Editing Denver, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Denver, Pennsylvania
 | official_name            = 
 | native_name              = 
 | native_name_lang         = 
 | other_name               = 
 | settlement_type          = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
 | image_skyline            = Downtown Denver, Pennsylvania (1), Nov. 2013.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_alt                = 
 | image_caption            = Downtown Denver at the intersection of Main and 4th streets
 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               = 
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 | etymology                = 
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    = 
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 | image_map                = File:Lancaster County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Denver Highlighted.svg
 | mapsize                  = 
 | map_alt                  = 
 | map_caption              = Location of Denver in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
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 | pushpin_map              = Pennsylvania#USA
 | pushpin_label            = Denver
 | pushpin_label_position   = top
 | pushpin_map_alt          = 
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Pennsylvania##Location in the United States
 | coordinates              = {{coord|40|14|02|N|76|08|14|W|display=inline,title}}
 | coor_pinpoint            = 
 | coordinates_footnotes    = 
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 | grid_position            = 
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = State
 | subdivision_name1        = Pennsylvania
 | subdivision_type2        = County
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]]
 | subdivision_type3        = 
 | subdivision_name3        = 
 | subdivision_type4        = 
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 | established_title        = Founded
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 | seat                     = 
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 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | governing_body           = 
 | leader_party             = 
 | leader_title             = Mayor
 | leader_name              = Rodney L Redcay<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverboro.net/2147/Mayor|title=Mayor|access-date=December 20, 2017|publisher=Borough of Denver}}</ref>
 | leader_title1            = 
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 | total_type               = 
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 3.36
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 1.30
 | area_land_km2            = 3.31
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 1.28
 | area_water_km2           = 0.05
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
 | area_water_percent       = 
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 | elevation_m              = 
 | elevation_ft             = 394
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 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
 | population_total         = 3792
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
 | population_rank          = 
 | population_density_km2   = 1144.48
 | population_density_sq_mi = 2964.82
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 | timezone1                = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
 | utc_offset1              = -5
 | timezone1_DST            = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
 | utc_offset1_DST          = -4
 | timezone2                = 
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 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
 | postal_code              = 17517
 | postal2_code_type        = 
 | postal2_code             = 
 | area_code_type           = 
 | area_codes               = [[Area codes 717 and 223|717 and 223]]
 | geocode                  = 
 | iso_code                 = 
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 42-18888
 | blank1_name              = 
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 | blank1_name_sec2         = 
 | blank1_info_sec2         = 
 | blank2_name_sec2         = Wikimedia Commons
 | blank2_info_sec2         = 
 | website                  = {{URL|denverboro.net}}
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''Denver''' is a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 3,794 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=9 July 2022}}</ref> a decline from the figure of 3,861 tabulated in 2010.

==History==
[[File:Denver, Pennsylvania Keystone Marker, November 2013.jpg|thumb|right|Denver [[Keystone Marker]]]]
Denver was founded by in 1735, by Hans Bucher, a [[Swiss Americans|Swiss immigrant]]. It was originally known as ''Bucher's Thal'', or "Bucher Valley", in reference to the adjacent [[Cocalico Creek]]. In the mid-18th century, a [[gristmill]] was built along the creek, and by 1772 six dwellings had been built. A [[blacksmith]] shop and a [[sawmill]] were operating by 1820. Early advantages for the settlement were fertile soils and the [[limestone]] formations that were mined for the manufacture of mortar, plaster and whitewash. In the 1830s, settler John Bucher became an advocate for using the lime as a [[fertilizer]]. Several limestone quarries were in turn operating by the 1850s.<ref name="Umble">{{Cite web|title=5 key moments in Denver's history|url=https://lancasteronline.com/5-key-moments-in-denvers-history/article_1d2c8e72-6826-11e9-af40-ef9671d4e994.html|first=Chad|last=Umble|website=LancasterOnline|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref>

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the Reading and Columbia Railroad built a line through town, prompting a name change to "Union Station". With time, residents grew weary being referred to as a train station. After researching post offices in the country, Adam Brubaker found only one named Denver. On November 1, 1881, the town was officially renamed Denver.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Denver Borough|url=http://www.denverboro.net/2160/About-Denver-Borough|publisher=Denver Borough|access-date=December 20, 2017}}</ref>

By the late 19th century, continued growth had some residents considering incorporating as a borough. The tipping point was a major fire at the Denver House, a tavern built behind the train station in 1868. Water from a local well and the nearby Cocalico Creek was insufficient to fight the fire, prompting tobacco merchant Aaron Shirk, physician W.D. Fink and businessman Ephraim Renninger to press for [[municipal corporation|incorporation]], so a municipal water system could be created. The trio filed an application for incorporation in April 1900, and by that December, Denver Borough had come into being. It originally encompassed {{convert|183|acre}}, about a quarter its current size.<ref name="Umble"/>

