Editing Aurora, Colorado

{{short description|City in Colorado, US}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{infobox settlement
| name               = Aurora
| 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=January 20, 2025}}</ref>
| image_skyline      = Aurora, CO, USA - panoramio (1).jpg
| image_caption      = [[Southlands (Aurora, Colorado)|The Southlands]] shopping mall in Aurora
| image_flag         = Flag of Aurora, Colorado.svg
| flag_size          = 110px
| image_seal         = Seal of Aurora, Colorado.svg
| seal_size          = 90px
| nicknames          = The Gateway to the Rockies<br/>The Sunrise of Colorado
| motto              = 
| image_map          = Adams County and Arapahoe County and Douglas County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Aurora Highlighted 0804000.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Aurora in [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe]] (central), [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]] (north), and [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas]] (south) [[List of counties in Colorado|counties]], [[Colorado]]
| pushpin_map        = USA#USA Colorado
| pushpin_relief     = 
| pushpin_label      = Aurora
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the City of Aurora, Colorado.
<!-- Location -->
| 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  = [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe]], [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]], and [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas]]<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=January 20, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- Goverment -->
| established_title  = [[Platted]]
| established_date   = 1891 as Fletcher, Colorado
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (town)]]
| established_date2  = May 5, 1903, as the Town&nbsp;of&nbsp;Fletcher<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>
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
| established_date3  = March 9, 1928 as the City&nbsp;of&nbsp;Aurora<ref name="City Incorporation">{{cite news |title=Official Notice of City in this Issue |work=The Aurora Democrat |volume=19 |issue=12 |page=1 |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=AUD19280309-01 |date=March 9, 1928}}</ref>
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Mike Coffman]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]){{cn|date=July 2024}}
| leader_title1      = City manager
| leader_name1       = Jason Batchelor{{cn|date=July 2024}}
<!-- Area ------>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="Gazetteer Files" />
| area_total_km2     = 423.691
| area_land_km2      = 422.191
| area_water_km2     = 1.500
| area_rank          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado|2nd]] in Colorado<br>[[List of United States cities by area|54th]] in the United States
<!-- Population ----->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_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>
| population_total   = 404,219
| population_density_sq_mi = 2,412
| population_rank    = [[List of municipalities in Colorado|3rd]] in Colorado<br>[[List of United States cities by population|51st]] in the United States
| population_demonym = [[List of adjectivals and demonyms for Colorado cities|Auroran]]
<!-- General information ------>
| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset         = −07:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −06:00
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 5558
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|42|33|N|104|43|18|W|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204737|name=City of Aurora, Colorado|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 80010-80019, 80040-80047 (all but 80045 [[PO Box]]es), 80247<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|date=August 19, 2007 |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=[[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=August 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818145107/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |url-status=dead }} The post office serving 80137 is located in Aurora, but "[[Watkins, Colorado|Watkins]]" is the place nameCity assigned to the ZIP code.</ref>
|area_code_type          = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code               = [[Area codes 303, 720, and 983|303/720/983]]
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS city ID]]
| blank1_info        = 2409757<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409757}}</ref>
| blank2_name        = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank2_info        = {{FIPS|08|04000}}
| website            = [https://www.auroragov.org/ City of Aurora]
}}

'''Aurora''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|oʊ|r|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|ɔː|r|ə}}) is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]] located in [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe]], [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]], and [[Douglas County, Colorado|Douglas]] [[List of counties in Colorado|counties]], [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/> The city's population was 386,261 at the [[2020 United States census]] with 336,035 residing in Arapahoe County, 47,720 residing in Adams County, and 2,506 residing in Douglas County.<ref name=2020_Census/> Aurora is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|third-most-populous city]] in the State of Colorado and the [[List of United States cities by population|51st-most-populous city]] in the United States. Aurora is a principal city of the [[Denver metropolitan area|Denver–Aurora–Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA) and a major city of the [[Front Range urban corridor]].

==History==
{{For timeline}}
Before European settlement, the land that now makes up Aurora was the territory of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), and Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux) tribes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Temprano |first1=Victor |title=Native Land |url=https://native-land.ca/ |website=Native Land Digital |date=2015}}</ref> These lands were [[Louisiana (New France)|claimed by France]] in 1682 and subsequently became part of the 1803 [[Louisiana Purchase]].<ref>In the 1980s, a subdivision named “Louisiana Purchase” was developed along Louisiana Avenue on the east side of the city.</ref>

Aurora originated in the 1880s as the town of Fletcher, taking its name from Denver businessman [[Donald Fletcher]] who saw it as a real estate opportunity. He and his partners staked out {{convert|4|mi2|spell=in}} east of [[Denver]], but the town—and Colorado—struggled mightily after the [[Denver Depression of 1893|Silver Crash of 1893]]. The Town of Fletcher was incorporated on May 5, 1903.<ref name=MuniIncCO/> Fletcher skipped town, leaving the community with a huge water debt. Voters decided to rename Fletcher the Town of Aurora in 1907 after one of the subdivisions composing the town. The Aurora post office opened on January 15, 1908.<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>

By February 1928, the town of Aurora had reached a population of over 2,000 and it was reincorporated as a city on March 9.<ref>{{cite news |title=Census Shows Aurora is now a City |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=AUD19280224-01 |work=The Aurora Democrat |volume=19 |issue=10 |page=1 |date=February 24, 1928}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Aurora Town Becomes a City Today |work=The Aurora Democrat |volume=19 |issue=11 |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=AUD19280302-01 |page=1 |date=March 2, 1928}}</ref><ref name="City Incorporation"></ref> Aurora slowly began to grow in Denver's shadow becoming the fastest-growing city in the United States during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Aurora, composed of hundreds of subdivisions, thus carries the name of one of the original development plats from which it sprang.

Aurora's growing population in recent decades has led to efforts for co-equal recognition with its larger neighbor.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} Former mayor Dennis Champine once expressed the somewhat whimsical notion that eventually the area would be called the "Aurora/Denver Metropolitan Area". Indeed, since the 2000 Census Aurora has surpassed Denver in land area, and much of Aurora is undeveloped, while Denver is more fully built-out. However, such efforts are somewhat hampered by the lack of a large, historically important [[central business district]] in the city. Aurora is largely suburban in character, as evidenced by the city's modest number of multi-story buildings.

[[File:Aerial view of Fitzsimons Army Hospital, 1973.JPEG|thumb|left|1973 aerial view of Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, before closure]]
A large military presence has existed in Aurora since the early 20th century. In 1918, Army General Hospital #21 (later renamed [[Fitzsimons Army Hospital]]) opened, with the U.S. government expanding and upgrading the hospital facilities in 1941 just in time to care for the wounded servicemen of World War II. [[Lowry Air Force Base]] was opened in 1938, straddling the border of Aurora and Denver. It eventually closed in 1994, and has been redeveloped into a master-planned community featuring residential, commercial, business and educational facilities. In 1942, the Army Air Corps built Buckley Field, which has been renamed Naval Air Station, Buckley Air National Guard Base, Buckley Air Force Base, and finally [[Buckley Space Force Base]]. The base, home of the [[Buckley Garrison]] and the [[140th Wing]] Colorado Air National Guard, is Aurora's largest employer.

