Arapahoe County, County administrative region in Denver metropolitan area, United States
Arapahoe County is an administrative division in Colorado spanning urban neighborhoods east of Denver and open land reaching toward the foothills. The territory includes towns of varying size along with parks and natural areas within the metro region.
The territory was established in November 1861 by the Colorado Territorial Assembly as one of the original seventeen counties in the region. Boundaries shifted over the following decades as new counties were carved from its original extent.
The name derives from the Arapaho people who once roamed these eastern plains and mountain foothills before settlers arrived in large numbers. Today the connection lives on mainly through place names and historical markers scattered across the territory.
Public transit connects major towns within the administrative area, though many parts are easier to reach by car. Visitors will find recreational areas and facilities spread throughout, from downtown cores to more rural sections.
Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora holds a large water reservoir used for boating and swimming, and it includes a designated zone where dogs can run without leashes. The park sits within the administrative borders and draws visitors seeking outdoor recreation close to the city.
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