. The Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, ten miles to the west, offers a colorful backdrop to Louisville and abundant recreation activities.
TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Boulder
Air travel to and from Boulder is available from Denver International Airport, which is located 42 miles from Boulder (driving time between 60 to 90 minutes). Denver International Airport is the nation's largest airport in land area with service from 23 major airlines. Air service in the Boulder area is also available from the Boulder Municipal Airport, with a 4,100-foot, hard-surface runway and general aviation services. Jefferson County Airport, located 11 miles from Boulder, is the closest airport to both downtown Denver and Boulder. The Community Transit Network has a colorful fleet of buses?Hop, Skip, Jump, Bound and Dash?in the Boulder area. The Dash connects Boulder to Lafayette and Louisville via South Boulder Road.
Lafayette
Air service from Lafayette is available from the Denver International Airport, which is approximately 50 minutes away. Smaller airports in the area include the Boulder Municipal Airport (a 20-minute drive), and Jefferson County Airport (a 10-minute drive). The Regional Transportation District offers bus service between Lafayette and the neighboring cities and communities of Louisville, Broomfield, Longmont, Boulder and Denver.
Louisville
Denver International Airport, the nation's largest airport in land area, with service from all major airlines, is located 40 miles from Louisville. Other airports in the Louisville area include the Boulder Municipal Airport, located 11 miles away, and the Jefferson County Airport, just three miles away. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has scheduled stops in Louisville.
BRIEF HISTORY/POPULATION
Boulder
Haystack Mountain, in the Boulder Valley area, was originally the home of the Southern Arapahoe tribe of Native Americans. Non-native settlers to the area came in 1858 looking for gold and silver. In 1859 the Boulder City Town Company was organized and 4,054 lots were created for a price of $1000 each. Boulder was used as a base for miners who went into the mountains. The city residents supplied equipment, agricultural products, housing, transportation, and entertainment. Boulder grew quickly and by 1874 it was decided that the University of Colorado would be located here. In 1873 the railroad came to Boulder, with railroad service then continuing from Boulder to Golden and Denver. From the beginning of the 1900s until World War II, Boulder relied on tourism as one of its major industries. During World War II, the tourism industry declined. However, the University of Colorado was the location of the U.S. Navy's Japanese language school, and thus many of the individuals who went to the University for training liked the area and came back after the war. The population grew from 13,000 in 1940 to over 20,000 in 1950. With the completed highway to downtown Denver, Boulder continued to expand. From 1950-1972 the population grew from 20,000 to 72,000. Boulder's current population is approximately 97,000 people within 25 square miles.
Lafayette
Lafayette was named after Lafayette Miller, who was a settler in the area over 100 years ago. After his death in 1877, his wife, Mary Miller, raised their six children on the town site. In 1884 coal was discovered on the Miller Ranch, and Mary Miller platted a 150-acre town site in 1888. In 1889 the town was incorporated and the coal industry provided the economic base for the area for the next 50 years. With the decline of the coal industry, Lafayette residents then relied on agriculture. Lafayette is now a residential community, with many of its residents commuting to Denver or other areas nearby. Lafayette's small town atmosphere, yet great location close to Denver, Boulder, and the Rocky Mountains, makes it an ideal location. Currently, Lafayette is home to approximately 23,000 people.
Louisville
The history of Louisville goes back to August 1877 when Welch Mine, the first coal mine of the area, was opened and the land owner in the area, Louis Nawatny, platted his farm land into the town he named for himself?Louisville. Louisville was different than other coalmine towns as the miners lived in town and then walked to work at the mines. It was known as being a "safe" mining area, and people came from all over the U.S. and Europe to work here. From 1877 to 1952 (when the last mines in Louisville were closed) over 30 coalmines were in operation in the Louisville area. After the last mine closed, the population dwindled. However, in recent years manufacturing plants have opened in Louisville providing employment opportunities and attracting new residents. Louisville's current population is approximately 19,000 people.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Boulder
Boulder is set amongst the stunningly beautiful backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and the vaulted, red rock slates of the Flatirons. Boulder residents can enjoy the natural surroundings in many ways. There is abundant land set aside and impeccably maintained for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, river rafting, off-road bicycling, and skiing. Fine restaurants and international fare are found easily throughout Boulder, from Jax Fish House, voted the top seafood restaurant in the Rocky Mountain Area, to Q's Restaurant in the Hotel Boulderado, one of Colorado's finest restaurants. For shopping, the pedestrian-only Pearl Street Mall, located in downtown Boulder, provides ample opportunities for shopping in the unique boutiques of the area, strolling through the many fine art galleries, or relaxing in the bistros and coffee houses. The University of Colorado is located just south of downtown, where you can find the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, as well as many other arts and music events sponsored by the school.
