Setting in the Denver Area
Littleton is located in central Colorado, about 9 miles south of downtown Denver and 55 miles north of Colorado Springs. It sits north of the junction of U.S. Route 85 and Colorado State Highway 470 and is part of the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area and the Front Range Urban Corridor.
The city borders Denver and Englewood to the north, Greenwood Village to the northeast, Centennial to the east, Highlands Ranch to the south, Columbine and Columbine Valley to the west, and Bow Mar to the northwest.
River and Landscape
Littleton lies on the South Platte River in the Colorado Piedmont region of the Great Plains, a few miles east of the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Most of the city is east of the river, while several small tributaries flow northwest through the city.
A group of small lakes and reservoirs is located along the river in the southwestern part of Littleton, and Chatfield Reservoir lies immediately southwest of the city.
Early History and Growth
Littleton’s history begins with the 1859 Pike’s Peak gold rush, which brought gold seekers as well as merchants and farmers. Richard Sullivan Little, an engineer from New Hampshire, came west to work on irrigation systems and settled in the area with his wife, Angeline.
The Rough and Ready Flour Mill, built by the Littles and their neighbors in 1867, supported the local economy. Residents voted to incorporate the Town of Littleton in 1890, when the community had grown to 245 people.
The city expanded during the 1950s and 1960s because of its proximity to Denver and to Martin Marietta facilities, where the Titan rocket and other aerospace products were produced.
County Seat and Civic Life
Littleton is the county seat and administrative center of Arapahoe County. The county government’s main Administration Building is in Littleton, and most county government departments operate from the city.
The city has a council-manager form of government. The city council sets policy and approves the annual budget, while the city manager carries out council policy and oversees daily administration.
Arts, Events, and Places
Local cultural institutions include Town Hall Arts Center, the Depot Art Gallery and Littleton Fine Arts Guild, the Littleton Symphony Orchestra, Voices West, and the Littleton Museum. Points of interest include Hudson Gardens, the Littleton Museum, Town Hall Arts Center, and the gravesite of Alferd Packer.
Western Welcome Week has been held annually since the late 1920s and includes more than 40 events benefiting local civic and charitable organizations. Other events include the Candlelight Walk on Main Street and the Littleton Twilight Criterium in Historic Downtown Littleton.
Transit Connections
The Regional Transportation District provides bus and light rail service in Littleton. The city has two light rail stations: Littleton-Downtown and Littleton-Mineral, with Littleton-Mineral serving as the southern terminus of the D Line.
What it is like
Littleton is described as a charming place a short hop from the high Rockies or downtown Denver. It has a historic downtown lined with one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and breweries, plus galleries, performing arts, and a Smithsonian-accredited museum.
Sources: Littleton, Colorado (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA); visitlittleton.org