President [[Warren G. Harding]] visited [[Fitzsimons Army Medical Center|Fitzsimons Army Hospital]] in 1923, and President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] visited in 1936.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2016/03/25/ttimeline-development-of-the-anschutz-campus.html#g6|title=Timeline: Development of the Anschutz campus (Slideshow) - Denver Business Journal|website=Denver Business Journal|access-date=April 6, 2016}}</ref> In 1943, the hospital was the birthplace of 2004 Democratic presidential candidate [[John Kerry]]. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] recovered from a heart attack at Fitzsimons for seven weeks during the fall of 1955. Decommissioned in 1999, the facility is part of the [[Anschutz Medical Campus]] of the [[University of Colorado Denver]], and the [[Fitzsimons Life Science District]]. The Anschutz Medical Campus also includes the [[University of Colorado Hospital]], which moved to Aurora from Denver in 2007, and the [[Children's Hospital (Aurora, Colorado)|Children's Hospital]]. The first carbon-ion [[Particle therapy|radiotherapy research]] and treatment facility in the U.S. has been proposed at the site.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://source.colostate.edu/plan-presents-new-hope-for-us-cancer-patients/|title = CSU plan presents new hope for U.S. Cancer Patients|date = September 24, 2014|access-date = November 8, 2014|website = Colorado State University|last = Cornelius|first = Cornell}}</ref> These facilities will employ a workforce of 32,000 at build-out.

In 1965, mayor [[Norma O. Walker]] became the [[List of first female mayors|first woman]] to head a U.S. city with a population over 60,000.

In 1978, the cult coming-of-age film ''[[Over the Edge (film)|Over the Edge]]'' was filmed in Aurora; the crime drama has been named the "signature film" of Denver.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2020|title=The signature film of 76 cities around the world|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_signature_film_of_76_cities_around_the_world/s1__29954069|access-date=January 11, 2021|website=Yardbarker|language=en}}</ref>

In 1979, it was announced that a science fiction theme park would be built in Aurora using the sets of a $50 million film based on the fantasy novel ''[[Lord of Light]]''. However, due to legal problems the project was never completed. The script of the unmade film project, renamed ''[[Argo (2012 film)|Argo]]'', was used as cover for the "Canadian Caper": the exfiltration of six U.S. diplomatic staff trapped by the [[Iranian hostage crisis]].

In 1993, [[Cherry Creek State Park]] on the southwestern edge of Aurora was the location for the papal mass of the 8th [[World Youth Day]] with [[Pope John Paul II]], attended by an estimated 500,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/4865 |title=World Youth Day memorial signs in need of repair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927065853/http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/4865 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref>

Aurora is split among three counties and lies distant from the respective county seats. A [[consolidated city-county|consolidated city and county government]] such as those found elsewhere in Colorado ([[Denver]] and [[Broomfield, Colorado|Broomfield]]) was considered in the mid-1990s but failed to win approval by city voters; the issue was reconsidered in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sentinelcolorado.com/|title=The Sentinel|date=May 4, 2023|website=Sentinel Colorado}}</ref>

Aurora Sports Park opened in 2003. In 2004, Aurora was honored as the ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' magazine's 50th-anniversary "Sportstown" for Colorado because of its exemplary involvement in facilitating and enhancing sports. The city attracts more than 30 regional and national sports tournaments annually to Aurora's fields. Aurora's active populace is also reflected in the variety of professional athletes [[#Climate|hailing from the city]]. Aurora's first semi-professional sports franchise, the [[Aurora Cavalry]] in the [[International Basketball League (2005-)|International Basketball League]], began play in 2006 but folded by season's end due to budget mishaps.{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}

In 2008, Aurora was designated an [[All-America City]] by the National Civic League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=186 |title=AAC Winners by State and City |publisher=Ncl.org |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref>

Aurora pioneered the use of [[bank filtration]] in the United States, becoming one of the first U.S. cities to reap the benefits of siphoning water from beneath a riverbed upon completion of the Prairie Waters Project in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Max |date=January 10, 2023 |title=Aurora poised to double capacity of Prairie Waters riverbank filtration project with federal grant |url=https://sentinelcolorado.com/orecent-headlines/aurora-poised-to-double-capacity-of-prairie-waters-riverbank-filtration-project-with-federal-grant/ |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Sentinel Colorado |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prairie Waters |url=https://www.auroragov.org/residents/water/water_system/water_sources/prairie_waters |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=auroragov.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017, the [[El Salvador|Republic of El Salvador]] opened a consulate in Aurora, serving Colorado, [[Kansas]], [[Nebraska]], and [[Wyoming]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://consuladoaurora.rree.gob.sv/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118105939/http://consuladoaurora.rree.gob.sv/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2018|title=Consulado de el Salvador en Aurora, Colorado - Inicio}}</ref> In 2024, the [[Honduras|Republic of Honduras]] opened the city's second diplomatic post.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aurora welcomes new Consulate General of Honduras, the second diplomatic post in the city |url=https://www.auroragov.org/news/whats_new/aurora_welcomes_new_consulate_general_of_honduras |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=www.auroragov.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Aurora theater shooting===
{{Main|2012 Aurora theater shooting}}
On July 20, 2012, Aurora was the site of the deadliest shooting by a lone shooter in Colorado (and the state's overall second deadliest, after the 1999 [[Columbine High School massacre]]).<ref name="70 victims in mass shooting">{{cite news | title = Colorado Movie Theater Shooting: 70 Victims The Largest Mass Shooting | url = http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html | access-date = July 21, 2012 | publisher = Good morning America | date = July 20, 2012 | archive-date = July 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721004136/http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-batman-movie-shooting-suspect-phd-student-085940589--abc-news-topstories.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> The shooting occurred just after midnight, when [[James Holmes (mass murderer)|James Holmes]] opened fire during the [[Midnight movie#Midnight releases|midnight premiere]] of ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' in a [[Century Theatres|Century]] [[movie theater]], killing 12 people and injuring 70 others.<ref name="complete list">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/officials-release-complete-list-of-injured-victims-in-aurora-massacre/ |title=Officials release complete list of injured victims in Aurora massacre |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> Holmes was arrested and was eventually sentenced to 12 life sentences in prison with an additional required 3,318 years. The shooting drew an international response from world leaders. U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] visited victims, as well as local and state officials, and addressed the nation in a televised address from Aurora on July 22. Actor [[Christian Bale]], who plays [[Batman]] in the film, also visited some victims in hospitals. The events marked a turning point in recognition and public perception of the city; rather than referring to the site as being in "Denver" or "suburban Denver", as would have been typical before the event, virtually all media accounts of the incident unequivocally named "Aurora" as its location.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.westword.com/news/aurora-is-finally-a-household-namefor-the-wrong-reason-5822506 |title= Aurora is Finally a Household Name...For the Wrong Reason |website= westword.com |access-date= March 20, 2015 |quote= Most of the headlines name-check Aurora as the site of the massacre, rather than tying it to a Denver suburb. |date= July 20, 2012 }}</ref>

===Elijah McClain===
{{main|Killing of Elijah McClain}}
On August 30, 2019, [[Elijah McClain]] died six days after an unprovoked detention by two Aurora police officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://auroragov.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_1881137/File/News%20Items/Investigation%20Report%20and%20Recommendations%20(FINAL).pdf|title=Investigation Report and Recommendations|author=Independent Review Panel|publisher=City of Aurora|date=February 22, 2021|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> On June 27, 2020, Aurora Police in riot gear dispersed thousands of protestors at a [[Elijah McClain#Violin Protest|violin concert]] held in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/13/arts/music/elijah-mcclain-violin-vigil.html|title=Violin Vigils Honor the Memory of Elijah McClain|first=Giulia|last=Heyward|work=[[New York Times]]|date=July 13, 2020|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> On October 12, 2023, one of the officers involved in McClain's death was found guilty on charges of assault and [[negligent homicide]], while another officer was acquitted on all charges against him, which included assault and reckless manslaughter.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Babineau |first1=Andi |last2=Levenson |first2=Eric |last3=Tucker |first3=Emma |name-list-style=and |date=October 12, 2023 |title=One officer who arrested Elijah McClain convicted of criminally negligent homicide; second officer acquitted |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/12/us/elijah-mcclain-police-trial-thursday/index.html |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