Lafayette
Lafayette residents enjoy a panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains, a vibrant economy, and ample opportunities for an active lifestyle. The Bob L. Burger Recreation Center includes a gymnasium, racquetball courts, running track, dance studio, fitness atrium, and 3-pool aquatics area with waterfalls and waterslide and an outdoor in-line skating area. Lafayette also has 15 neighborhood parks ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to large community parks. The nearby Waneka Lake has boat rentals, picnic facilities, and a jogging-fitness trail. LaMont Does Park includes an outdoor swimming pool, picnic and play areas, tennis courts, and athletic fields. The championship Indian Peaks Golf Course is an 18-hold regulation course designed by golf champion Hale Irwin. Arts and entertainment, including theater, museums, amusement parks, and fine dining are all within a short drive from Lafayette.
Louisville
Louisville blends the old and the new. On its main street you can find some family restaurants and stores plus an historical museum. The Jacoe Store is full of artifacts of the mining days?photographs, coal mining equipment, and stories of the past. In downtown Louisville you can also find Memorial Square Park, with a public swimming pool and art gallery. Other recreational opportunities in the area include the Coal Creek Golf Course, just outside of town, and miles of country roads for cycling. The community also hosts a "Taste of Louisville" in mid-June and an annual Labor Day parade. Louisville's excellent location, just 20 miles from Denver and 10 miles from Boulder, also allow its residents to enjoy all the arts, music, recreational, fine dining, and shopping opportunities in those larger cities.
HEALTHCARE
Boulder
Boulder residents have ample healthcare opportunities in the area. These include Boulder Community Hospital, which offers a full range of medical services, including surgery, maternity, cancer care, cardiac services, sports medicine, behavioral health, and physical rehabilitation services; Boulder County Mental Health Center; and Boulder Medical Center. Also in the area are numerous other alternative healthcare facilities for chiropractic, acupuncture, and natural medicines. The Colorado Institute for Classical Homeopathy, also located in Boulder, offers a community outreach program.
Lafayette
Healthcare in Lafayette is served by the major hospitals found in nearby communities. These include the Boulder Community Hospital in Boulder, the Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville, and many fine hospitals in Denver. The Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center will be opening in Lafayette during 2004. There are also many other smaller clinics and specialized medical centers in the Lafayette area.
Louisville
Louisville is home to the Avista Adventist Hospital, a full service acute care hospital with a medical staff of more than 500 physicians. In addition to providing first-rate critical care services (emergency, trauma, and intensive care), Avista is the home of the area's leading birthing services. Centennial Peaks Hospital, also in Louisville, provides a full range of mental health and chemical dependency services to Boulder, Denver, and the entire Front Range area. There are also numerous other doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and specialized clinics in the area.
EDUCATION
Boulder, Lafayette, and Louisville
Public education in the cities of Boulder, Lafayette, and Louisville is served by the Boulder Valley School District, with over 33 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 13 high schools in the area. Within Boulder, the schools are separated into four areas: Mountain Boulder, North Boulder, Central and Eastern Boulder, and South Boulder schools. In Louisville, you will find Coal Creek, Louisville, and Fireside Elementary schools as well as Monarch, which serves grades K-8. Middle school residents of Louisville attend either Louisville Middle School or Monarch. All Louisville high schoolers attend Monarch High School. Lafayette schools include Lafayette, Sanchez, and Ryan Elementary Schools, Angevine Middle School, and Centaurus High School. There are also numerous private schools in the Boulder area including Montessori and parochial schools.
Higher education can be found at the University of Colorado at Boulder, which is an accredited university offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in over 150 fields of study. Front Range Community College offers AA degrees as distance learning and continuing education programs. The Colorado Academy of Art offers classes and workshops in classical fine art, sculpture, painting, drawing, and photography. There are also numerous other educational opportunities in the area including cooking schools and computer learning centers.
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