Aurora Colorado

Aurora Colorado is nicknamed The Gateway to the Rockies and comprises three Counties including Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas County. It is the third most populous Colorado city and lies to the east of Denver, with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge and Denver International Airport (DIA) to the north and Parker and Castle Rock to the south. Cherry Creek State Park sits toward the center of the City of Aurora and provides a generous amount of natural area recreation, camping and of course Cherry Creek Reservoir to enjoy.

More Town Facts

The city of Aurora had a small start in the 1880′s and a different name. The town of Fletcher was originally only four square miles and located east of Denver, Colorado. After the Silver Crash of 1893, the community changed dramatically, and the founder left town under negative circumstances. The township was renamed Aurora in 1907, and has grown into the third largest city in Colorado.

Much of the increase is likely due to the large military presence which has called Aurora home. Beginning in 1918 the Army General Hospital #21 opened and was an even larger facility by 1941 and World War II. The hospital had been renamed Fitzsimons Army Hospital in 1920 for the first American medical officer killed in World War I. After it was decommissioned in 1999, the facility was reconstructed to include part of the Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado Denver, the Fitzsimons Life Science District, University of Colorado Hospital (which moved to Aurora from Denver in 2007), and the Children’s Hospital.

In 1938, Lowry Air Force Base was opened and was operated until 1994, when it was redeveloped into a non-military community. 1942 saw the creation of Buckley Field, which is better known by it’s final name: Buckley Air Force Base. This base is the home of the 460th Space Wing and the 140th Wing Colorado Air National Guard as well as being Aurora’s largest employer.

The City of Aurora enjoys more than 1,800 acres of developed park land, over 6,000 acres of open space and natural areas including The Plains Conservation Center  with 1,100 acres of native shortgrass prairie. The Star K Ranch, is the home of Aurora’s Morrison Nature Center. Both Centers provide important habitat for wildlife and conservation education for the public. Other public areas include Aurora Reservoir and Quincy Reservoir which have 2,500-surface acres and 160-acres respectively.

There are twenty-two historic sites and landmarks managed by the city of Aurora which were constructed from 1870 – 1958. With cultural centers, the Aurora Fox Arts Center (which lies in the East End Arts District), the Aurora History Museum, the 30-year old Aurora Symphony Orchestra, and much more – there are many entertaining and impressive things to see and do in Aurora.  Visit the Aurora events page to see what is coming up in this area of Colorado. Aurora welcomes you!

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