Editing Arvada, Colorado

{{short description|A Home Rule City in Jefferson and Adams counties, Colorado, United States}}
{{redirect|Arvada}}
{{infobox settlement
 | name                     = Arvada, Colorado
 | settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=February 2, 2025}}</ref>
 | motto                    = 
 | image_skyline            = Aerial image of Arvada, Colorado.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = Aerial image of Arvada
 | image_flag               = Flag of Arvada, Colorado.svg
 | flag_size                = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | seal_size                = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_size              = 
 | image_blank_emblem       = 
 | blank_emblem_type        = 
 | blank_emblem_size        = 
 | image_map                = Adams County and Jefferson County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Arvada Highlighted 0803455.svg
 | map_caption              = Location of the City of Arvada in [[Jefferson County, Colorado|Jefferson]] and [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]] [[List of counties in Colorado|counties]], [[Colorado]]
 | pushpin_map              = USA#USA Colorado
 | pushpin_relief           = 
 | pushpin_label            = Arvada
 | pushpin_label_position   = right
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location of the City of Arvada, Colorado
<!-- Location -->
 |coordinates             = {{coord|39.8028|-105.0875|type:city(0)_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204709|display=it}}
 |coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=204709|name=Arvada, Colorado|access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>
 |elevation_ft            = 5348
|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name        = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1       = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2       = [[List of counties in Colorado|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2       = [[Jefferson County, Colorado|Jefferson]] and [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=February 11, 2025}}</ref>
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun/>
 | leader_title             = 
 | leader_name              = 
 | leader_title1            = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name1             = Lauren Simpson<ref name=mayor/> (2023-)
 | leader_title2            = [[City manager|City Manager]]
 | leader_name2             = Don Wick<ref name=city_manager/> (2025-)
 | established_title        = [[Settled]]
 | established_date         = 1859<ref name=history/>
 | established_title2       = [[Platted]]
 | established_date2        = December 1, 1870<ref name=history/>
 | established_title3       = [[municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
 | established_date3        = August 24, 1904<ref name=history/><ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = August 18, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200920/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html| archive-date= September 27, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
 | named_for                = Hiram Arvada Haskin
 | unit_pref                = US
 | total_type               = Total
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 102.485
 | area_land_km2            = 100.776
 | area_water_km2           = 1.709
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
 | population_total         = 124,402
 | population_density_sq_mi = 3,197
 | population_rank          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado|7th]] in Colorado<br />[[List of United States cities by population|229th]] in the United States
 | population_demonym       = Arvadan
 | population_metro         = 2,963,821 ([[List of metropolitan statistical areas|19th]])
 | population_blank1_title  = [[Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
 | population_blank1        = 3,623,560 ([[List of primary statistical areas|17th]])
 | population_blank2_title  = [[Front Range Urban Corridor|Front Range]]
 | population_blank2        = 5,055,344
 | timezone1                = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
 | utc_offset1              = −07:00
 | timezone1_DST            = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
 | utc_offset1_DST          = −06:00
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
 | postal_code              = 80001-80007 and 80403<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|date=August 18, 2007 |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=August 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818145107/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|area_code_type          = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code               = [[Area codes 303, 720, and 983|303/720/983]]
|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|204709}}
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|2409737}}
|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|08|03455}}
|website                 = [https://arvadaco.gov/ City of Arvada]
|footnotes               = 
}}

'''Arvada''' ({{IPAc-en|ɑr|ˈ|v|æ|d|ə}}) is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]] located in [[Jefferson County, Colorado|Jefferson]] and [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]] [[List of counties in Colorado|counties]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/> The city population was 124,402 at the [[2020 United States census]], with 121,510 residing in Jefferson County and 2,892 in Adams County.<ref name=2020_Census/> Arvada is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|seventh most populous city]] in Colorado. The city is a part of the [[Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and the [[Front Range Urban Corridor]]. The [[Olde Town Arvada]] historic district is {{convert|7|mi|abbr=out}} northwest of the [[Colorado State Capitol]] in [[Denver]].

