Setting
Englewood is in western Arapahoe County, directly south of Denver, in the South Platte River Valley. The city had a population of 33,659 at the 2020 United States census and is part of the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metropolitan area and the Front Range Urban Corridor.
Its climate is similar to Denver’s, though the city’s low position in the South Platte River valley makes it slightly milder and more stable. Winds are described as sparse, and the Köppen classification places Englewood in a cold, semiarid climate category.
Early History
Englewood’s recorded history began in 1858, when gold was found near the mouth of the creek later called Little Dry Creek. Thomas Skerritt later established a home in the area, then known as Orchard Place, and built the first road linking it with Denver.
The area gained early services and landmarks in the late nineteenth century, including a telephone connection and the Cherrelyn horsecar path. The Cherrelyn trolley became a city icon, pulled by horse up Broadway and returning downhill by gravity.
City Growth
Englewood incorporated as a town in 1903. Early civic additions included a post office, a newspaper that became known as the Herald, pavement, street lights, and police and fire departments.
A major change came when land in Platte Canyon was purchased and McLellan Reservoir was created. This gave Englewood water independence from Denver Water, and the city now provides water to much of the south metro area through its established water rights.
Civic Center and Transit
Cinderella City opened on the former City Park site in 1968. After the mall closed, Englewood cleared it for a transit-oriented development that included a new Civic Center, library, and relocated city hall.
The Englewood Civic Center occupies the remaining portion of the former mall. It contains the Englewood Public Library, the Museum of Outdoor Arts, city departments, courts, and the RTD Englewood light rail station on the D Line.
Neighborhoods and Features
Central Englewood is roughly divided by Hampden Avenue and Broadway. The northwest includes the City Center, downtown, and older housing; the southwest includes newer housing, industrial and production facilities, Belleview Park, and a small reservoir.
The southeast is largely residential, while northeast Englewood includes Swedish Medical Center and Craig Hospital. Englewood also operates its own parks, library, and public works systems, and provides snowplow service to neighboring municipalities.
What it is like
Englewood, Colorado is centrally located within the Denver metropolitan area. It is described as having small-town charm, along with business and cultural amenities of the Rocky Mountain region. The Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce presents the city as an attractive location for both residence and business.
Homes and housing
Englewood development ranges from transit-oriented CityCenter and historic Downtown to early-mid 20th century bungalow-style neighborhoods. CodeNext, adopted September 25, 2023 and effective October 27, 2023, addresses accessory dwelling units, small-lot detached housing and multi-unit buildings; it allows ADUs on all residentially zoned lots but no duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes or other multi-unit buildings in R-1 districts. The 2017 Englewood Forward Comprehensive Plan update is paused until late 2025 or early 2026, and Arapahoe Acres is a National Register district.
Sources: Englewood, Colorado (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA); myenglewoodchamber.org; engaged.englewoodco.gov