Reviews & Comments
Denver, CO
Conservative (or liberal) Denver? -
8/22/2007Rob,
I don't think that anyone has ever said that the City and County of Denver is conservative. It's really not. It's not Boston or Chicago or anything like that. Relatively speaking, it's pretty middle-of-the-road. My comments are more broadly speaking of the metropolitan area as a whole. The suburbs are remarkably conservative and since the suburbs are so much larger than the city of Denver, I consider the metro area to be pretty conservative.
Cities like Chicago and Philadelphia generally have very liberal core city areas and moderate and barely conservative suburbs. Denver has a moderate/liberal city core and very conservative suburbs. All that means is that if you live where most metro area residents live--outside of Denver--you're going to be living in a conservative area where religion is a huge deal and homosexuality isn't very accepted.
Denver and Boulder are blue blips on a bright red radar screen. A lot like Austin and the rest of Texas...
Denver, CO
Pros and Cons -
8/13/2007Good list, Derek! Here's my own, shorter, abbreviated pro/con list to metro Denver. I'm not going to distinguish between the suburbs and the city. But given how the 'burbs dwarf urban Denver I'm pretty much refering to the suburbs....
Pros:
* Relatively affordable. It's not the cheapest place to live, but it is just about average. And for the value you get, it is more than worth it.
* Decent economy. Despite the 9/11 downturn in the tech sector, the economy is generally very good in Colorado. Our low-tax environment makes it attractive for relocating businesses and families.
* Family values. Denver is splendid for families and the average, church-going, suburban, Christian family. With Focus on the Family and various other major Christian groups located in Denver and Colorado Springs, if you are a serious Christian, you'll love it. If you aren't but you don't mind a major evangelical and traditional catholic presence, you'll love it too. Schools aren't bad, most everything in town is kid-centered. Colorado has a very high birthrate and metro Denver is crazy about its kids.
* Sunny skies, beautiful scenery, and all four seasons.
Cons
* If you are looking for a great singles scene, nightlife, or fancy urbanist people, you may be disappointed. It's all about the family, remember!
* It can be really dry and tough on your skin. Just buy some lotion.
Denver is a great city! I'm a native and I never plan on leaving!
Denver, CO
City vs. suburbs -
8/1/2007This is just something that bears repeating: when most people talk about Denver, they're referring to the 2.5 million person metropolitan area. The city of Denver is only a little more than 500,000 folks--about 1/5 the size of the total metro area.
Don't confuse the metro area with the urban center, either. The city of Denver itself is somewhat liberal (which is all relative--compared to NYC and Chicago even the city of Denver is flaming conservative). But the metro area suburbs are very midwestern and conservative and the metro area as a whole is definitely more into traditional values, faith, family, etc.
There is a bit of culture downtown, more progressive politics, and more ethnic diversity in the urban core--but most of the Denver metro is nothing like that. There is an almost country conservative vibe and there are very few liberals.
Colorado Springs, CO
Beautiful Colorado Springs! -
7/30/2007Don't listen to all the COS naysayers! Colorado Springs is one of the most liveable, scenic, and friendly cities you'll find in the Heartland. The view of Pikes Peak is breathtaking, the weather is sunny, and the people are wonderful and kind. Colorado Springs--like the state of Colorado generally--is a religiously-oriented city with a high military presence. That makes it is appealing for those looking for a piece of Old Americana. People are family-oriented and church plays a major role in the lives of residents. People are also very outdoorsy and health-minded.
Denver, CO
Denver's a fine place to live! -
7/17/2007Thanks Mike! I've found that most Denver haters are ex-New Yorkers who were expecting a little more tofu and granola and they're terribly upset that they've gotten hayseed and white bread instead....
Denver has a lot to offer people: a growing economy, great family-friendly suburbs and neighborhoods, the great outdoors in your backyard, educated, friendly people--the list goes on...
I think most people in Denver are helpful and friendly and like anywhere else, some can be rude. What makes Denver great--and unique, in my opinion--is that whereas in other more sophisticated cities everyone is concerned about fashion and the best restaurants and the next date or party or whatever. Here, it's like people are much more midwestern and modest about things. Faith, family, and hard work are what drive people. Growing up here you just know you're going to get married, have kids, have a nice home in the 'burbs, go to church, and live a good life.
For my family, I don't think we could ask for anything more!
Minneapolis, MN
Re: Denver vs. Minneapolis -
7/5/2007I don't know a whole lot about Minneapolis, but I can tell you lots about Denver. Denver is much more conservative than Minneapolis. You'll find much more cultural opportunities in Minneapolis, too. Denver tries to be artsy but it is just so out of joint from the fundamental cowtownness of the city.
Education is much more strongly supported in Minnesota than Colorado. Teacher pay is very low here and Colorado is very charter and home school focused.
I don't know what else you're looking for, but it looks like Minneapolis may be your best bet.
Denver, CO
Weather -
6/7/2007Denver is known to have erratic, sometimes wild weather. But that is balanced out by one of the more temperate climates in the country with lots of bright blue sky at all times of the year. In Denver there is a net gain with the weather.
Hicks? Well, maybe. If you're looking for a really urban, sophisticated city, Denver's NOT it. But the truth is that the average person is really just looking for a nice place to have a good job, good home, good neighborhood, good church, to raise their family. Denver is the ultimate "average guy" kind of town. We've thrown to glitz and glamour under the bus to make way for white bread suburbs. In other words, in Denver you don't get much culture and sophistication, but you do get a great place to raise a family. So you'll have to forgive our penchant for big SUVs with Jesus Fish emblems on back. You'll have to forgive our love of Wal Mart. You'll have to forgive our conservative tendencies. All of that makes for a liveable place for the average guy and if it means being a little 'hickish,' so be it.
Denver, CO
Singles -
5/19/2007Okay. Here's the deal with singles in Denver...
Denver has consistently been rated the best city for singles. It's not. It's just not. But I don't think it is as bad for single guys as some posters on here intimate. There are many more single guys than single girls--true--but that doesn't mean that a nice single guy can't find a nice single girl in Denver.
It takes a church. Denver is heavily church-oriented, marriage-oriented, etc. If you're a single guy coming to Denver to party, meet girls, have some 'fun,' or whatever you'll hate it. But if you're a nice, family-oriented, church-going, marriage-minded, Christian guy you'll like it a lot more. Girls are looking for marriage and a decent guy.
Some singles cities Austin or Seattle are more liberal and more party-oriented. Others like Salt Lake and Denver are more faith and family oriented. So it all really depends on what kind of a single you are.
On the other hand, if you are married with kids, don't even think twice. This city is for you.
Denver, CO
Not for everybody. -
4/27/2007Jim and Michelle are right on. The point is not that Denverites are terrible, vanilla people or that this is hell on a hill. Quite the contrary, I and many, many other folks absolutely love the metro area. There are a few people on here who have reemed Denverites for being too boring or whatever--but most folks who have posted have been right on.
Listen, it's just not for everybody. It's a conservative midwestern city with a western flair. Denver is a pretty small city (half a million) surrounded by a sea of suburbs (2 million). Everyone knows what suburbs are like: bland, church-going, family-oriented, mainly affluent etc. If you want to know what Denver's like think of suburbs and what they're like. Think SUVs, the Gap, Starbucks, churches, nice homes, and green lawns.
If you're expecting Real World or the Democratic National Convention or whatever you're going to be sorely disappointed. But if you're expecting a safe, decent place to live--close to the beautiful mountains--you'll be happy.
Denver, CO
Who should--and should not--live here. -
4/20/2007Here's a small list of the kind of people that would love Denver:
1.) Midwesterners
2.) Outdoorsy folks
3.) People with families
4.) evangelicals
5.) business owners
6.) conservatives
7.) wealthy folks
8.) SUV drivers
9.) Ambitious, young, outgoing folks
10.) sports lovers
11.) suburbanites
Here is a list of people who would very much dislike Denver:
1.) Young, urban singles
2.) Real World party animals
3.) Liberals
4.) artists
5.) Middle-aged single women
6.) Poor people
7.) gays
8.) African Americans
9.) atheists
10.)East Coasters
11.) Surfers
12.) Foodies/wine-lovers
While these lists are probably a little exaggerated you can see a trend. You can understand generally what kind of a town Denver is. If you are black, gay, or poor you can make it here. But if you are a conservative, evangelical businessman with a wife and kids in the suburbs you will have a much better time of things.
