Perhaps you have heard about a city born from compromise. That’s Commerce City. Commerce City is a home rule municipality. It is located in Adams County, Colorado. Commerce City’s story is one of transformation. It began as a scattering of settlements. These settlements gradually evolved into the city we see today.
In 1859, John D. Henderson built a ranch. He also built a trading post and hotel. This was on Henderson Island in the South Platte River. Henderson sold meat to gold seekers. They were on their way to the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. Henderson Island became the first permanent settlement. It sat in the South Platte River Valley.
Early Commerce City saw the establishment of cemeteries. Riverside Cemetery was founded in 1876. Rose Hill Cemetery followed in 1892. It was established by the United Hebrew Cemetery Association.
The area’s first school began in 1871. It was a one-room schoolhouse. More schools were added later. One in 1899 and another in 1907.
Several towns were founded in this part of Adams County in the 19th century. Derby was a Burlington Railroad station in 1887. Irondale was first settled in 1889. It was named after a foundry. Adams City was laid out in 1903.
Until the late 1920s, agriculture dominated the area. There were wheat fields, dairies, and pig farms. Then, industry began to move in. A refinery was established in 1930. Grain elevators were built in the late 1930s. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was founded in 1942. It sat east of the growing community.
In the 1950s, Denver considered annexing the area. A plan emerged to incorporate southern Adams County. In 1952, residents voted to incorporate Commerce Town. Commerce Town included neighborhoods like Rose Hill and southern Adams City. In 1962, Commerce Town annexed part of Derby. The population increased. The town gained city status. The name changed to Commerce City. In 2007, citizens voted to keep the city’s name.
Today, Commerce City is the 18th most populous municipality in Colorado. The city had a population of 62,418 in 2020. It is part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Commerce City is home to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. It is the largest land-based urban wildlife refuge in the United States. It offers 27 square miles of open lakes, wetlands, and grasslands.
Commerce City features 840 acres of parks and open spaces. There is a 25-mile connecting trail system. The city also has recreation centers and a pool.
Commerce City’s story reflects growth and change. It began with a trading post. It evolved into a thriving city. It maintains a strong sense of community. Commerce City continues to develop. It balances industrial progress with natural preservation.