The county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, the City of Golden, is nestled at the eastern edge of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Regarded as a western suburb of Denver CO real estate, Golden is home to people and businesses of national and international influence, yet maintains a small-town historic identity that sets it apart. A variety of cultural events--including performances by the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra, the Golden Fine Arts Festival, and Olde Golden Christmas--balance out the wild-west heritage.
Mostly situated north of Interstate 70, your Denver CO real estate search will show you that residents of homes in Golden CO find easy access to major transportation routes via U.S. Route 6 and Colorado State Highway 470 that starts in Golden. Designs are in the works establishing Golden as the endpoint of the West Corridor in Denver's FasTracks commuter rail network by 2013.
From our Colorado mortgage experience, we recognize that, in addition to outstanding educational, business, and cultural venues, real estate in Golden opens up to some of the world's best recreational ventures. For mountain-bike terrain from Chimney Gulch and Windy Saddle to Apex Park, several hairpin turns up the side of Mount Zion and Lookout Mountain. Outdoor rock climbing at North Table Mountain features bolted and trad routes from 5.5 to 5.13d. The Fossil Trace Golf Course also offers a walking tour through preserved fossils in the region.
About 18,000 residents roll out the welcome mat for visitors from around the world who are interested in seeing the city's landmarks. Tours may begin at the Colorado School of Mines and move on to the National Renewable Energy laboratory, the Coors Brewing Company, the Colorado Railroad Museum, the birthplace of Jolly Rancher candy, and the burial grounds for famous western showman Buffalo Bill Cody.
The perfect setting along Clear Creek brought thousands of miners to the area during the gold compelling the foundation of the city in 1859. Serving as the capital of the territory before Denver City took over that role, the city chose to be called Golden City after Thomas L. Golden. It incorporated as a Home Rule Municipality in 1871 and matured into the "Lowell of the West," a regional center of trade and industry boasting three flourmills, five smelters, the first railroad into the mountains, and the likes.
An industrious populace over the years has changed with the times, adapting to bring mining, farming, tourism, high-tech businesses, and other creative sources of income to the area. The median household income is approximately $50,000.
Located in the Mountain Time Zone, the city uses the zip codes from 800400 to 80499. The area code is 303, the FIPS code is 08-30835, and the GNIS feature ID is 0202837.