=== 2024 U.S. Presidential Election ===
Aurora was thrust into national media coverage during the run-up to the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 U.S. presidential election]]. In September 2024, statements made by mayor Mike Coffman and city council member Danielle Jurinsky, both Republicans, fueled a rumor that the Venezuelan [[Tren de Aragua]] gang had taken control of an Aurora apartment complex and was extorting residents for their rent money. Jurinsky appeared on [[Fox News]] to assert that others questioning her claims were engaged in "a huge cover-up" and this "isn't just an Aurora issue." The rumor spread across right-wing media before the two officials backpedaled from their original assertions. Presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]] became aware of the rumor and repeated it multiple times during his September 10 debate with [[Kamala Harris]], and subsequently scheduled a campaign rally in Aurora.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alvarez |first1=Alayna |title=Aurora leaders backtrack on "overstated" claims of Venezuelan gang activity |url=https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/09/11/aurora-venezuelan-gang-arrests-mike-coffman-danielle-jurinsky |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |date=September 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Acevedo |first1=Nicole |title=What led to rumors Trump shared about Venezuelan gangs taking over a Colorado building? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-debate-venezuelan-gangs-colorado-rcna170255 |publisher=NBC News |date=September 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=Police identify three more people from viral video of armed men inside Aurora apartment complex |url=https://www.denver7.com/news/front-range/aurora/police-identify-three-more-people-from-viral-video-of-armed-men-inside-aurora-apartment-complex |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mason |first=Tori |date=2024-08-30 |title=Venezuelan gang activity confirmed by Aurora officials after release of Colorado woman's surveillance video - CBS Colorado |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-venezuelan-gang-activity-aurora-crime-woman-moves-video-guns/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Mayor Coffman then pushed back against Trump's claims that the city was overrun by Venezuelan gangs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=Trump seizes on one block of a Colorado city to warn of migrant crime threat, even as crime dips |url=https://www.fox16.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-trump-seizes-on-one-block-of-a-colorado-city-to-warn-of-migrant-crime-threat-even-as-crime-dips/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=KLRT - FOX16.com |language=en-US}}</ref> At the October 11 rally at Aurora's Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric and proposed an "Operation Aurora" to remove undocumented immigrants connected to gangs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waddick |first=Karissa |title=Trump proposes 'Operation Aurora,' escalates migrant rhetoric at Colo. rally: 3 takeaways |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/11/trump-operation-aurora-colorado/75617416007/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> At a press conference held the same day at Aurora's [[Stanley Marketplace]] to denounce Trump's rally, Colorado Governor [[Jared Polis]] said, "We welcome the eyes of the nation on a true Colorado gem, the great city of Aurora."<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Birkeland |first1=Bente |last2=DeMare · |first2=Kiara |date=2024-10-11 |title=In a long but cheerful line, Trump supporters await their candidate in Aurora |url=https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/11/donald-trump-aurora-colorado-visit/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Colorado Public Radio |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff |date=2024-10-11 |title=Colorado Dems skewer Trump in Aurora ahead of campaign rally at Gaylord |url=https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/colorado-dems-skewer-trump-in-aurora-ahead-of-campaign-rally-at-gaylord/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Sentinel Colorado |language=en-US}}</ref>
Following Trump's inauguration, [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] conducted raids targeting suspected Tren de Aragua gang members in Aurora and Denver.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/ice-raid-aurora-arrests-venezuelan-gang/story?id=118483334 |title=ICE carries out raid in Colorado, 100 members of Venezuelan gang targeted for arrest: Officials |first1=Nadine |last1=El-Bawab |first2=Jeffrey |last2=Cook |first3=Luke |last3=Barr |website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/05/colorado-ice-raid-targets-immigrant-gang-members/78248926007/|title=Trump's promised immigration raids hit Colorado cities|first=Trevor Hughes and Rick|last=Jervis|website=USA TODAY}}</ref> In an address to Congress on March 4, 2025, Trump picked up his narrative again, claiming that immigrants have “destroyed” Aurora and that the city has “buckled under the weight of migrant occupation.”<ref>{{cite web | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/14/us/aurora-colorado-apartments-closing-gang-activity/index.html | title=Colorado apartment complex where armed gang members were seen on video will be closed | date=January 14, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Zeke |last2=Price |first2=Michelle L. |date=2025-03-05 |title=Trump falsely says Aurora 'buckled,' 'destroyed' by immigrants, gangs; promises unrelenting action' for US change |url=https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/trump-says-aurora-buckled-destroyed-by-immigrants-gangs-promises-to-keep-unrelenting-action-for-massive-change/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=[[Sentinel Colorado]] |language=en-US |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://denvergazette.com/aurora/aurora-tren-de-aragua-venezuelan-gang-police-todd-chamberlain/article_87f18a91-831c-411a-b89d-43a63e6d28d7.html | title=Aurora's new police chief confronts Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua | date=March 22, 2025 }}</ref> Coffman expressed disappointment and characterized the remarks as "undeserved".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pearce |first=Kyla |date=2025-03-06 |title=Trump claimed Aurora is a 'beautiful town destroyed' by illegal immigration |url=https://denvergazette.com/aurora/aurora-tda-gang-donald-trump-crime-congressional-address/article_0531e0be-f9f8-11ef-8255-87183d29fc0f.html |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=[[Denver Gazette]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Buckley AFB.png|thumb|[[Buckley Space Force Base]]]]
Aurora's official elevation, posted on signs at the city limits, is {{convert|5471|ft}}. However, the city spans a difference in elevation of nearly {{convert|1000|ft}}. The lowest elevation of {{convert|5285|ft}} is found at the point where [[Sand Creek (Denver, Colorado)|Sand Creek]] crosses the city limit in the northwest corner of the city, while the highest elevation of {{convert|6229|ft}} is on the extreme southern border of the city in Douglas County, near the intersection of Inspiration and Gartrell roads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/PlanningAndDevelopmentServices/ComprehensivePlanningDivision/DataAndDemographics/index.htm?ssSourceNodeId=1882&ssSourceSiteId=621|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927032003/https://www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/PlanningAndDevelopmentServices/ComprehensivePlanningDivision/DataAndDemographics/index.htm?ssSourceNodeId=1882&ssSourceSiteId=621|url-status=dead|title=Missing Page or Old Bookmark @ AuroraGov.Org|archivedate=September 27, 2011|website=www.auroragov.org}}</ref>

According to 2023 data published by the [[United States census]], the city has a total area of {{cvt|423.691|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{cvt|1.500|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name="Gazetteer Files">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_08.txt|title=Gazetteer Files|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=September 21, 2023|access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref> The city is about 6 percent more extensive than neighboring [[Denver]] but 80 percent of the size of [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], ranking as the [[List of United States cities by area|54th-largest U.S. city in land area]].
{{clear}}