Denver, CO
Making friends in Denver. -
4/20/2007Here's why it is hard for many people to make friends here. Let me first say that as a Denver native I am sorry if people have found us to be arrogant and unfriendly. I think it's hard to make friends wherever you live--but unfortunately it's amplified in Denver.
Here's why you might have trouble making friends...
1.) The city is VERY suburbanized. Often you don't know your neighbor because you are in a new subdivision and houses are coming up all the time and your neighbors are changing. It's like orientation at your freshman year of college. People simply don't know eachother and don't really care to--at least at first.
2.) The city is full of many transplants. It's a lot of strangers mixed into a big ol' pot of people and they don't always mix well together.
3.) The city is centered around a wide-variety of core institutions--usually church and family. In one sense that's a good thing because it makes this a great family values city with a very traditional, conservative culture. On the other hand it means that you have trouble meeting folks outside of those groups. If you don't go to church and don't have family in town you may have a tough time. My advice is to get involved in your church. You can also get involved in political groups or find groups or bookclubs geared towards folks your age. But church and family rule the roost in Denver and it's probably not gonna change.
I really do wish you luck in making friends in this city. With a little understanding and flexibility it can be done. This is not the most outgoing or open-minded city--to say the least--and you may have to plunge into a church group to really get comfortable. Good luck!
Boulder, CO
It's like going to a different country... -
4/3/2007I live in suburban Denver and work in Boulder. I'm surprised I don't need a passport to enter Boulder city limits.
It is a beautiful city. But it's also ridiculously expensive--filled with latte-sipping Volvo drivers who live in fancy 4-bedroom 900,000 dollar homes. Oh brother!
The people there seriously live in a bubble. Because Colorado as a whole is so much more conservative than Boulder the people never want to venture outside city limits. People there really have no idea what the state is really like--they were astonished when we voted for Bush in 2004. I love coming home every day from Boulder as I just sit there and thank God that Denver and the rest of Colorado hasn't become like Boulder. I pray it never will.
Portland, OR
Beautiful but so weird. -
4/3/2007There are few places in America more picturesque than Portland. It is breathtakingly green and flowery and when the sun is out after a rain shower and you see Mt. Hood looming over town it is hard to argue. But I'd rather take an uglier city with nice, down-to-earth people over a beautiful city inhabited by weirdos and hippies.
Unfortunately Portland is just strange. The downtown area is full of homeless kids lounging out on the sidewalk playing music asking for handouts. They call it "The People's Republic of Multnomah" for a reason--it's is waaaay liberal. I'm from Colorado originally and didn't think I'd notice the political and cultural differences. But there was an obvious shift from my hometown Focus on the Family crowd to the Greenpeace and gay rights emphasis in P-Town. The people are too laid-back and are a lot different from most places in the middle of America.
It's a nice place and people, though odd, are still very friendly. If you're very liberal and cosmopolitan you will like P-Town. Otherwise stick to other parts of the state or Idaho.
Denver, CO
Stop whining and start smiling! -
4/3/2007Denver is the BEST metro area in America! The vast majority of complaints abnout the Mile High City are coming from fancy-pants liberals from the coasts. They whine about the singles scene, the lack of culture, how 'backwards' we are and on and on it goes. Well, if you are a fancy-pants liberal from one of the coasts looking for a hot party town where we all sit around sipping Merlot before getting into our Saab and heading down to the club you will be sorely disappointed.
