Centennial Arvada, 1904-2004: A Pictorial History

In 2004 as Arvada celebrated its one hundredth birthday the city looked back with pride at its first century. First explored by gold seekers the areas rich soil brought settlers to farm the region as early as 1859. ln 1870 pioneers established the town of Arvada which became the premier agricultural settlement of the Front Range. The town grew quickly with the arrival of the railroad and the bounty of its crops. In 1904 the village incorporated as the Town of Arvada becoming a first-rate agricultural supply center and a close-knit community. One Arvada resident recalled that it was a good little town; it had two of everything. Farming in Arvada had its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s and its signature crop was Pascal celery. Arvada became known as the Celery Capital of the World and local celery traveled all the way to the White House to be served for presidential Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The Great Depression and World War ll hit the areas farmers hard however and the booming postwar economy transformed the town from an agricultural settlement into a suburban community. In the second half of the twentieth century Arvada became an important part of metropolitan Denver. The postwar popula- tion boom that spread throughout the West was particularly visible in Arvada and the town remembered its farming past even while suburban development brought hoards of newcomers to the area. Despite the overwhelming growth the citys residents maintained a strong sense of pride and identity. The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the establishment of the Arvada Historical Society the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and the Olde Town Historic District. Arvada continues to have dedicated and active citzens who help keep the town a thriving and desirable place to live. As Arvada faces a new millennium it is a cohesive community with a strong sense of its past and a clear and optimistic vision for the future.