Lewis Ralston discovered the first traces of Rocky Mountain gold in 1850 while passing through to California, where other prospectors were becoming rich. While taking a break at Clear Creek, he dipped his gold pan into a small stream and found about one-quarter of an ounce of gold. Although he and his company of prospectors found this significant enough to rename the creek to Ralston Creek because of his find, they still left for California the next day to pursue their fortunes.
The area around Ralston Creek became popular the following years, and the community of Arvada, Colorado, was platted in 1870. Today, Arvada is one of the largest towns in Colorado and, despite having a population above 120,000, still has that small-town community vibe that people love.
Its central location between the state’s capital, Denver, and the Rocky Mountains, along with its nationally ranked schools and local economy, make Arvada an attractive place to live.
Like most Denver metro areas, Arvada is surrounded by beautiful scenery, diverse historical and cultural amenities, and plenty of dining and shopping choices. Let’s take a closer look at a few of them: