Westminster, Colorado
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The City of Westminster is a home rule municipality located in Adams County and Jefferson County of the State of Colorado. Westminster is a suburb of Denver. As of 2005, the city is estimated to have a total population of 105,084.[1] Westminster is the seventh most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 235th most populous city in the United States. In July, 2006, it was ranked as the 24th best place to live in the USA by Money magazine. [1]
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[edit] History
Gold discovery on Little Dry Creek in 1858 brought national attention to the area that would become Westminster, Colorado. The promise of fortune and the Land Act of 1862 encouraged many settlers from the east to make Colorado their home instead of heading on to California. Before the settlements came, wildlife like antelope and buffalo made their homes in this area. There is also evidence of Arapaho Indians near the Crown Point (Gregory Hill) area.[2]
After the first permanent settler, Pleasant DeSpain, built his home in 1870 on 160 acres (near what is now West 76th Avenue and Lowell Street), the area became known as DeSpain Junction and began attracting other settlers including horse breeder Edward Bruce Bowles who was instrumental in constructing the town's train depot in 1881. In 1885, Connecticut real estate developer C.J.Harris arrived in DeSpain Junction and began buying up land. Soon the town was renamed Harris, but was also known as Harris Park.[2]
In 1891, construction began on the Westminster Castle, which was to become "The Princeton of the West" and can still be seen today at West 83rd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. By 1911, the town had incorporated and was renamed one final time to Westminster, in honor of Westminster University.[3]
[edit] Geography
Westminster is located at (39.873418, -105.057222)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 85.1 km² (32.9 mi²). 81.6 km² (31.5 mi²) of it is land and 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it (4.14%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 100,940 people, 38,343 households, and 26,034 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,236.9/km² (3,203.9/mi²). There were 39,318 housing units at an average density of 481.8/km² (1,248.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.19% White, 1.23% African American, 0.74% Native American, 5.48% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 5.52% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.23% of the population.
There were 38,343 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $56,323, and the median income for a family was $63,776. Males had a median income of $41,539 versus $31,568 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,482. About 3.1% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
High schools in or near Westminster include Westminster High School, Ranum High School, Standley Lake High School, and Mountain Range High School. (there are plans to close Westminster High School,and Ranum High School,. The school district would then build one large new school.
[edit] Open space
One of the outstanding amenities provided to the citizens of Westminster is the city's trail and Open Space system. The Big Dry Creek Trail is one of the jewels of the open space system, extending approximately 10 miles from the eastern boundary of the city to Standley Lake. Other trails, available for jogging, biking, wildlife viewing and enjoying the outdoors, have been constructed along the Farmers’ High Line Canal, Walnut Creek and Little Dry Creek. In addition, the city has preserved large expanses of land in the magnificent Standley Lake Regional Park, the Westminster Hills area, and areas reflecting the history of Westminster. Other significant open space areas are the lakes and ponds conserved at Ketner Lake Open Space, Hidden Lake Open Space, McKay Lake Open Space, Margaret’s Pond and Vogel Pond, to name a few. City Park, the recreational centers and many other neighborhood and community parks provide facilities for all citizens. [2]
[edit] Politics
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[edit] Nancy McNally
Nancy McNally was elected to Westminster City Council in November 2001 to serve a four-year term and was selected as mayor pro-tem in 2003. In July 2004, she became mayor when former Mayor Ed Moss resigned his position. She was elected as mayor of the city in November 2005.
McNally served on the Jefferson County school board from 1989 through 1997, 1995-97 as president. She currently serves on the board of Colorado Children's Trust Fund, where she works with dozens of nonprofits that address child abuse prevention issues. McNally served on the board of the Butterfly Pavilion from 1999 to 2001 and is a lifetime PTA member. As a city councillor, McNally serves as liaison to the Open Space Board, Transportation Commission, Transportation Mobility Organization (TMO) and the U.S. 36 EIS elected officials committee. McNally serves as an alternate to DRCOG and the Mayors Commissioners Coalition for U.S. 36.
McNally received the Thomas Jefferson/Madison Memorial Institute Meritorious Service award in 1997 and was named to the 1997 All-State Board for the Colorado Association of School Boards. She also has received the Colorado Athletic Director's award and Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Citizen Educator award.
McNally has lived in Westminster for 27 years, after moving to Colorado from Iowa. She has been married for 34 years and has three grown kids, three grandsons and two pugs. She worked as a homemaker for 23 years before accepting a job as assistant to the bishop for the Lutheran Church Rocky Mountain Synod. During that time, she traveled to Madagascar to participate in celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Lutheran church. She was a trainer for drug/alcohol and suicide prevention and leadership development for classified employees in Jefferson County Schools. She has been a volunteer lay chaplain at Lutheran Hospital and Colorado Lutheran Home.
McNally has completed training for consensus/problem-solving facilitator training from Bob Chadwick. She has facilitated school staffs and numerous church groups and councils. She continues to do work on weekends as needed.
McNally is now assistant vice president and office manager for the financial firm, Stifel, Nicolaus Hanifen Imhoff Division.
In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, crocheting and sewing.
[edit] Tim Kauffman
Councillor Tim Kauffman was appointed to City Council in October 2000 to fill a vacant seat. He was elected to a two-year term in 2001 and then re-elected to a four-year term in 2003. Kauffman was appointed as mayor pro tem in July 2004 when Nancy McNally became mayor.
Prior to his election to City Council, Kauffman served as a member of the city's Special Permit and License Board from January 1998 to November 2001. Kauffman credits his experiences on this board for igniting his passion for local government. Also during this time he graduated from the Westminster Citizens Police Academy.
Kauffman is an assistant vice president of commercial lending at FirsTier Bank in Westminster.