===Neighborhoods===
Aurora is composed of dozens of neighborhoods, districts and (current and former) military installations. Among them:{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
{{div col|colwidth=10em|rules=yes|gap=2em}}
* Adonea
* [[Anschutz Medical Campus]]
* Aurora Heights
* Aurora Highlands<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/10/18/hot-properties-samuelson-a-bold-look-at-denver-areas-future-in-aurora-first-large-master-plan-in-years-has-a-fall-themed-preview-next-weekend-oct-27-28/ | title=A bold look at Denver area's future: In Aurora, first large master plan in years has a fall-themed preview next weekend (Oct. 26-27) | date=October 18, 2019 }}</ref>
* Aurora Hills
* Aurora Knolls
* Beacon Point
* Berkshire Village
* Blackstone
* Brookvale
* [[Buckley Space Force Base]]
* Carriage Place
* Centretech
* Chadsford
* Chaddsford Village
* Chambers Heights
* Chelsea
* Cinnamon Village II
* City Center
* Conservatory
* Copperleaf
* Corning
* Crestridge
* Cross Creek
* The Dam East
* Del Mar
* The Dam West
* Downtown A-Town (the [[Fletcher, Colorado|Fletcher]] townsite, Aurora's "downtown")
* Eastridge
* East Quincy Highlands
* Fox Hill
* Greenfield
* Hallcraft's Village East
* Hampton Hills
* Havana Heights
* Heather Gardens
* Heather Ridge
* Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club
* Highline Villages
* Highpoint
* Hillside at Del Mar
* Hoffman Heights
* Hutchinson Heights
* Inspiration
* Jackson Farm
* Kingsborough
* Laredo-Highline
* [[Lowry Air Force Base#Lowry Campus|Lowry Campus]] (formerly [[Lowry Air Force Base]])
* Lynn Knoll
* [[Meadowood, Aurora, Colorado|Meadowood]]
* Meadow Hills
* [[Mission Viejo, Aurora, Colorado|Mission Viejo]]
* Morris Heights
* Murphy Creek
* Peoria Park
* Pheasant Run
* Piney Creek
* Pioneer Hills
* Ponderosa Ridge
* Pride's Crossing
* Ptarmigan Park
* Queensborough
* Quincy Hill
* Rocking Horse
* Saddle Rock
* Settler's Village
* Serenity Ridge
* Seven Hills
* Shenandoah
* [[Stapleton International Airport|Stapleton]] (a portion of the [[infill|redevelopment]] of Denver's former airport lies in Aurora, directly north of Original Aurora)
* Siena
* Smoky Hill
* Smoky Ridge
* Sterling Hills
* Stricker's House
* Summer Valley Ranch
* Tallgrass
* Tallyn's Reach<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tallynsreach-community.com/|title=Tallyn's Reach|website=tallynsreach-community.com|access-date=February 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607005338/http://tallynsreach-community.com/|archive-date=June 7, 2017|url-status=dead|publisher=Brookfield Residential}}</ref>
* The Timbers
* Tollgate Run at Kingsborough
* Tollgate Village
* Traditions
* Tuscany
* Utah Park
* Village East
* Waters Edge
* Wheatlands
* Whispering Pines
* Willow Park
* Willow Trace
* Woodgate
* Woodrim
{{div col end}}

===Surrounding municipalities===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|-
|  style="width:35%; text-align:center;"|
|  style="width:30%; text-align:center;"|'''North:''' [[Denver]]
|  style="width:35%; text-align:center;"|
|-
|  style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|'''West:''' [[Denver]], [[Centennial, Colorado|Centennial]]
|  style="width:35%; text-align:center;"|'''Aurora'''
|  style="width:30%; text-align:center;"|'''East:''' [[Watkins, Colorado|Watkins]], [[Bennett, Colorado|Bennett]], [[Strasburg, Colorado|Strasburg]]
|-
|  style="width:35%; text-align:center;"|
|  style="width:30%; text-align:center;"|'''South:''' [[Greenwood Village, Colorado|Greenwood Village]], [[Centennial, Colorado|Centennial]],<br/>[[Foxfield, Colorado|Foxfield]], [[Parker, Colorado|Parker]]
|  style="width:35%; text-align:center;"|
|}
{{clear}}

===Climate===
Aurora experiences a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''[[Cold l steppe|''BSk'']]''), with four distinct seasons and modest precipitation year-round. Summers range from mild to hot, with generally low humidity and frequent afternoon [[thunderstorm]]s, and Aurora also averages about one dozen tornado warnings throughout [[tornado season]], running from April to July. Although a touchdown does occur every couple of years, tornadoes are typically weak and short lived. Aurora residents typically hear the tornado sirens go off numerous times more than residents in Denver, to the West. All of Aurora is located east of I-25, where tornado alley begins. Hailstorms, at times one to two-plus feet deep happen on occasion, and typical hailstorms are very common throughout these months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=22250&cityname=Aurora,+Colorado,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Aurora, Colorado Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref> July is the warmest month of the year, with an average high of {{cvt|89|F|0}} and an average low of {{cvt|57|F|0}}. Winters range from mild to occasional bitter cold, with periods of sunshine alternating with periods of [[snow]], high winds and very low temperatures. December is the coldest month of the year, with an average high of {{cvt|43|F|0}} and an average low of {{cvt|17|F|0}}. The average first snowfall in the Aurora area occurs in late October and the average final snowfall occurs in late April, although snow has fallen as early as September 4 and as late as June 5. Generally, deciduous trees in the area are bare from mid October to late April.
{{Weather box
|location = Aurora, Colorado
|single line = Y
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F =  76
|Feb record high F =  75
|Mar record high F =  83
|Apr record high F =  89
|May record high F =  97
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F =  96
|Nov record high F =  81
|Dec record high F =  73
|year record high F =108
|Jan high F = 45
|Feb high F = 47
|Mar high F = 55
|Apr high F = 62
|May high F = 71
|Jun high F = 82
|Jul high F = 89
|Aug high F = 86
|Sep high F = 78
|Oct high F = 67
|Nov high F = 53
|Dec high F = 43
|year high F =
|Jan low F = 18
|Feb low F = 20
|Mar low F = 26
|Apr low F = 33
|May low F = 42
|Jun low F = 51
|Jul low F = 57
|Aug low F = 55
|Sep low F = 47
|Oct low F = 35
|Nov low F = 26
|Dec low F = 17
|year low F =
|Jan record low F = −32
|Feb record low F = −24
|Mar record low F = −14
|Apr record low F =  −7
|May record low F =  17
|Jun record low F =  30
|Jul record low F =  41
|Aug record low F =  36
|Sep record low F =  15
|Oct record low F =  −2
|Nov record low F = −14
|Dec record low F = −27
|year record low F= −32
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.49
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.47
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.50
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.08
|May precipitation inch = 2.85
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.00
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.46
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.05
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.44
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.03
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.18
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.65
|year precipitation inch=18.20
|source 1 = [[Weather.com]]<ref name="climate">[[Weather.com]]—[http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/USCO0019] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802163027/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/USCO0019 |date=August 2, 2014 }}. Retrieved July 30, 2010.</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| align = left
| 1900 = 202
| 1910 = 679
| 1920 = 983
| 1930 = 2295
| 1940 = 3437
| 1950 = 11421
| 1960 = 48548
| 1970 = 74974
| 1980 = 158588
| 1990 = 222103
| 2000 = 276393
| 2010 = 325078
| 2020 = 386261
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 403130
| estref = <ref name="US Census Bureau City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024">{{cite web | url= https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html#v2024| title=US Census Bureau City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024|website=census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
| footnote = [[United States census|U.S. Decennial census]]
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Aurora, 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 – Aurora city, Colorado|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US0804000|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) – Aurora city, Colorado|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0804000&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) – Aurora city, Colorado|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0804000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|163,599
|153,715
|style='background: #ffffe6; |160,950
|59.19%
|47.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |41.67%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|36,008
|49,003
|style='background: #ffffe6; |59,232
|13.03%
|15.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15.33%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,511
|1,487
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,679
|0.55%
|0.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.43%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|11,892
|15,735
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24,480
|4.30%
|4.84%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.34%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|458
|919
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,549
|0.17%
|0.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|495
|677
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,213
|0.18%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.57%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|7,666
|10,279
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19,256
|2.77%
|3.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.99%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|54,764
|93,263
|style='background: #ffffe6; |116,902
|19.81%
|28.69%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |30.27%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''276,393'''
|'''325,078'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''386,261'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 325,078 people, 121,191 households, and 73,036 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,939.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 131,040 housing units at an average density of {{convert|766.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 61.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 15.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 4.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (1.1% Korean, 0.8% Vietnamese, 0.5% Filipino, 0.5% Chinese, 0.5% Indian, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Thai, 0.1% Cambodian, 0.1% Burmese, 0.1% Nepalese, 0.1% Pakistani, 0.1% Indonesian), 1.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 11.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 28.7% of the population; 21.9% of Aurora's population is of Mexican heritage, 1.0% Salvadoran, 0.7% Puerto Rican, 0.4% Guatemalan, 0.3% Honduran, 0.3% Peruvian, 0.2% Cuban, 0.2% Colombian and 0.1% Nicaraguan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=U.S. Census website |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |date=October 5, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2012 }}</ref> [[Non-Hispanic Whites]] were 47.3% of the population in 2010,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08/0804000.html |title=Aurora (city), Colorado |work=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531071853/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08/0804000.html |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> compared to 85.1% in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|title=Colorado - Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html|access-date=January 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html|archive-date=August 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Aurora is a center of Colorado's [[refugee]] population. There are about 30,000 [[Ethiopian American|Ethiopian]]s and [[Eritrean American|Eritreans]] living in the Denver–Aurora area. There is also a sizable population of [[Nepalese American|Nepalese]] refugees.<ref>Illescas, Carlos. [http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24774637/aurora-reaching-out-refugee-community Aurora reaching out refugee community], ''[[Denver Post]]'', December 21, 2012.</ref><ref>Bunch, Joey. [http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23734840/denver-metro-area-home-30-000-ethiopians-eritreans Denver metro area home to 30,000 Ethiopians, Eritreans] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304084952/http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23734840/denver-metro-area-home-30-000-ethiopians-eritreans |date=March 4, 2014 }}, ''[[Denver Post]]'', July 29, 2013.</ref>

