WSP11361

• File Number: 8449.800
• Description: South Platte Projects - Metropolitan Denver Water Study
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 12/1/1966
• Author: Regional Plan. Com.
• Title: Summary - Metropolitan Water Study Inventory
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Currently the population of approximately one million in the metro-

politan Denver area is about evenly divided between the core city and

the suburban communities. The U. S. Bureau of the Census defines the

Denver Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area as the City and County of

Denver and Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and Jefferson Counties; however, the

metropolitan area is more commonly thought of locally as Denver and

urbanized sections of the three surrounding counties, Adams, Arapahoe,

and Jefferson. Within this area there are approximately 20 incorporated

municipalities. In addition, there are heavy concentrations of popula-

tion in unincorporated areas, especially the Lakewood-Wheatridge section

in Jefferson County.

The population growth in the Inetropolitan area since World War II

has been one of the fastest in the nation; however, the grOlrth rate has

been somewhat slower during the past several years. The 1960 census

shows that the four-county metropolitan area had a population of about

855,000. Including Boulder County, the population was 929,000. It is

estimated that the four-county metropolitan area population passed the

one-million mark in 1964 and will double to DvO million by 1990, and by

the end of the 20th century the population of the area could be about

2.5 million people. Growth has been and will continue to be more rapid

In the suburban portions of the area where vacant land for development

is readily available. The 1960 census indicates that the Metropolitan

area contained approximately one-half the population of the State.

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

In the unincorporated areas urban services such as water, sanitation,

4