Arvada

Arvada is a city in Jefferson County and Adams County in the state of Colorado, spreading northwest of Denver at an elevation of around 1,630 meters. The settlement stretches along Ralston Creek and Clear Creek, surrounded by rolling hills and open spaces that mark the transition between urban development and rural countryside.

Lewis Ralston discovered gold at Clear Creek in 1850, triggering a wave of settlement that brought miners and farmers to the region. The arrival of the Colorado Central Railroad in 1870 transformed the place into an important junction for agriculture and freight transport.

The historic district around Olde Town Avenue serves as a meeting point for craft fairs, concerts, and weekly open-air markets. Residents gather in the cafés and small shops that line the street, while walkers notice the sculptures and murals on the building fronts.

The streets follow a grid pattern that makes orientation easier, with residential neighborhoods and commercial zones clearly separated. Public parks and sidewalks connect the different areas, allowing you to move on foot or by bicycle between neighborhoods.

The name goes back to Hiram Arvada Haskin, an early settler and shopkeeper whose first name later became the designation for the entire settlement. Visitors often notice the unusual naming, which differs from most other cities in Colorado.

Location: Adams County

Location: Jefferson County

Inception: 1859

Elevation above the sea: 1,630 m

Shares border with: Westminster

Website: http://arvada.org

GPS coordinates: 39.80276,-105.08748

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:05