There were 121,191 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,507, and the median income for a family was $52,551. Males had a median income of $35,963 versus $30,080 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,095. About 6.8% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}

==Economy==
According to the Aurora Economic Development Council,<ref name="auroraedc.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.auroraedc.com/AuroraEDC_FactsAndFigures_LargestEmployers.aspx |title=Aurora Economic Development Council |publisher=Auroraedc.com |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725015617/http://www.auroraedc.com/AuroraEDC_FactsAndFigures_LargestEmployers.aspx |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> the largest public employers in the city are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! Employees
|-
| 1
|[[Buckley Space Force Base]]
|12,100
|-
| 2
|[[Anschutz Medical Campus]]
|6,360
|-
| 3
|[[University of Colorado Hospital]]
|4,050
|-
| 4
|[[Aurora Public Schools (Colorado)|Aurora Public Schools]]
|4,020
|-
| 5
|[[Cherry Creek Schools]]
|3,820
|-
| 6
|City of Aurora
|3,740
|-
| 7
|[[Community College of Aurora]]
|510
|}

According to the Aurora Economic Development Council,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aurora Economic Development Council - Largest Employers|url=https://www.auroraedc.com/Facts-Figures/Largest-Employers.aspx|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=www.auroraedc.com|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213024613/https://www.auroraedc.com/Facts-Figures/Largest-Employers.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> the largest private employers in the city of Aurora are:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!#
!Employer
!Employees
|-
|1
|[[Children's Hospital Colorado]]
|5,670
|-
|2
|[[Raytheon Technologies]]
|2,430
|-
|3
|[[Kaiser Permanente]]
|1,940
|-
|4
|[[The Medical Center of Aurora]]
|1,710
|-
|5
|[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]
|1,500
|-
|6
|24-7 Intouch
|1,350
|-
|7
|SROriginals
|870
|-
|8
|[[Tyco Integrated Security]]
|850
|-
|9
|[[Northrop Grumman]]
|750
|-
|10
|[[ADT Inc.]]
|700
|}
Other notable employers in the city include [[Lockheed Martin Corporation]], [[Staples Inc.]], [[United Natural Foods]], [[Aurora Mental Health Center]], [[G4S Secure Solutions|G45 Secure Solutions]], [[Graebel Relocation]], [[Core-Mark]], and [[Nelnet, Inc.]]

==Attractions==
The city of Aurora manages more than 100 parks,<ref name="auroragov.org"/> more than {{cvt|6000|acre|km2}} of open space and natural areas,<ref name="auroragov.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/ParksandOpenSpaces/index.htm |title=Parks & Open Spaces @ AuroraGov.Org |access-date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210453/https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/ParksandOpenSpaces/index.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref> and six award-winning municipal golf courses (Aurora Hills, Meadow Hills, Murphy Creek, Saddle Rock, Springhill and Fitzsimons).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/Golf/index.htm |title=Golf @ AuroraGov.Org |access-date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210030/https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/Golf/index.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref> Aurora also is home to several privately owned golf courses including CommonGround Golf Course, Heather Ridge Country Club, Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club and Valley Country Club. Hogan Park at Highlands Creek in the Aurora Highlands features world-class [[public art]] installations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Art in the Park |url=https://theaurorahighlands.com/art-in-the-park/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=The Aurora Highlands |language=en}}</ref> including ''Liberty'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=milehighcre |date=2025-04-23 |title=Massive 58-Foot Sculpture "Liberty" to be Installed in Aurora |url=https://milehighcre.com/massive-58-foot-sculpture-liberty-to-be-installed-in-aurora/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Mile High CRE |language=en}}</ref> among the 20 [[List of the tallest statues in the United States|tallest statues in the United States]].

Star K Ranch, home to Aurora's Morrison Nature Center, provides important habitat for wildlife. It has several trails for nature exploration, including access to the Sand Creek Greenway Trail. Jewell Wetland, a {{convert|50|acre|m2|adj=on}} wooded wetland, features trails, boardwalk/deck access into the wetland and a butterfly garden. Aurora Reservoir and Quincy Reservoir offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor water pursuits.<ref name="auroragov.org"/>

[[File:Plains Conservation Center, Colorado 03.jpg|thumb|Sod house at the [[Plains Conservation Center]]]]
DeLaney Farm, site of Aurora's famous historic round barn, has {{cvt|130|acre|km2}} of open space, trails with access to the High Line Canal, an organic garden managed by [[Denver Urban Gardens]], and two structures on the National Register of Historic Places. The [[Plains Conservation Center]], with {{cvt|1100|acre|km2}} of native shortgrass prairie, hosts a variety of educational programs.<ref name="auroragov.org"/>

Twenty-seven historic sites and landmarks are managed by the city of Aurora, including the [[Gully Homestead]] of 1870, the Victorian-style [[Blanche A. Wilson House|Centennial House]] of 1890, the privately owned American War Mothers National Memorial Home, the Art Deco-style KOA Building of 1934, the [[DeLaney Barn|DeLaney Round Barn]] of 1902, Lowry Building 800, the interim headquarters for the U.S. Air Force Academy from 1955 to 1958, and Stanley Marketplace, which opened at the former site of Stanley Aviation in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/CityHall/AboutAurora/HistoricSites/ExploretheSites/index.htm |title=Explore the Sites @ AuroraGov.Org |access-date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205735/https://www.auroragov.org/CityHall/AboutAurora/HistoricSites/ExploretheSites/index.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref>