==History==
The first documented discovery of gold in the [[Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountain region]] occurred on June 22, 1850, when [[Lewis Ralston]], a [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] prospector traveling with a party headed for the [[Gold in California|California gold fields]], dipped his sluice pan into a small stream near its confluence with [[Clear Creek (Colorado)|Clear Creek]].<ref name=history>{{cite web |title=Arvada History |publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado |url=http://arvada.org/community/history.php |format=[[HTTP]] |access-date=August 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628033539/http://www.arvada.org/community/history.php |archive-date=June 28, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He found about ¼ [[troy ounce]] (8&nbsp;g) of gold, then worth about five dollars (about $550 [[USD]] today.)<ref>{{citation|title=Ralston's Gold|first=Lois Cunniff Lindstrom|last=Kennedy|publisher=Coloradream Publishing|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2022/02/09/the-curious-case-of-lewis-ralston/|title=The curious case of Lewis Ralston|publisher=Arvada Press|date= February 9, 2022|access-date=February 27, 2024}}</ref> While Ralston was elated, the rest of the party was unimpressed and continued on to California the next morning. Ralston continued panning for gold, but after a few days gave up and caught up with his party. The site of Lewis Ralston's gold discovery now lies along [[Ralston Creek (Colorado)|Ralston Creek]] in the City of Arvada's [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gold+Strike+Park,+5500+W+56th+Ave,+Arvada,+CO+80002/@39.7981216,-105.0589593,17z/ Gold Strike Park].

In 1858, Ralston brought another group of prospectors back to the site of his first discovery. Ralston and most of the miners gave up after a few days, but several miners found gold upstream along the [[South Platte River]]. The placer gold in the area soon played out, but hard rock deposits of gold were found in the mountains to the west. In 1860, Benjamin F. Wadsworth filed a [[homestead]] of {{convert|160|acre}} along Clear Creek, and the following year began digging an irrigation ditch, that would later take his name, to water his crops. Some of the miners abandoned their search for gold and returned to farm the rich bottom land along Ralston Creek and Clear Creek. They found an eager market for their crops among other gold seekers. The [[Territory of Colorado]] was formed on February 28, 1861, and the farms in the valley expanded to feed the growing population of the region.

In the summer of 1870, the [[Colorado Central Railroad]] laid tracks through the area from the junction of [[Kansas Pacific Railroad]] and the [[Denver Pacific Railroad]] at [[History of Denver, Colorado#"The Rail City"|Jersey Junction]], {{convert|3|mi|km|0|sp=us}} north of [[Denver|Denver City]], to connect to [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]] at the mouth of [[Clear Creek (Colorado)|Clear Creek Canyon]]. On December 1, 1870, Benjamin Wadsworth and Louis A. Reno [[platted]] the Ralston Point townsite along the railroad. To avoid confusion with other communities along [[Ralston Creek (Colorado)|Ralston Creek]], Ralston Point was soon renamed Arvada in honor of Hiram Arvada Haskin, brother-in-law of settler Mary Wadsworth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9337|title=Profile for Arvada, Colorado|publisher=[[ePodunk]]|access-date=June 15, 2010}}</ref> The Arvada, Colorado, post office opened on February 16, 1871,<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> with Benjamin Wadsworth as the first [[U.S. Postal Service|postmaster]]. Colorado was granted [[U.S. state|statehood]] on August 1, 1876, and the Town of Arvada was [[Colorado municipalities|incorporated]] on August 14, 1904.<ref name=MuniIncCO/> Eventually 42 irrigation ditches would serve the vibrant agricultural community. Arvada was once known as the "Celery Capital of the World."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arvada.org/about/our-community/arvada-fun-facts|title=Fun Facts About Arvada - City of Arvada|access-date=April 18, 2016|archive-date=April 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427114126/https://arvada.org/about/our-community/arvada-fun-facts|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Arvada grew rapidly during the latter half of the 20th century as a [[suburb]] of nearby Denver, the [[List of capitals in the United States|state capital]]. Arvada became a [[Colorado municipalities|Statutory City]] on October 31, 1951, and a [[Colorado municipalities|Home Rule Municipality]] on July 23, 1963. By the end of the millennium, the population of Arvada exceeded 100,000.

===Missionary shooting===
{{Main|2007 Colorado YWAM and New Life shootings}}
On December 9, 2007, Matthew J. Murray walked into the Youth With a Mission Center in Arvada and, after he was refused his request to stay overnight in the dormitories, opened fire and killed two people, injuring two more.

