Boulder

Boulder is a home rule city that is the county seat and most populous municipality of Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 108,250 at the 2020 United States census, making it the 12th most populous city in Colorado. It is home of the main campus of the University of Colorado, the state's largest university. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, at an elevation of 5,430 feet (1,655 m) above sea level. Arapahoe Glacier provides water for the city, along with Boulder Creek, which flows through the center of the city. Boulder has avoided the use of chemical pesticides for controlling the threat of West Nile virus, the city began an integrative plan to control the mosquito population in 2003. In 2010, goats were used to keep weeds and weeds at the Open Space Reservoir under the city's Open Space and Open Space Law. Goats consume naturally diffuse knapweed and thistle, and although the program was not as effective as it was hoped, goats will still be considered in the future for weed control projects at the Reservoir. The Flatirons, slabs of sedimentary stone tilted up on the Rocky Mountain foothills, are located west of Boulder and are a widely recognized symbol of Boulder. The 40th parallel (40 degrees north latitude) runs through Boulder and can be easily recognized as Baseline Road today. Boulder lies in a wide basin beneath Flagstaff Mountain just a few miles east of the continental divide and about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Denver.

History

On November 7, 1861, the Colorado General Assembly passed legislation to locate the University of Colorado in Boulder. On September 20, 1875, the first cornerstone was laid for the first building (Old Main) on the CU campus. The university officially opened on September 5, 1877. In 1907, Boulder adopted an anti-saloon ordinance. Statewide prohibition started in Colorado in 1916 and ended with the repeal of national prohibition in 1933. The first building on the campus was built in 1875; it was named Old Main in honor of the first president of the university. The current building was opened in 1877; it is known as the "Boulder Opera House" It is located on the north side of the Boulder River, near the intersection of Main Street and Colorado Avenue. It is the only building in Boulder that was not built in the early 1900s. The Boulder Opera House is now called the "University of Colorado-Boulder" It was built on the site of the original University of Boulder building in 1861. It was named after the first President of Colorado, who was elected in 1861; he was the first to serve a full term. The building was dedicated to the memory of his father, who died in 1876. The University's first building was named for his grandfather, who also served a term in the first year of the University's existence. In 1877, it was renamed Old Main, after which the university's first president was elected. It has been named for the third president, who served from 1877-1877, and is located in the center of Boulder.

Geography

Boulder lies in a wide basin beneath Flagstaff Mountain just a few miles east of the continental divide and about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Denver. Arapahoe Glacier provides water for the city, along with Boulder Creek, which flows through the center of the city. Boulder has created an Urban Wildlife Management Plan which sets policies for managing and protecting urban wildlife. The city experimented with using goats for weed control in environmentally sensitive areas in 2005. In 2010, goats were used to keep weeds under control at the Boulder Reservoir.Effective growth management has resulted in a rapid increase in housing costs with the median home price rising 60% over the period 2010 to 2015 to $648,200. There are 46 nights annually during which the temperature reaches 0 °F (18 °C) Boulder has a temperate climate typical for much of the state and receives many mostly sunny days each year. Under the Köppen climate classification, the city is considered semi-arid (Sköppens Köpen Bfa) The city has a relatively high yearly precipitation due to its relatively high precipitation and average remaining temperatures above 0 °C (0 °F) year-round. Winter conditions generally range from mild to bitterly cold, with highs averaging in the mid to upper 40s (mid-to-upper 40s °F), with highs of up to 40s°F (mid to mid-50s°C) in the winter. The 40th parallel (40 degrees north latitude) runs through Boulder and can be easily recognized as Baseline Road today. The Flatirons are a widely recognized symbol of Boulder.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, there were 97,385 people, 41,302 households, and 16,694 families residing in the city. The median household income in Boulder was $57,112, and the median family income was $113,681. Boulder's population is younger than the national average, largely due to the presence of university students. In Boulder, 13.9% of the residents were younger than 18, 29.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 8. 9% were 65 years of age or older. The city is part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Boulder, Colorado, Colorado Springs, Denver, and El Paso, Texas. Boulder is home to the University of Colorado at Boulder, which has a population of more than 100,000. Boulder has the highest percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents of any U.S. city, with 8.7% of its population being Hispanic or Latinos of any race. The average household size in Boulder is 2.16, with the average family size being 2.84. The population density is 3,942.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,524.0/km²). There were 43,479 housing units at an average density of 1,760.3 per squaremile (679.7/ km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.0% White, 0.9%. Native American, 4.7%. Asian, 3.2% some other race, and 2.6%. The city's median age is 28.7 years compared to the U.S. median of 37.2 years.

Economy

The Boulder MSA had a gross metropolitan product of $18.3 billion in 2010. In 2007, Boulder became the first city in the United States to levy a carbon tax. In 2013, Boulder appeared on Forbes magazine's list of Best Places for Business and Careers. According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers are: Colorado State University, University of Colorado at Boulder, and University of California, Boulder. The city's unemployment rate is 3.7%. The city is home to the Colorado School of Medicine, which has more than 1,000 employees. Boulder is the 110th largest metropolitan economy in the U.S., according to the 2010 Census. It is the second-largest city in Colorado, after Denver, with a population of 2.2 million. The top employers in the city are: Boulder University, Colorado State College, and the University of Colorado Boulder. It has the highest percentage of women in the state, with 1.8 percent of the population. It also has the lowest percentage of men, at 1.7 percent. In 2010, the city had the highest unemployment rate, at 2.4 percent. It was the fourth-highest in the nation, after Colorado Springs, Denver, and Boulder, Colorado. It had the lowest unemployment rate in 2010, at 0.9 percent, and was the sixth-lowest in the country in 2011. In 2012, Boulder had the third-highest percentage of female workers, with 2.3 percent. Its unemployment rate was 2.1 percent.

