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<br />The City of Northglenn is located in the west-central Adams County,
<br />Colorado, and is approximately 6 miles north of Denver, the State
<br />capital. The City is bounded by the City of Thornton to the east,
<br />north, and south, and the City of Westminster to the west.
<br />Development in the City of Northglenn is mainly residential, except
<br />for a small area between the Union Pacific Railroad and Irma Drive
<br />along North Fork Grange Hall Creek, which is reserved for an
<br />industrial park.
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<br />The City of Thornton is located in the west-central part of Adams
<br />County, Colorado, approximately 6 miles north of Denver, the State
<br />capi tal. The ci ty is bounded by the ci ty of Northglenn to the
<br />northwest, by the Town of Federal Heights to the west, and by the
<br />unincorporated areas of Adams County to the east and south.
<br />Thornton first became incorporated in 1956. In terms of
<br />population, the growth of Thornton has been sporadic. The
<br />population from 1960 to 1970 only increased by 1,988; yet, from
<br />1970 to the 1976 estimate, the City had increased by 18,084 to the
<br />present 1976 estimated population of 31,425 (References 15 and 16).
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<br />The climate varies slightly from the Denver metropolitan area to
<br />the prairie lands in the east; but, generally, it is characteristic
<br />of the temperature high plains. The mean annual temperature is
<br />50.2 degrees Fahrenhei t (0 F) wi th a mean annual snowfall of 45
<br />inches and rainfall of 14,05 inches. The mean growing season 1 s
<br />139 days.
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<br />Adams County was fragmented from Arapahoe County in November 1902,
<br />by the state legislature. During the early days of national
<br />expansion and exploration, Adams County was visited by many
<br />trappers and explorers, including General Zebulon Pike in 1806 and
<br />General John C. Fremont in 1853. When gold was discovered along
<br />Clear Creek and elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain foothills,
<br />extensive growth was experienced, and permanent settlement began.
<br />In 1858, Colonel Jack Henderson established the first permanent
<br />settlement, called Henderson's Island, near what is now the present
<br />Town of Henderson, The Kansas Pacific and the Denver Pacific
<br />Railroads, in 1871, built lines through what is now the City of
<br />Brighton, brining the impetus for increased cattle production and
<br />agricultural development along the South Platte River Valley.
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<br />Today, Adams County is one of the richest irrigated and dry land
<br />farming areas in the country. The southwestern corner of the
<br />county has undergone heavy industrial development. In recent years
<br />the county has experienced a rapid growth in population resulting
<br />from Denver metropolitan area urbanization and subsequent suburban
<br />development. The U.S. Census Bureau lists county population
<br />figures for 1970, 1974, and 1980 (projected) as 185,789; 225,600;
<br />and 263,827, respectively. This kind of development pressure is
<br />now, and will continue to be, evident in and along the floodplains
<br />of Big Dry Creek, Little Dry Creek, Clear Creek, First, Second, and
<br />Third Creeks, and the South Platte River. Res idential growth has
<br />also occurred along the banks of Box Elder Creek and Comanche
<br />Creek.
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