With the turn of the century, the new borough purchased a reservoir site and constructed a water plant, which went online in 1902. By 1906, the one quarry still in operation today just outside Denver was opened in 1906 by Abram G. Kurtz. Around the time Denver was incorporated, [[cigar]] making was the dominant industry in the area, but mechanization eventually doomed the trade in hand-rolling cigars. New industries sprouted up, including the F&M Hat Company, founded in 1912 by brothers Samuel and Daniel Fichthorn along with their brother-in-law Ambrose Marburger. F&M Hat quickly grew into the town's largest employer, giving generations of residents jobs in its factory. By 1939 there were 835 employees working two shifts.<ref name="Umble"/>

In 1977, the [[Cocalico Senior High School|Cocalico Eagles]] boys basketball team, under the direction of coach Ed McIlmoyle, defeated [[Mercer Area Middle-High School|Mercer]], 75–59, in the PIAA Class AA state championship game.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LNP Sports 365: A title for Cocalico|url=https://lancasteronline.com/sports/highschool/boysbasketball/lnp-sports-365-a-title-for-cocalico/article_d4024f88-9224-11e4-9d23-bbb86a76a4c8.html|first=Laura Eckert|last=Thompson|website=LancasterOnline|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref>

[[Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge]], south of Denver near [[Reamstown, Pennsylvania|Reamstown]], was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1980.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a|dateform=mdy}}</ref>

In 2003, the body of [[Jonathan Luna|Jon Luna]], an [[Assistant United States Attorney]], was found in Denver.<ref>{{cite news|first1 = Carrie | last1 = Caldwell| first2 = Larry | last2= Alexander | date = December 5, 2003 | newspaper = Lancaster Intelligencer Journal| page =1 | title = U.S. prosecutor found slain|url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/567356337}}</ref>

==Geography==
Denver is located in northeastern Lancaster County at {{Coord|40|14|2|N|76|8|14|W|type:city}} (40.233859, -76.137088).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the southeast by Reamstown and to the southwest by [[Stevens, Pennsylvania|Stevens]]. [[Interstate 76 (Pennsylvania)|Interstate 76]], the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]], passes through the northern side of the borough, with the closest access {{convert|3|mi|0}} to the east at Exit 286 ([[U.S. Route 222]]). Denver is {{convert|17|mi}} northeast of [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] and {{convert|15|mi}} southwest of [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|1.3|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.02|sqmi|2}}, or 1.45%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Denver sits in a valley formed by [[Cocalico Creek]] to the west and Little Cocalico Creek to the east; the two creeks join at the southern border of the borough. Cocalico Creek is a tributary of the [[Conestoga River]] and part of the [[Susquehanna River|Susquehanna]] watershed.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 933
|1920= 1125
|1930= 1203
|1940= 1428
|1950= 1658
|1960= 1875
|1970= 2248
|1980= 2018
|1990= 2861
|2000= 3332
|2010= 3861
|2020= 3794
|estyear=2021
|estimate=3770
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2" /><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}

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 15,391 people, 5,507 households, and 4,204 families living in the 17517 zip code. The [[population density]] was {{convert|11,839.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 5,705 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4388.5|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.8% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.28% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 5,507 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.7 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

From the 2000 Census, The median income for a household in the borough was $49,085, and the median income for a family was $53,125. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $23,715 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $19,706. About 4.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
{{Further|Cocalico School District}}
Denver is served by the [[Cocalico School District]].

==Notable people==
*[[Jerry G. Beck Jr.]], US Army brigadier general<ref>{{cite news |date=10 November 2004 |title=Penn State Hazelton ROTC saluting veterans with two events |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/standard-speaker-rotc/171580938/ |work=[[Standard-Speaker]] |location=Hazelton, Pennsylvania |page=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
*[[Mark D. McCormack]], US Army major general<ref>{{cite news |date= 5 November 1992 |title=Noteworthy: Thirteen liquor law enforcement officers completed a 12-week course |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-news-noteworthy/170355603/ |work=[[The Patriot-News]] |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |page=B11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name="Obituary">{{cite news |date=11 March 1994 |title=Obituary, Michael A. McCormack |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-obituary-for-mich/170297377/ |work=[[Press & Sun-Bulletin]] |location=Binghamton, New York |page=4B |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name="NGBBio">{{cite web |author=General Officer Management Office |date=21 August 2024 |title=Biography, Major General Mark D. McCormack |url=https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Special-Staff/Senior-Leader-Management-Office/General-Officer-Management/bio-show/3082/ |website=Senior Leader Management Office |location=Arlington, Virginia |publisher=National Guard Bureau |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website|www.denverboro.net}}
*[http://www.thedenverfair.com/ Denver Fair]

{{Lancaster County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1863]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in Pennsylvania]]