The History of Boulder

Boulder had barely surpassed its 100th anniversary as a city when space travel, computer technology and 1960s ideals combined to give the city its distinctive culture.  IBM started at campus in Boulder in 1965 as Beech Aircraft's Boulder plant helped produce the rockets that would take Americans into space.  Those local industries began changing the city, while the arrival of hippies, beatniks and the embrace of Buddhist ideals earned Boulder recognition socially as a hub for the counterculture.  By the mid-1970's, Boulder seemed far removed from its mining industry roots, eventually growing into a place known for its environment, its quirkiness and its wealth.

Boulder City grew slowly after first being organized in 1859.  In the 1860s, Boulder served as a supply base for miners seeking their fortunes in gold and silver in the nearby mountains.  Originally part of the Nebraska Territory, Boulder City became part of the Colorado Territory when it was established by Congress in 1861.  It incorporated as a town 10 years later and became the seat of the county.

The University of Colorado was located in Boulder City in 1874 after Boulder residents contributed $15,000 to the territorial government.  The school opened, with 45 students and one building, on Sept. 5, 1877.  Today, Boulder encompasses about 22.5 square miles at the foot of the Flatirons.  The community is known for a ring of open space -- called a greenbelt -- acquired over the past 20 years, as well as its role in Boulder County as a regional job center.

Boulder is known as a leading city for growth control as urban sprawl becomes a contentious issue statewide.  For two decades, Boulder has limited the amount of housing that can be built in the city.  In recent years, that has led to struggles over how to curb the potential growth of jobs in Boulder.  City planners estimate that the city's daytime population -- commuting workers, school children and others in addition to residents -- could be twice the number of people who live here by the time available land in the city is developed.  That threatens to overwhelm the city's roads and destroy Boulder's goal of keeping the amount of traffic from growing.

Affordable housing has become the top concern of city leaders as median home sales prices near $400,000.  In 2000, the city began relying on an ordinance requiring one out of five new homes built to be permanently affordable through price controls attached to property deeds.  Another ongoing issue is the redevelopment of the half-empty Crossroads Mall.

Boulder operates under a home-rule charter with a council-manager government.  Eight City Council members are elected to four-year terms; one is elected to a two-year term.  Normally, five seats are up for election every two years.  The council elects one of its member as mayor every two years.  The council hires the city manager, city attorney and municipal court judge.  Other department directors are hired by the city manager.  The council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building at Broadway and Canyon Boulevard.