The Colorado native was born in Denver and grew up in Iowa, with two early years spent living in Nigeria.
In 1990 he earned his bachelor's degree in communication with minors in business and music from Goshen College in Indiana.
In 1994, Kauffman and his wife Kimberly, a Boulder native, made a conscious decision to live in Westminster, noting the opportunities Westminster provides to residents, businesses, employees and visitors. An avid golfer, tennis player, traveler and singer, Kauffman enjoys many recreational activities in Westminster with Kimberly and their two children, Courtney and Tyler. Kauffman is the secretary of the board for the Colorado chapter of the Mennonite Economic Development Associates.
[edit] Chris Dittman
Chris Dittman was appointed to a two-year term on the Westminster City Council on Jan. 28, 2002, to fill a council seat vacated by Mayor Ed Moss. In November 2003, Dittman was elected to serve a four-year term.
Dittman has lived in Westminster since 1955. He attended District 50 schools and graduated from Westminster High School. He began his career in education as a teacher at Ranum High School. He moved to Regis University as director of athletics for nine years then returned to Westminster High School, where he retired as principal in 2000. In 2001, he came out of retirement and served as principal at Sunset Ridge Elementary. He re-retired in 2003.
Dittman is past-president of the Westminster Rotary Club and has served on the boards of the Yellow Ribbon Light for Life Teen Suicide Prevention Foundation, the Westminster Community Artist Series and the Front Range Community College Advisory Council. He also serves on the Community Education Foundation. Dittman's awards include the Regis Administrator of the Year, Educational Theatre Association Administrator of the Year, Outstanding Young Men in America and placement in Who's Who in the West.
As a Westminster councillor, Dittman is interested in re-vitalization of South Westminster, transportation, public safety and creating a strong economic base for the city. Dittman holds a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University and a master's degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
[edit] Mary Lindsey
Mary Lindsey was elected to City Council in November 2005. She is the general manager for the Greenway Park Homeowners Association and public golf course. Lindsey has lived in the city, raised three boys and been an active citizen for more than 25 years. She has been a member of the city Environmental Advisory Board since 2004.
She has also served as a member of the Adjustments and Appeals Board; as a trainer for IYC, Internet and Your Child's safety; on the Jefferson County PTA Council; and as an Adopt-a-street volunteer.
Lindsey enjoys the community spirit of the residents and the dedication and environmental foresight of the city staff and officials. She wants to keep Westminster a safe and economically strong environment in which to raise families and enjoy our resources.
[edit] Scott Major
Scott Major was elected to City Council in November 2005. He is a fourth generation native of Colorado, and Westminster has been his home for 25 years. He works as a test engineer with Sanmina-SCI.
Major served eight years on the Board of Education for Adams County School District 50, four years as president. He has also served as an adult leader for the District 50 Drug Free Youth Conference, a volunteer high school tennis coach, as president of Denver Garden Railroad Society and as a member of the Westminster Transportation Commission.
Major enjoys Westminster because it has the services and conveniences of a large city with the feel of a small town community. The city has easy access to the Front Range, major league sporting events, cultural shows and activities. More importantly, he believes the citizens take pride in the community and contribute many ways to help make it one of the most desirable cities in which to live.
[edit] Jo Ann Price
Jo Ann Price was elected to City Council in November 2003. She is a Colorado native and still owns the home she grew up in on 73rd Avenue between Lowell and Irving.
Price has three children and spent seven years taking care of her mother. She and her husband, Lloyd, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2004.
Price is interested in working on safety issues within the city, as well as issues that affect young people. Price serves as a council representative for the Community Artist Series, the Jefferson County Youth Alcohol Intervention Program Board, the North Metro Community Diversion Board and the Westminster Historical Society.
Price, a registered real estate appraiser, is currently the co-owner of Price Appraisal Service. She spent several years as an elementary and middle school teacher in Fort Collins, as well as Westminster school districts 50 and 12 after getting a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Price said the Westminster Promenade ranks among her favorite spots in the city. She likes to go there to see movies with her kids. She also enjoys spending her free time golfing with her husband and spending time with her family.
[edit] Mark L. Kaiser
Mark L. Kaiser was elected to City Council in November 2005. Currently involved in commercial tire sales, he has both owned and managed small businesses in Westminster for more than 20 years.
Kaiser served on the Board of Education for Adams County School District 50 from 1995-2003, where he championed efforts to ensured accountability for the budget to taxpayers. He also helped form the citizen budget review committee, and served on the Adams County Board of Cooperative Educational Services, which administrates the self-insurance side of District 50.
Kaiser also has served the community as a Cub Scout leader, Westminster Elks member, Ranum Band Booster president and Colorado Association of School Boards legislative representative.
Kaiser is interested in working on a number of issues in the city, including the following:
- sex offender-free city;
- no soliciting ordinance revision;
- noise ordinance revision;
- wards - put it to a vote of the people;
- maintain balanced budget and ensure tax dollars are being used to the maximum benefit of citizens;
- legislative agenda - state and federal;
- development that is compatible and harmonious with existing neighborhoods; and
- listening to the citizens via phone, e-mail, meetings and within their neighborhoods.
Kaiser comes from a small town in Kansas where he learned to appreciate the importance of community, where neighbors look out for each other, and everyone knows the local business owners and the teachers. He considers himself lucky to have found that in Westminster and believes that the small town mentality is the best part of Westminster.
[edit] References
- ^ Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Colorado (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (June 21, 2006). Retrieved on November 16, 2006.
- ^ a b The Early Settlers. Historic Westminster, Colorado. City of Westminster. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
- ^ The Princeton of the West. Historic Westminster, Colorado. City of Westminster. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
[edit] External links
- City of Westminster (official website)
- Westminster History (Westminster Historical Society)
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
