Arvada is a historic Gold Rush settlement founded in 1850 that now has 109,745 residents. Prospectors used to pan for gold in Clear Creek and Ralston Creek that run through the city. For years, the primarily agricultural community was known as “The Celery Capital of the World.” The city was originally a suburb of Denver but it became its own city in 1951. Today it is largely a commuter town to either Denver or Boulder that is served by efficient Amtrak service.
Arvada is known for its sizable arts community for a mid-western town with agricultural and cattle wrangling roots. It has a commission that appoints festivals and arts projects. The Arvada Center for the Arts and the Humanities supports and showcases art in public places as well as holds year-round performances in art and dance. The facility, which also has a small ad hoc arts college with courses in dance, writing, acting, art and ceramics, attracts over 350,000 visitors from surrounding communities every year. Festivals held in the city include The Chocolate Affair, Sustain Arvada Festival, and the Festival of the Scarecrows and the Holiday Wine Tasting Festival.
There are also several golf courses in the area including the Lake Arbor Golf Club and the West Woods Golf Club. The city also has a tennis club and a skate park.
You do need a car to get around if you live here. The nearest gay hang-outs are in downtown Denver and include Charlie’s Denver Wrangler, X Bar, Tracks and BoysTown. The GLBT Community Center of Colorado is located on the East Colfax Avenue in Denver.
Arvada is also known for its beautiful parks, trails and open spaces according to our Arvada gay realtor. This is a good town for pet lovers as there are many places to walk the dog. Many of the streets are wide, with sidewalks and lots of mature trees. Residents enjoy a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains in the distance.
There are over 140 parks in total in the city linked by 125 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. The Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is also located in the north end of Arvada and consists of 72 acres with 63 acres of upland habit and 9 acres of wetlands. It is also safe to walk in the park at night here. The crime rate is very low.
There are bargains to be had in Arvada. As of October 16, there are 161 homes one stage of foreclosure or the other so a short sale may be possible. The average listing price for home in Arvada is $379,589 as of October 16 as well. The average price per square foot for a place in Arvada this fall was $170, which is an increase of 9.7% compared to the autumn real estate period of last year.
For more information about Denver and its many features and attractions visit the www.denvergov.org.