A memorial was held the following Wednesday, December 12, in which Youth With a Mission leaders forgave Murray's family for what happened.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/us/09cnd-shoot.html?hp|title=Gunman Kills 2 at Missionary Center Near Denver|date=December 9, 2007|access-date=December 9, 2007|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | first=John | last=Holusha| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150903193131/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/us/09cnd-shoot.html?hp| archive-date=September 3, 2015| url-status= live}}</ref>

==Geography==
At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|102.485|km2|acre|order=flip}}, including {{convert|1.709|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>
{{clear}}

===Climate===
Arvada has a [[Humid continental climate|humid continental]] [[Köppen climate classification]], abbreviated as ''Dfb''.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=755250&cityname=Arvada%2C+Colorado%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Arvada,Colorado]</ref>

{{Weatherbox
| location = the City of Arvada, Colorado. Elevation {{convert|5348|ft}}.
| single line = Y
| width = auto
| Jan high F = 46.2
| Feb high F = 47.3
| Mar high F = 56
| Apr high F = 62.3
| May high F = 71.2
| Jun high F = 83.3
| Jul high F = 89.4
| Aug high F = 87.1
| Sep high F = 79.4
| Oct high F = 66.4
| Nov high F = 54.2
| Dec high F = 45.7
| year high F = 65.7
| Jan mean F = 32.6
| Feb mean F = 33.9
| Mar mean F = 41.9
| Apr mean F = 48.4
| May mean F = 57.5
| Jun mean F = 68.2
| Jul mean F = 74.3
| Aug mean F = 72.1
| Sep mean F = 64
| Oct mean F = 51.3
| Nov mean F = 40.4
| Dec mean F = 32.3
| year mean F = 51.4
| Jan low F = 18.9
| Feb low F = 20.4
| Mar low F = 27.9
| Apr low F = 34.4
| May low F = 43.8
| Jun low F = 53.1
| Jul low F = 59.2
| Aug low F = 57.1
| Sep low F = 48.5
| Oct low F = 36.3
| Nov low F = 26.5
| Dec low F = 18.9
| year low F = 37.1
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.56
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.65
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.34
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.2
| May precipitation inch = 2.53
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.71
| Jul precipitation inch = 1.73
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.63
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.21
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.16
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.84
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.53
| year precipitation inch = 16.09
| source = PRISM Climate Group<ref name=prism>{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|website=www.prism.oregonstate.edu|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 840
| 1920 = 915
| 1930 = 1276
| 1940 = 1482
| 1950 = 2359
| 1960 = 19242
| 1970 = 49844
| 1980 = 84576
| 1990 = 89235
| 2000 = 102153
| 2010 = 106433
| 2020 = 124402
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 121414
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| footnote = [[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Arvada, CO.png|thumb|right|Map of racial distribution in Arvada, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(115, 178, 255)|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(159, 212, 0)|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 0, 0)|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 170, 0)|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(140, 81, 181)|Multiracial}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(153, 102, 51)|Native American/Other}}]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Arvada, Colorado – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Arvada city, Colorado|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US0803455|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Arvada city, Colorado|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0803455&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Arvada city, Colorado|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0803455&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|87,302
|86,556
|style='background: #ffffe6; |94,989
|85.46%
|81.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |76.36%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|628
|841
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,183
|0.61%
|0.79%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.95%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|419
|437
|style='background: #ffffe6; |550
|0.41%
|0.41%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|2,175
|2,225
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,096
|2.13%
|2.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.49%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|47
|58
|style='background: #ffffe6; |72
|0.05%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|87
|110
|style='background: #ffffe6; |486
|0.09%
|0.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.39%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|1,464
|1,670
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,390
|1.43%
|1.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.33%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|10,031
|14,536
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18,636
|9.82%
|13.66%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14.98%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''102,153'''
|'''106,433'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''124,402'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 106,433 people, 42,701 households, and 28,927 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,028.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 44,427 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,216.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}} with a median value of $240,000. The racial makeup of the city was 89.08% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.5% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 2.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 13.7% of the population.

There were 44,427 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population's ages were spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. There were 51,984 males and 54,539 Females.