The Aurora Fox Theatre & Arts Center, another historic landmark, is a 245-seat performing arts facility in the Aurora Cultural Arts District, along East [[Colfax Avenue]]. In that same area, The People's Building is a performing arts venue with flexible space, including 191 retractable seats and a gallery.<ref name="thepeoplesbuilding">{{cite web |last1=The People's Building |title=Aurora Cultural Arts District |url=https://www.auroragov.org/things_to_do/arts__history___culture/aurora_cultural_arts_district |website=AuroraGov.org |access-date=February 25, 2022 |ref=58}}</ref>

The Aurora History Museum is a community-based cultural center featuring a permanent exhibit on Aurora history and two changing exhibit galleries touching on topics related to history and decorative arts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/ArtsandCulture/AuroraHistoryMuseum/index.htm |title=Aurora History Museum @ AuroraGov.Org |access-date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210617/https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/ArtsandCulture/AuroraHistoryMuseum/index.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref> Additionally, some of their collections can be accessed online [https://aurora.pastperfectonline.com/ here]. Aurora is home to the Colorado Freedom Memorial<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorado Freedom Memorial |url=https://www.visitaurora.com/directory/colorado-freedom-memorial/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Visit Aurora |language=en-US}}</ref> and a memorial garden for the victims of the 2012 theater shooting is located adjacent to City Hall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=7/20 Memorial |url=https://www.visitaurora.com/directory/7-20-memorial/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Visit Aurora |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Aurora Symphony Orchestra]], a community orchestra established in 1978, offers a full season of full orchestra concerts annually as well as smaller chamber ensemble performances.<ref>{{cite web |author=Aurora Symphony Orchestra |url=http://aurorasymphony.org/about |title=About the ASO |publisher=Aurorasymphony.org |date=February 22, 1999 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725024058/http://aurorasymphony.org/about |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The [[Aurora Public Library (Colorado)|Aurora Public Library]] provides four main branches and a variety of events throughout the year.<ref name="library">{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/AuroraPublicLibrary/index.htm |title=Aurora Public Library |publisher=City of Aurora |access-date=June 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801005248/https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/AuroraPublicLibrary/index.htm |archive-date=August 1, 2015 }}</ref>

[[Town Center at Aurora]] is the city's centrally-located indoor [[shopping mall]]. Other major retail centers in Aurora include the outdoor [[The Gardens on Havana]] (formerly Buckingham Square) and [[Southlands (Aurora, Colorado)|Southlands Town Center]], which is the metro area's largest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/subscriber-only/2025/02/28/largest-denver-area-shopping-centers.html |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Stanley Marketplace is a non-traditional retail and entertainment venue occupying the former [[Stanley Aviation]] plant.

==Government==
The city of Aurora operates under a [[Council–manager government|council-manager form of government]], where the city manager runs the city's day-to-day operations with general guidance from the city council. The Aurora City Council is composed of a mayor and ten council members. Six members are elected from districts, while the other four are elected at large. The mayor is elected by the entire city. Aurora's mayor role is largely ceremonial, but the mayor does have direct impact on policy issues as the head of city council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/CityHall/MayorandCityCouncil/CouncilMembers/index.htm |title=Mayor & Council Members @ AuroraGov.Org |access-date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210728/https://www.auroragov.org/CityHall/MayorandCityCouncil/CouncilMembers/index.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref> The council is nonpartisan; however, parties of members have been listed below for reference.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Aurora City Council Members<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/city_hall/mayor___city_council|title=Mayor & City Council|website=www.auroragov.org}}</ref>
!District
!Officeholder
!Political Party
|-
|Mayor
|[[Mike Coffman]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|-
| rowspan="4" |At-Large
|Amsalu Kassaw (Stub-Term for Dustin Zvonek as of December 16, 2024)
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|-
|Danielle Jurinsky
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|-
|Alison Coombs
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
|-
|Curtis Gardner
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|-
|Ward I
|Crystal Murillo
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
|-
|Ward II
|Steve Sundberg
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|-
|Ward III
|Ruben Medina
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
|-
|Ward IV
|Stephanie Hancock
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |
Republican
|-
|Ward V
|Angela Lawson
| {{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} | Nonpartisan
|-
|Ward VI
|Francoise Bergan
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|}
This full-service city is protected by the [[Aurora Police Department]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/Police/index.htm|title=Police @ AuroraGov.Org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205732/https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/Police/index.htm|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref> one of only 10 law enforcement agencies in Colorado to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies; the Aurora Fire Department,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/Fire/index.htm|title=Fire @ AuroraGov.Org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210201/https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/Fire/index.htm|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref> which is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International; and a Public Safety Communications dispatch call center.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/911Communications/index.htm|title=911 Communications @ AuroraGov.Org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205606/https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/911Communications/index.htm|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref> The Aurora Municipal Courts handles a wide variety of offense violations, and the Aurora Detention Center is a 72-hour adult holding facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/CourtsandDetention/index.htm|title=Courts & Detention @ AuroraGov.Org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205559/https://www.auroragov.org/LivingHere/PublicSafety/CourtsandDetention/index.htm|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref>

===Politics===

In national elections, Aurora leans to the left and the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], though not as much as neighboring [[Denver]] but more than other suburbs in the Denver metro area. Northern and Central Aurora, due to an extremely racially and culturally diverse voter base and high density for a suburban city, are some of the most Democratic areas in Colorado and vote similarly to Denver and Boulder; southern Aurora, similar to neighboring [[Centennial, Colorado|Centennial]], used to lean Republican but has swung Democratic entering the 2020s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Kara |title=LEFT TURN: Aurora, area suburbs veering left politically |url=https://sentinelcolorado.com/news/metro/left-turn-aurora-area-suburbs-veer-left-politically/ |website=Aurora Sentinel |date=March 13, 2020 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=June 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=2020 Elections Map |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 2, 2021 |access-date=February 21, 2021|last1=Park |first1=Alice |last2=Smart |first2=Charlie |last3=Taylor |first3=Rumsey |last4=Watkins |first4=Miles }}</ref>

Aurora anchors [[Colorado's 6th congressional district]] and is represented in Congress by [[Jason Crow]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Centennial, Colorado|Centennial]]). State representation is listed in the tables below (areas implied to be in [[Arapahoe County, Colorado|Arapahoe County]] unless noted: not all districts are fully in Aurora).

