Boulder (pop. 97,385; met. area pop. 294,567) is a city in north-central Colorado , northwest of Denver . It is a center for education, trade, and recreation. The city lies in an area of great natural beauty, on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains . Both the city and Boulder Creek, which flows east through central Boulder, were named for the numerous large granite boulders found in the area.
The University of Colorado lies in west-central Boulder. It is the city’s leading employer. Important economic activities in the Boulder area include health care; scientific and technical services; and trade, restaurants, and hotels. The city has a council-manager government and is the seat of Boulder County.
Boulder’s leaders have long worked to preserve natural and open spaces in and around the city. Such areas include Boulder Mountain Park and Chautauqua Park. The Flatirons, a series of rock formations on the eastern slope of Green Mountain, are part of Boulder Mountain Park. Park areas offer numerous opportunities for hiking, climbing, sightseeing, and other activities. Rocky Mountain National Park , one of Colorado’s leading tourist destinations, is about 18 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of the city.
The Boulder area was home to mainly Arapaho and Ute people before white explorers arrived in the mid-1800’s. Gold was discovered in the Denver area in 1858, bringing large numbers of setters to the region. Prospector Alfred A. Brookfield founded Boulder City in 1859. In 1871, the community was incorporated as the town of Boulder and soon dropped the word City from the official name. The University of Colorado was founded in the 1870’s. Starting in the mid-1900’s, high-technology industries brought many new jobs to the area.