The median income for a household in the city was $66,125 and the median income for a family was $78,591. Males had a median income of $42,126 versus $30,802 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $24,679. About 4.6% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].
{{clear|left}}

==Government==
The City of Arvada is a [[Municipal home rule|Home Rule Municipality]] with a council–manager form of government. The Arvada City Council has seven members: an elected mayor, two councilmembers elected at large, and four councilmembers elected from council districts.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Arvada City Council
!Office
!Incumbent
!Term
|-
|Mayor
|Lauren Simpson<ref name=mayor>{{cite web |url=https://co-arvada.civicplus.com/823/Lauren-Simpson-Mayor |title=Lauren Simpson, Mayor |publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado |access-date=December 9, 2023 }}</ref>
|2023- (District 2 Councilmember, 2019–2023)
|-
|Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, District One
|Randy Moorman<ref>{{Cite web |title=Randy Moorman, Mayor Pro Tem, District 1 Councilmember |publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado|url=https://co-arvada.civicplus.com/819/Randy-Moorman-Mayor-Pro-TeM-District-1-C |access-date=December 9, 2023 }}</ref>
|2021-
|-
|Councilmember, District Two
|Shawna Ambrose<ref name="d2">{{cite web|title=Shawna Ambrose, District 2 Councilmember|publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado|url=https://www.arvadaco.gov/961/7695/Shawna-Ambrose-District-2-Councilmember|access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>
|2023-
|-
|Councilmember, District Three
|John Marriott<ref name="d3">{{cite web |title=John Marriott, District 3 Councilmember |publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado |url=https://co-arvada.civicplus.com/822/John-Marriott-District-3-Councilmember |access-date=December 9, 2023 }}</ref>
|2013-
|-
|Councilmember, District Four
|Bob Fifer<ref name="d4">{{cite web|title=Bob Fifer, District 4 Councilmember|publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado|url=https://www.arvadaco.gov/816/Bob-Fifer-District-4-Councilmember|access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>
|2023- (At-large, 2011–2023)
|-
|Councilmember At-Large
|Lisa Feret<ref name=atl>{{cite web|title=Lisa Feret, Councilmember at-Large|publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado|url=https://www.arvadaco.gov/821/Lisa-Feret-Councilmember-at-Large|access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>
|2021-
|-
|Councilmember At-Large
|Sharon Davis<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharon Davis, Councilmember At-Large |publisher=City of Arvada, Colorado |url=https://www.arvadaco.gov/960/Sharon-Davis-Councilmember-At-Large |access-date=December 9, 2023 }}</ref>
|2023-
|}

The city council selects the city manager. The Arvada City Manager is Don Wick<ref name=city_manager>{{cite web|url=https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/04/23/deputy-city-manager-don-wick-named-next-arvada-city-manager/|title=Deputy City Manager Don Wick named next Arvada City Manager|first=Rylee|last=Dunn|publisher=[[Arvada Press]]|date=April 23, 2025|access-date=May 3, 2025}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Tulip Monsella 2006.jpg|thumb|upright|"Monsella" [[tulip]], blooming in Arvada 2006]]
Arvada is predominately a residential community with light industry and professional offices. Olde Town Arvada is the historic heart of the city with shops, restaurants, and the Olde Town Arvada Transit Hub. The primary restaurant and retail corridors are along [[Colorado State Highway 121|Wadsworth Boulevard]], Ralston Road, and Kipling Street.

===Industry===
The [[Rocky Flats Plant|Rocky Flats plant]] operated from 1952 to 1992, as a manufacturing complex that produced [[Nuclear weapons of the United States|nuclear triggers]].

==Education==
Arvada is served by the [[Jefferson County Public Schools (Colorado)|Jefferson County School District R-1]].

== Tourism and recreation ==
Attractions include:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractions-g29140-Activities-Arvada_Colorado.html|title=The Top 10 Things to Do in Arvada 2017 - Must See Attractions in Arvada, CO {{!}} TripAdvisor|website=www.tripadvisor.ca|access-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref>
*[[Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities]]
*[[Cussler Museum]] rare automobile collection
*[[Olde Town Arvada]] historic district
*[[Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge]]
*[[Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Transportation==
===Highways===
Arvada is the western terminus of [[Interstate 76 (Colorado)|Interstate 76]], which begins at the intersection of [[Interstate 70 (Colorado)|Interstate 70]] and [[Colorado State Highway 121|State Highway 121]]. Other state highways in Arvada include [[SH 72 (CO)|SH 72]], [[SH 93 (CO)|SH 93]], and [[SH 95 (CO)|SH 95]]. Major highways near Arvada include [[Interstate 25 (Colorado)|Interstate 25]], [[Interstate 270 (Colorado)|Interstate 270]], [[U.S. Highway 36 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 36]] and [[U.S. Highway 287 (Colorado)|U.S. Highway 287]].