==== Colorado State Representatives ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |District
!Name
!Party
!Area Represented
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|District 30
|Dafna Michaelson Jenet
|Democratic
|North Aurora (Adams County)
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|District 36
|Michael Carter
|Democratic
|Eastern Aurora
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|District 37
|Tom Sullivan
|Democratic
|Southeastern Aurora
|-
|bgcolor=red|&nbsp;
|District 39
|Mark Baisley
|Republican
|Southern Aurora (Douglas County)
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|District 40
|Naquetta Ricks
|Democratic
|South-central Aurora 
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|District 41
|Iman Jodeh
|Democratic
|Central Aurora 
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|District 42
|Mandy Lindsay
|Democratic
|North-central Aurora 
|-
|bgcolor=red|&nbsp;
|District 44
|Kim Ransom
|Republican
|Southern Aurora (Douglas County)
|-
|bgcolor=red|&nbsp;
|District 56
|Rod Bockenfeld
|Republican
|Eastern Aurora (Adams and Arapahoe Counties)
|}

==== Colorado State Senators ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |District
!Name
!Party
!Area Represented
|-
|bgcolor=red|&nbsp;
|[[Colorado's 4th Senate district|District 4]]
|Jim Smallwood
|Republican
|Southern Aurora (Douglas County)
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|[[Colorado's 25th Senate district|District 25]]
|Kevin Priola
|Democratic{{efn|[[Kevin Priola]] was elected as a Republican, and crossed the floor to the Democratic Party in 2022.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1561728147376295939|user=KevinPriola|date=August 22, 2022|title=#coleg #copolitics #Elections2022 #democracy #Republican #DemocratsDeliver #colorado}}</ref>}}
|Northern Aurora (Adams County)
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|[[Colorado's 26th Senate district|District 26]]
|Jeff Bridges
|Democratic
|South-central Aurora
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|[[Colorado's 27th Senate district|District 27]]
|Chris Kolker
|Democratic
|Southeastern Aurora
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|[[Colorado's 28th Senate district|District 28]]
|Janet Buckner
|Democratic
|South-central Aurora
|-
|bgcolor=blue|&nbsp;
|[[Colorado's 29th Senate district|District 29]]
|Rhonda Fields
|Democratic
|North-central Aurora
|-
|}

=== List of mayors ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap" | List of mayors of Fletcher and Aurora<ref>{{cite web |title=Elections Archives |url=https://www.auroragov.org/city_hall/elections/elections_archives |access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Period served
! scope="col" | Notes

|-
| scope="row" | H.M. Miliken || May 27, 1891 – May 1, 1894 ||
|-
| scope="row" | A.L.B. Davies || May 2, 1894 – April 2, 1895 ||
|-
| scope="row" | P.H. Chambers || April 3, 1895 – April 15, 1898 ||
|-
| scope="row" | W.A. Clundy || April 16, 1898 – April 8, 1899 ||
|-
| scope="row" | W.H. Murphy || April 9, 1899 – April 12, 1901 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Jonas Washburn || April 13, 1901 – April 6, 1903 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Harry S. Class || April 7, 1903 – April 14, 1904 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Louis M. Strauss || April 15, 1904 – April 2, 1905 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Wilmer J. Parker || April 13, 1905 – April 10, 1906 || Resigned
|-
| scope="row" | Andrew Thompson || April 16, 1906 – April 14, 1907 || Last mayor of Fletcher
|-
| scope="row" | Edwin G. Smith || April 15, 1907 – April 12, 1908 || First mayor of Aurora
|-
| scope="row" | A.H. Kramer || April 13, 1908 – April 13, 1910 ||
|-
| scope="row" | V.T. O'Donald || April 14, 1910 – April 17, 1911 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Gershom Jones || April 18, 1911 – April 13, 1914 ||
|-
| scope="row" | H.B. Thompson || April 14, 1914 – April 12, 1917 ||
|-
| scope="row" | George E. Smith || April 13, 1917 – December 7, 1917 || Resigned
|-
| scope="row" | Harry Katherman || December 8, 1917 – July 1, 1918 || Mayor pro tem
|-
| scope="row" | John McMillan || July 1, 1918 – May 4, 1919 ||
|-
| scope="row" | J.N. Trompen || May 5, 1919 – April 21, 1920 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Jasper Parrish || April 22, 1920 – April 14, 1921 ||
|-
| scope="row" | John McMillan || April 15, 1921 – April 11, 1926 ||
|-
| scope="row" | F.A. Harrison || April 12, 1926 – April 10, 1927 ||
|-
| scope="row" | E.S. Murphy || April 11, 1927 – April 24, 1929 ||
|-
| scope="row" | B.B. Nevius || April 25, 1929 – April 12, 1931 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Charles F. Holzer || April 13, 1931 – April 6, 1937 ||
|-
| scope="row" | W.J. Parrish || April 7, 1937 – April 6, 1941 ||
|-
| scope="row" | J.E. McWhorter || April 7, 1941 – January 11, 1943 || Resigned
|-
| scope="row" | A.O. Hill || January 13, 1943 – April 8, 1945 || Appointed January 13, 1943, elected April 12, 1943
|-
| scope="row" | B.T. Howard || April 9, 1945 – January 11, 1948 ||
|-
| scope="row" | C.E. Tupps || January 12, 1948 – November 8, 1953 ||
|-
| scope="row" | William B. Mansfield || November 9, 1953 – November 6, 1955 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Allen C. Bradly || November 7, 1955 – November 8, 1959 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Harry W. Allard ||November 9, 1959 – November 11, 1963 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Robert W. Fennig || November 12, 1963 – November 7, 1965 ||
|-
| scope="row" | [[Norma O. Walker]] || November 8, 1965 – November 12, 1967 || First female mayor<ref>{{cite news|last1=Swartzell|first1=Griffin|title=New PAC asks mediocre white guys "Dude, can you not?"|url=https://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/new-pac-asks-mediocre-white-guys-dude-can-you-not/Content?oid=3801836|access-date=May 11, 2018|work=Colorado Springs Independent|language=en|archive-date=July 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701083612/https://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/new-pac-asks-mediocre-white-guys-dude-can-you-not/Content?oid=3801836|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | Paul C. Beck || November 13, 1967 – December 8, 1974 ||
|-
| scope="row" | William R. Dominguez || December 9, 1974 – November 9, 1975 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Fred H. Hood || November 10, 1975 – November 5, 1979 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Dennis Champine || November 6, 1979 – November 3, 1987 ||
|-
| scope="row" | [[Paul Tauer]] || November 4, 1987 – November 4, 2003 ||
|-
| scope="row" | Edward J. Tauer || November 5, 2003 – November 13, 2011 ||
|-
| scope="row" | [[Steve Hogan]] || November 14, 2011 – May 13, 2018 ||
|-
| scope="row" | [[Bob LeGare]] || June 25, 2018 – December 1, 2019 ||
|-
| scope="row" | [[Mike Coffman]] || December 2, 2019 – present ||
|-
|}

==Education==
Primary and secondary education school districts:<ref name=AdamsCO2020SDMap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08001_adams/DC20SD_C08001.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Adams County, CO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=1 (PDF p. 2/3)|accessdate=2024-11-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08001_adams/DC20SD_C08001_SD2MS.txt Text list] -  First page cites: UNI 02340 (Aurora PS), UNI 02430 (Bennett 29-J), and UNI 02580 (27J).</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08005_arapahoe/DC20SD_C08005.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Arapahoe County, CO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-01|pages=1-2 (PDF pp. 2-3/6)}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08005_arapahoe/DC20SD_C08005_SD2MS.txt Text list]. First page cites: UNI 02340 (Aurora PS) and UNI 02910 (Cherry Creek PS). Second page cites: UNI 02340, UNI 02430 (Bennett 29-J), and UNI 02910.</ref><ref name=DouglasCounty2020SDMap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08035_douglas/DC20SD_C08035.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Douglas County, CO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st08_co/schooldistrict_maps/c08035_douglas/DC20SD_C08035_SD2MS.txt Text list].</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Aurora Public Schools (Colorado)|Aurora Public Schools]] (Adams-Arapahoe School District 28J)<!--Census code: UNI 02340-->
* [[Bennett School District 29-J]]<!--UNI 02430-->
* [[School District 27J]]<!--UNI 02580--> (Brighton Public Schools)<ref name=AdamsCO2020SDMap/> (The Highpoint at DIA neighborhood is located in this district{{fact|date=November 2024}})
* [[Cherry Creek Public Schools]]<!--UNI 02910-->
* [[Douglas County School District RE-1|Douglas County School District]]<!--UNI 03450--> (includes all areas in Douglas County:<ref name=DouglasCounty2020SDMap/> The Inspiration neighborhood is located within this district{{fact|date=November 2024}})
{{div col end}}