Arts and culture

Boulder has hosted a 10 km road run, the Bolder Boulder, on Memorial Day, every year since 1979. The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra is a professional orchestra under the leadership of its Music Director Michael Butterman. Boulder Ballet was founded by former American Ballet Theatre dancer Larry Boyette in the 1970s as part of the Ballet Arts Studios. Boulder is home to multiple dance companies and establishments. The conference on World Affairs, started in 1948, is an annual one-week conference featuring dozens of discussion panels on a variety of contemporary issues. Hundreds of people head to the Boulder Reservoir on New Year's Day to take part in the annual polar bear plunge. Several illegal attempts, resulting in arrests, have been made to restart the run, but no serious effort has been mounted. The Happy Thursday Cruiser Ride grew from a group of friends and friends of friends riding bicycles around the city in the early 90s. Boulder Police began the cruiser ride as it gained in popularity in early 2000's with underage drinking, reckless bicycle riding, and other reckless behavior. On May 30, 2013, over 400 riders attended the Thursday-night Cruiser Ride in honor of "Big Boy", an elk that was shot and killed on New year's Day on Boulder Police officer's duty. The event has continued as a local tradition on May 30 and has become an underground event where enthusiasts must become part of a social network before gaining access to sites, sites, and sites. The annual Boulder Bach Festival celebrates the life, legacy, and music of J.S. Bach.

Parks and recreation

Boulder is surrounded by thousands of acres of recreational open space, conservation easements, and nature preserves. Almost 60%, of open space totaling 61,529 acres (249.00 km²) is open to the public. The unincorporated community of Eldorado Springs, south of Boulder, is home to rock climbing routes. Boulder Canyon (sport), directly west of downtown Boulder, also has many routes. All three of these areas are affected by seasonal closures for wildlife. There are also climbing routes available in the cityOpen space, including climbing routes of varying difficulty on the Flatirons themselves (traditional protection). Boulder Canyon is a popular destination for rock climbing, especially in the summer months. The city is also home to a number of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and rock-climbing. There is also a large amount of outdoor activity space in Boulder itself, including a large number of parks and open space areas. Boulder is also the home of the National Museum of Natural History, which has a collection of more than 20,000 pieces of art. It is the only city in Colorado that has a national museum. The National Park Service has a museum in Boulder, which opened in 1872. It was the first national park in the United States, and is still the largest in the world. It has been open for more than 100 years, and has been a national park since 1874. It also has a National Historic Trail, which runs through the city.

Government

Boulder is a home rule municipality, being self-governing under Article XX of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. As of July 2019, registered voters in Boulder County were 43.4% Democratic, 14.7% Republican, 1.6% in other parties, and 40.3% unaffiliated. In 1974, the Boulder City Council passed Colorado's first ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Boulder voters, however, repealed the measure by referendum within a year. In 1975, Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex was the second in the United States ever to grant same-sex marriage licenses, prior to state laws being passed to prevent such issuance. Boulder declared a "climate emergency" and established target dates for achieving 100% renewable electricity, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from city organizations and facilities, and a increase in local generation of electricity through renewable sources. The city also created a community-centered process to focus on energy systems, regenerative ecosystems, circular materials economy, land use, and financial systems. Boulder is one of the most liberal and Democratic cities in Colorado when viewed from a Federal and State elections lens. By residents and detractors alike, Boulder is often referred to as the "People's Republic of Boulder". The city is home to the University of Colorado Boulder, which is a member of the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Boulder has a population of about 2,000,000 people, making it the second largest city in Colorado after Denver.

Education

Boulder is home to the University of Colorado Boulder, which has 30,000 undergraduate students, 7,000 graduate students and 10,000 staff/faculty. The Boulder Valley School District administers the public school system in Boulder. Charter schools within the city of Boulder include Preparatory High School (912), Summit Middle School (68), and Horizons Alternative School (K8) A variety of private high schools, middle schools and elementary schools operate in Boulder, including Naropa University and Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Boulder is also home to several science institutes, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and National Solar Observatory (NSO) The city's population is about 46,000 people, and Boulder has a population of about 50,000. The city is located on the Colorado River, which runs through the center of the city. The Colorado River flows through Boulder and into the Larimer River. The Larimer and Larimer Counties are part of the Boulder Valley, which is located in the eastern part of Boulder. The town is located near the Colorado Range, which flows through the north end of Boulder and the foothills of the Colorado Rockies. The northern part of Colorado is known as the Boulder Range, and the southern part is known for its foothills and mountains, which can be seen from the Boulder River.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado = 75. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 101. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 60. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Boulder = 5.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 108,250 individuals with a median age of 33.2 age the population dropped by -4.11% in Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 4,112 residents per square mile of area (1,588/km²). There are average 2.19 people per household in the 38,177 households with an average household income of $49,429 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.20% of the available work force and has dropped -5.88% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 22.04%. The number of physicians in Boulder per 100,000 population = 328.8.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Boulder = 19.2 inches and the annual snowfall = 83.1 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 93. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 245. 88 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 20.4 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 64, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado which are owned by the occupant = 47.16%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 35 years with median home cost = $357,590 and home appreciation of -3.84%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $6.52 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,139 per student. There are 17.1 students for each teacher in the school, 541 students for each Librarian and 333 students for each Counselor. 3.85% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 36.34% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 30.03% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).