Adams County is located in the north-central part of Colorado, just outside of Denver. It is one of the most populous counties in the state, with over 500,000 residents. The county seat is Brighton and it also includes several other cities and towns such as Commerce City, Westminster, Thornton, and Northglenn. The climate in Adams County is semi-arid with cold winters and hot summers.
The area was first settled by Native American tribes including Arapaho and Cheyenne. In 1858 the first permanent settlers arrived and established what would become Adams County. The area was named after President John Quincy Adams who served from 1825 to 1829.
The county has a rich agricultural history which today still contributes to its economy. Agriculture includes grains, hay, vegetables, fruits, dairy products as well as livestock such as beef cattle and sheep. In addition to agriculture there are many businesses that have sprung up in recent years including technology companies like Oracle Corporation’s headquarters which is located in Thornton.
Adams County offers something for everyone when it comes to recreation activities; from golf courses to hiking trails there are plenty of outdoor activities available for residents and visitors alike. There are multiple parks throughout the county that offer playgrounds for children along with picnic areas for family gatherings or just a day out enjoying nature.
Adams County also has an abundance of cultural attractions for those looking for something different to do during their stay in Colorado. There are numerous museums ranging from art galleries to historical sites like Fort Vasquez which date back to 1835 when fur trading was popular on the front range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Visitors can also enjoy live music at local venues or take classes at one of several universities located throughout the county such as University of Colorado Denver or Metropolitan State University Denver Campus both located in Denver proper just outside Adams County boundaries but still within reach via public transportation options like light rail or bus routes operated by Regional Transportation District (RTD).
Adams County also has some unique attractions like Water World which is an outdoor water park complete with slides and wave pools; The Wildlife Experience which features interactive exhibits on wildlife conservation; Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park; The Butterfly Pavilion; Dinosaur Ridge where visitors can view dinosaur fossils exposed by erosion along a ridge line; Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge; Barr Lake State Park which offers fishing opportunities along with bird watching opportunities at its Nature Center; Stapleton Open Space featuring hiking trails leading into nearby Rocky Mountain National Park; Chatfield State Park offering camping along with lake access for swimming boating fishing etc.; plus much more!
All these attractions make Adams County an ideal destination for anyone looking to explore all that Colorado has to offer! From its natural beauty to its diverse culture there’s something here for everyone.
History of Adams County, Colorado
Adams County, Colorado was established in 1902 and is located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, just northeast of Denver. The county was named after Alva Adams, who served as Colorado’s Governor from 1887 to 1891.
The area that is now Adams County has a long and rich history. Archaeological evidence suggests that Paleo-Indians were living in the region as early as 10,000 years ago. Native American tribes such as the Arapaho and Cheyenne also inhabited the area for centuries prior to European settlement.
In 1858, gold was discovered along Clear Creek near present-day Denver. This sparked a gold rush in the area, leading to increased settlement of the region by miners and ranchers. The creation of Adams County followed soon afterwards in 1902. At this time, most of Adams County’s population was concentrated around Brighton, which had been founded in 1881 as a stage stop on the Overland Trail.
Throughout its history, agriculture has been an important part of Adams County’s economy. In addition to wheat and corn farming, dairy farming became an important industry during the early 20th century. By 1950, there were more than 1,000 dairy farms in operation throughout Adams County. Today many of these farms have been converted into housing developments or other businesses due to suburban sprawl from nearby Denver Metro Area cities like Aurora and Arvada.
The 1950s also saw an increase in industrial development throughout Adams County with businesses like Coors Brewing Company and Anheuser-Busch setting up shop in nearby Golden and Aurora respectively. This industrial growth continued throughout subsequent decades with several large manufacturing plants being built within Adams county’s borders during this time period including Hewlett Packard’s printer plant at Greeley Mall (now known as The Shops at Northfield Stapleton).
Today, Adams County is home to more than 450 thousand people who are largely comprised of white collar professionals working for government agencies or private companies located within Denver Metro Area cities like Aurora or Arvada or within larger industrial parks like Colorado Air & Space Port (formerly known as Front Range Airport). The county also boasts several attractions such as Barr Lake State Park which offers camping opportunities along with hiking trails and wildlife watching opportunities; The Butterfly Pavilion which houses thousands of exotic butterflies; and several historic sites such as Fort Lupton which dates back to 1836 when it served as a military outpost during conflicts between Native American tribes and settlers moving westward on the Oregon Trail.