Arapahoe County was named for
the Arapaho Indians, one of the larger tribes of plains Indians, who along with
the Cheyenne occupied Arapahoe County east of the foothills running into what
is now western Kansas.
Arapahoe County is Colorado’s first county, since almost half of the entire
area now Colorado was Arapahoe County of the Kansas territory.
In 1861, when Kansas was made a state, Colorado was made a territory with Arapahoe
County as one of the 17 original counties.
The original Arapahoe County was 30 miles wide and extended from Sheridan Boulevard,
the present western boundary of Denver, Adams and Arapahoe counties to the Kansas
border.
Today, Arapahoe County is a land of contrast.
The County spans 850 square miles, has a population of more than 500,000 and is
one of Denver’s fastest growing neighbors. |
While three-fourths of the
County is rural, the western part of Arapahoe County is largely urban with wonderful
communities that have accommodated the influx of latter day settlers.
Industrial growth included the Martin Marietta plant.
The Denver Technological Center, Centennial Airport and Greenwood Plaza are huge
complexes, which house offices of world famous corporations.
The eastern end of Arapahoe county remains largely rural with wheat farms and
a few cattle and sheep ranches.
Communities in Arapahoe County include Aurora, Bennett, Bow Mar, Centennial, Cherry
Hills Village, Columbine Valley, Deer Trail, Englewood, Foxfield, Glendale, Greenwood
Village, Littleton, Sheridan and Watkins. |