Charter schools:
* [[DSST Public Schools]]

Private schools:
* Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran School<ref>{{cite web |title=Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran School |url=https://www.christredeemerschool.org/ |access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref>

Post-secondary and career education:<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=James |title=Your Aurora Government |url=https://www.auroragov.org/cs/groups/public/documents/document/007355.pdf |publisher=Aurora Government |access-date=May 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201093417/https://www.auroragov.org/cs/groups/public/documents/document/007355.pdf |archive-date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus]]
* [[Columbia College (Missouri)|Columbia College–Aurora]]
* [[Community College of Aurora]]
* Pickens Technical College
* Colorado School of Holistic and Naturopathic Studies
* [[Colorado Technical University]]–Denver South Campus
* Concorde Career College
* [[Platt College (Colorado)|Platt College]]
{{div col end}}

==Media==
{{main|Media in Aurora, Colorado}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Florida Station ped. bridge, I-225, Aurora, CO.jpg|thumb|Florida Station pedestrian bridge over Interstate 225]]
Aurora straddles [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|I-70]], [[Interstate 225|I-225]] and the [[E-470]] [[Ring road|beltway]]. The Regional Transportation District's [[light rail]] transit system was extended to serve the southwestern edge of Aurora on November 17, 2006. The [[H Line (RTD)|H Line]] stops at Aurora's [[Dayton station|Dayton]] and [[Nine Mile station|Nine Mile]] Stations; a comprehensive network of feeder buses in southern Aurora serve the latter. On February 24, 2017, the line was extended as the [[R Line (RTD)|R Line]] to [[Peoria station|Peoria Station]] in the city's northwest, where riders may transfer to the [[A Line (RTD)|A Line]] providing service between [[Denver Union Station|Union Station]] in [[Downtown Denver]] and [[Denver  Airport station|Denver Airport]]. Much of Aurora is more convenient to Denver International Airport than Denver itself, and the city is planning an [[Aerotropolis]] along the airport's southern flank.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 23, 2020|title=Aerotropolis - A Game Changer for Aurora -|url=https://ccdmag.com/project-updates/aerotropolis-aurora-highlands/|access-date=January 11, 2021|website=CCD Magazine|language=en}}</ref> This proximity is a factor in the expected growth of the E-470 corridor directly south of Denver International Airport, projected to eventually accommodate 250,000 additional Aurora residents.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} The easternmost portions of Aurora adjoin the [[Colorado Air and Space Port]].

In 2017, Aurora became the first city in Colorado to host a dockless [[Bicycle-sharing system|bike sharing program]], but operations have been suspended since August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Aurora in Colorado|url=https://www.auroragov.org/residents/transportation___mobility_resources/shared_mobility_program/|access-date=May 5, 2021|website=www.auroragov.org|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Sports==
In 2014 the [[U.S.A. Powerlifting]] Raw Nationals and the [[International Powerlifting Federation|IPF]] Open [[Powerlifting]] World Championships were both held in Aurora. The WC was the 35th Women's and 44th Men's Open Powerlifting Championships, and it was held on the [[Radisson Hotel Denver Southeast]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.visitaurora.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107053405/http://www.visitaurora.com/Events/IPFWorlds |url-status=dead |title=Official Tourism Site of Aurora, Colorado |archivedate=November 7, 2014 |website=Visit Aurora}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Aurora, Colorado}}
Some notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Aurora include:

* [[Lauren Boebert]], [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for [[Colorado's 3rd congressional district]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villager |first=The |date=September 8, 2021 |title=U. S. Rep. Lauren Boebert wows local G.O.P. |url=http://villagerpublishing.com/u-s-rep-lauren-boebert-wows-local-g-o-p/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=The Villager |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Zachery Ty Bryan]], actor
* [[J. Scott Campbell]], comic book artist<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Beyers |first=Tim |date=June 1, 2013 |title=Denver Comic Con: Q&A with J. Scott Campbell |url=http://www.5280.com/blogs/2013/06/01/denver-comic-con-qa-j-scott-campbell |url-status=dead |magazine=5280 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504154747/http://www.5280.com/blogs/2013/06/01/denver-comic-con-qa-j-scott-campbell |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Michael Carter (Colorado politician)|Michael Carter]], [[Colorado House of Representatives]] District 36
* [[Michael Chiesa]], UFC fighter
* [[Mike Coffman]], Mayor of Aurora, former [[U.S. Representative]] and [[Colorado State Treasurer]]
* [[Danny Dietz]], former [[Navy SEAL]] killed in [[Operation Red Wings]], recipient of the [[Navy Cross]]
* [[John Kerry]], U.S. Senator and Secretary of State<ref>{{cite web | title = Kerry, John Forbes, (1943- ) | work = Biographical Directory of the United States Congress | publisher = U.S. Congress | url = http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=k000148 | access-date = April 22, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Jennifer Ketcham]], former pornographic actress with the stage name Penny Flame
* [[Andrew Kwon]], fashion designer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carreon |first=Blue |title=Andrew Kwon: The Bridal Designer To Know |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bluecarreon/2022/10/25/andrew-kwon-the-bridal-designer-you-need-to-know-now/ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Elijah McClain]], massage therapist and violinist
* [[Joe Neguse]], U.S. Representative
* [[Michaela Onyenwere]], [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] player
* [[Brendan Schaub]], former [[mixed martial arts]] fighter, comedian and broadcaster
* [[Dan Soder]], stand-up comedian
* [[Michelle Waterson]], mixed martial arts fighter<ref>{{cite news | last = Nguyen | first = Joe | title = Michelle Waterson signs to fight in UFC's strawweight division | newspaper = The Denver Post | date = April 28, 2015 | url = http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2015/04/28/michelle-waterson-signs-to-fight-in-ufcs-strawweight-division/27688/ | access-date = April 22, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Bowen Yang]], SNL cast member

==Sister cities==
Aurora's [[sister cities]] are:<ref name=sisters>{{cite web |title=Our Sister Cities|date=January 20, 2019 |url=https://aurorasistercities.org/sister-cities/|publisher=Aurora Sister Cities International|access-date=December 12, 2023}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ETH}} [[Adama]], Ethiopia (1988–2004, since 2014){{efn| name=Other|1=After Aurora Sister Cities International was resurrected in 2013.}}
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Chihuahua City|Chihuahua]], Mexico (2023)
*{{flagicon|CRI}} [[Jacó, Costa Rica|Jacó]], Costa Rica (2016)
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Seongnam]], South Korea (1992)
<!--Zielona Góra - twinning ended-->

===Friendship cities===
Aurora also has two friendship cities:<ref name=sisters/>
*{{flagicon|SLV}} [[Antiguo Cuscatlán]], El Salvador (2016)
*{{flagicon|TWN}} [[New Taipei City]], Taiwan (2023)

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

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Aurora, Colorado#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Aurora, Colorado}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[http://www.auroragov.org/ City of Aurora]
**[http://www.aurorachamber.org/ Aurora Chamber of Commerce]
**[http://www.visitaurora.com/ Visit Aurora]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Aurora.pdf CDOT map of the City of Aurora]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Aurora, Colorado|state=expanded}}
{{Arapahoe County, Colorado}}
{{Adams County, Colorado}}
{{Douglas County, Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{American Koreatowns}}
{{USPopulousCities}}
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[[Category:Aurora, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Arapahoe County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Adams County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Denver metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]
[[Category:Cities in Douglas County, Colorado]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in Colorado]]