Celebrate 303 Day with these “peak Denver” stories

4 min. read
Former councilwoman Joyce Foster played a key role in creating the Denver Skate Park. Here, she meets her constituents. (Andrew Kenney/Denverite)

Denver on an autumn day. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Happy 303 Day, Denver!

Let's pay homage to the Mile High City with some of the most Denver-y stories that we've published.

People born in Colorado make up less than half of the state’s population

The majority of people who call Colorado home can’t honestly slap those ubiquitous “native” stickers on their car bumpers — 57 percent of residents are transplants who were born in other states and countries.


Simply Pure dispensary with Nick Poll behind the counter. (Chloe Aiello/Denverite)

Denver has more dispensaries than breweries or Denver Broncos players

Here are some of the Denver things outnumbered by the city’s 154 pot shops: Breweries, pizza-serving establishments, state lawmakers, the Denver Broncos, and much more.


The 16th Street Mall. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

What’s 16th Street Mall really supposed to be? We asked the guy who designed it.

“It was very unusual,” said Henry Cobb, the 90-year-old architect who designed the Mall, in an interview with Denverite. “I don’t think there’s any precedent for the 16th Street Mall, actually.”


Charles Burrell at home. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

WATCH: Charlie Burrell, American symphonies’ first black musician

Charlie Burrell, often referred to as the “Jackie Robinson of music,” was the first African American to ever take a symphony contract and performed in Colorado’s first integrated jazz trio.


Experimental musician Cecilia McKinnon, AKA Star Canyon, on the guitar. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

What DIY spaces like Denver’s Rhinoceropolis and Glob do that others don’t

Places like Rhinoceropolis and Glob are vital to the health of Denver's arts scene. To understand why, you need to know how a DIY art space works.


A waypoint sign near Mile High Stadium. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Denver has a huge trails and transit system, but a missing piece may keep it from being used

Denver and its neighbors have been building systems of bike lanes and greenways for some 40 years. At this point, you can travel between many of the region’s cities without touching a street for miles upon miles.

The issue: Those trails and lanes are scattered with a few maps, but you’ll rarely see signs that clearly describe where you’re going and where each turn leads.


Former councilwoman Joyce Foster played a key role in creating the Denver Skate Park. Here, she meets her constituents. (Andrew Kenney/Denverite)

How an ex-NFL player and a cautious councilwoman became the champions of Denver’s skate scene

Place after place, block after block, the people of Denver rejected a ragtag group of skateboarders who just wanted somewhere to skate. Here’s why Denver built one of the largest public skate parks in the country anyway.


Renegade Brewing and CrossFit DeCO. Perfect neighbors. (Dave Burdick/Denverite)

Peak Colorado: Breweries next to CrossFit!

There are more instances of these neighboring establishments than you probably realize.


Former Broncos quarterback Marlin Briscoe is photographed at the Eastman-Fairfield Boys and Girls Club in Long Beach, California where he is Assistant Director. 2008. (Christina House for the Rocky Mountain News/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/RMN-044-2618)

Marlin Briscoe, first black quarterback of the modern era, got his chance with the Denver Broncos. But only briefly.

In 1968, Marlin Briscoe — as a member of the Denver Broncos — became the first black man to start at quarterback in the modern professional football era. He ended up tossing 14 touchdowns in 11 games that season, still the most ever for a Broncos rookie, but never started another game at quarterback after that.


Menver: People say there are more men on Denver’s dating scene than women. We did the math.

It’s still raining men in Denver for women under 60 years old.

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