===Mass transit===
The [[Amtrak]] ''[[California Zephyr]]'' passes through Arvada westbound each morning and eastbound each evening and stops at the nearby [[Denver Union Station]]. This route passes through the [[Rocky Mountains]] en route from [[Chicago]] to [[Emeryville, California]], near [[Oakland, California|Oakland]].

Arvada is served by the [[Regional Transportation District]] [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/G/schedule commuter rail G line] at three stations, {{Rtds|Arvada Ridge}}, {{Rtds|Olde Town Arvada}}, {{Rtds|60th & Sheridan/Arvada Gold Strike}} with service to {{Rtds|Union Station}} in Downtown Denver. The following [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/28/schedule bus routes 28], [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/32/schedule 32], [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/51/schedule 51], [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/52/schedule 52], [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/72/schedule 72], [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/76/schedule 76], and [https://app.rtd-denver.com/route/100/schedule 100] also serve the Arvada area.

===Airports===
Arvada is served by [[Denver International Airport]] and nearby [[Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport]].

===Bicycling===
In 2014 the [[League of American Bicyclists]] designated Arvada as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community.<ref>{{cite web|date=Spring 2014|url=http://www.bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/bfareportcards/BFC_Spring_2014_ReportCard_Arvada_CO.pdf|title=Arvado, CO|website=bikeleague.org|access-date=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Arvada, Colorado}}
Notable individuals who were born or have lived in Arvada include novelist [[Clive Cussler]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Clive Cussler - Biography | publisher = IMDb | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193774/bio | access-date = April 18, 2016}}</ref> baseball pitcher [[Roy Halladay]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Renck|first1=Troy|title=Former Arvada West star Roy Halladay might have right stuff for Cooperstown|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2013/12/09/former-arvada-west-star-roy-halladay-might-have-right-stuff-for-cooperstown/|access-date=May 18, 2017|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=December 9, 2013}}</ref> [[Joe King (guitarist)|Joe King]]<ref>{{cite magazine | last = Cohen | first = Jenn | title = April 13 Feature - Joe King | magazine = Colorado Music Buzz | date = April 13, 2013 | url = http://www.colomusicbuzz.com/monthly-feature/april-13-feature-joe-king/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131219180727/http://www.colomusicbuzz.com/monthly-feature/april-13-feature-joe-king/ | url-status = usurped | archive-date = December 19, 2013 | access-date = April 18, 2016}}</ref> and [[Isaac Slade]]<ref>{{cite news | last = Baca | first = Ricardo | title = The Fray's Isaac Slade is proud of his scars | newspaper = The Denver Post | date = February 3, 2012 | url = http://www.denverpost.com/ci_19880410 | access-date = April 18, 2016}}</ref> of the rock band [[The Fray]], actor [[Nicholas Alexander Chavez]], and professional golfer and U.S. Olympic track and field gold medalist [[Babe Didrikson Zaharias]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Fun Facts About Arvada | publisher = City of Arvada | url = https://arvada.org/about/our-community/arvada-fun-facts | access-date = April 18, 2016 | archive-date = April 27, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160427114126/https://arvada.org/about/our-community/arvada-fun-facts | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Sister cities==
{{See also|List of sister cities in Colorado}}
Arvada's [[sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome|url=http://www.arvadasistercities.org/|website=arvadasistercities.org|publisher=Arvada Sister Cities International|access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Jinzhou]], China
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Kyzylorda]], Kazakhstan
<!--Mechelen - relationship ended https://www.mechelen.be/beslissingenlijst-cbs-29-april-2019-->

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area]]
*[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
*[[Interstate 70 in Colorado]]
*[[Interstate 76 in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://arvada.org/ City of Arvada]
**[http://arvadacenter.org/ Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/ARVADA.pdf CDOT map of Arvada]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Adjacent communities
| Centre = Arvada
| North = [[Westminster, Colorado|Westminster]]
| Northeast = 
| East = [[Berkley, Colorado|Berkley]]
| Southeast = [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]]
| South = [[Wheat Ridge, Colorado|Wheat Ridge]]
| Southwest = [[Fairmount, Colorado|Fairmount]]
| West = 
| Northwest = ''[[Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge|Rocky Flats]]''
}}
{{Jefferson County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Adams County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Colorado}}
{{Protected Areas of Colorado}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Arvada, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in Kansas Territory]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Adams County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Jefferson County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Denver metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1858]]
[[Category:Russian communities in the United States]]
[[Category:Ukrainian communities in the United States]]