Editing Thornton, Colorado (section)

==History==
Thornton consisted solely of farmland until 1953, when Sam Hoffman purchased a lot off Washington Street about {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Denver. The town he laid out was the first fully planned community in Adams County, and the first to offer full [[municipal services]] from a single [[tax]] levy, including recreation services and free trash pickup. Thornton was named in honor of [[List of governors of Colorado|then-incumbent Colorado Governor]] [[Dan Thornton]].<ref>[https://www.thorntonco.gov/about/Pages/thornton_history.aspx "Thornton History"], City of Thornton website</ref>

The Thornton Community Association (TCA) was formed in 1954 to help guide the new community's development. By the end of 1955, Thornton had 5,500 residents in over 1,200 homes. The TCA was instrumental in Thornton's 1956 [[municipal incorporation|incorporation]] as a city. Oyer G. Leary was elected the first mayor.<ref>{{cite book | title = Adams County: Crossroads of the West | last = Wagner | first = Alvin | volume = II | publisher = Board of Adams County Commissioners | location = Brighton, Colorado | chapter = Thornton Was First Planned Community | year = 1977 | isbn = 0-930952-01-4 }}</ref>