Colorado is home to Focus on the Family. There's a reason for that. This is a city and state that is all about faith and family and if there's not a plethora of girls to be had it's because they are probably married or engaged or purusing marriage. This is a great big square state in the great big American Heartland and those of us who choose to live here do so for the very fact that it is so good for families. The party and high culture scene just don't do much for families with kids. We want zoos and playgrounds--not Vagina Monologues and Club 51. If you are a family-centered person looking for a nice place in which to settle down, welcome! But if you're a chic single looking for an 'open-minded bastion of free-thinking singles and fun-loves,' maybe this is not the place for you.
Denver, CO
Denver is not for everyone... -
1/7/2007I notice a lot of criticism for Denver coming from a certain part of society: cultured, liberal, single, and urbane folks who seem much happier in New York or Miami.
The truth is that Denver is indeed highly suburbanized. That's because it is most a city for families and religious folks. Urban hipsters probably won't find much to do or enjoy about the metro area. It's also true that culture here means "sports" or "skiing" or "church." Sorry, but we're just not that big on opera or art. Real art for us is a crisp touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Javon Walker. Real art is a loving family dedicated to God raising decent kids.
We have western ambition and adventurousness. In that sense we are a very western city. But we are fundamentally midwestern. We are all about faith and family and reserved hospitality. That's what we care about. Yes we voted for President Bush and no we are not big on fancy-pants gourmet eating. That's just how we like it. If that sounds like you then you would love it. If that sounds terrible to you then you would either want to move elsewhere (if you live here now) or consider relocating to a different more hip place (if you are considering relocation.)
Denver, CO
Who should move to Denver -
11/24/2006There seems to be a lot of people who want to know just how much they'd fit in in Denver (gays, culture-lovers, culinary arts students, etc.). First, people should know that in the City and County of Denver, just about any lifestyle is accepted. The city's residents are quite liberal. Residents are young and very much into the party atmosphere. If this is you, then you'd love the city of Denver. Imagine a giant college campus and you've got something like Denver.
But realize that Denver is actually only about 1/5 of the total metro area population (2.5 million; Denver= 500,000). Suburban Denver and the rest of Colorado is much more conservative. I live in Lakewood and while non-traditional lifestyles are tolerated here, they are certainly not embraced. Colorado is nothing if not pro-family. Moral values still matter a great deal. Suburban Denverites tend to have more kids than the national average, too. It's not Utah, but Colorado shares a whole lot of similarities.
I spent my freshman year of college in Oregon and I dearly missed by very square suburban hometown. I intend on raising my family in the suburbs precisely because it is so good for families. On that note, I very rarely visit the city of Denver, although it's so close, because it is very different now than it was several years ago. There's a huge homeless population and waaaay too many drunks and drugees.
We've had tons of young people and immigrants move here making things a bit tense for residents. I recommend if you're looking for a wild, sexy lifestyle you'd do much better in Manhattan or Los Angeles. Denver (metro Denver) is a little reserved, fairly conservative, and concerned about keeping things wholesome. If that sounds appealing, then head west, young man.
Denver, CO
Great for families -
8/14/2006The city of Denver (pop:500,000) is aweful, including downtown. The metro area (pop: 2.5 million) rocks, including the 'burbs. The city itself is gross...filled with bums, prostitutes, and goths. The people are strange and way too liberal. The suburbs (where I've lived all my life) are much better. The metro area is safe and beautiful, the people are genuine and friendly, and there's plenty to do. The recreation is tremendous with the mountains so close and there are many events throughout the year. The nightlife is lame except for a small stretch of downtown. Of course, it's mostly obnoxious, drunken college students from Boulder. The area is very family friendly and big families are common. The culture is great with zoos and museums abound. If you're looking to relocate, I'd recommend Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, or Douglas County. If you are a 20-something single who wants a lifestyle centered on partying and getting the babes, stay away...this is not your place. We are an adventursome, indepedent bunch. It is a western city with a midwestern feel with wholesome values and plenty of opportunities for families. It's a great place for young people to find a career and start a family, but it's certainly not New York or San Francisco. And remember, when you criticize Denver for being bland or lacking good singles life or nightlife, that doesn't hurt our feelings. We are so proud of Denver precisely because it is a great place for families and fun.