Quick Facts
Population (year 2000): 17,159.
Elevation: 6000 feet above sea level.
Nearest major city: Denver, CO, approximately 17 miles east.

Golden is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, making it a place where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains, yet with a major highway connecting Golden straight into downtown Denver, the conveniences of a major city are a mere 15-minute drive away.

For an old western town, Golden has a very long and prosperous history. Before Colorado became a state in the union, Golden and Denver were the two main cities in Colorado. When Colorado was granted statehood, the people had to vote on a state capital, and Golden only lost to Denver by one vote. Even today, many residents in Golden proudly tell this story, as if to hint at a decades-old friendly rivalry between the two cities.

Golden's other claim to fame is that Buffalo Bill was a Golden native. His grave is at a beautiful overlook of the city, and any local will happily tell you how to get there.