In 1855, a new county was created in the Territory of Kansas. In 1861, President James Buchanan established the Territory of Colorado, including Arapahoe County. In 1876, Colorado became a state. Over the next 150 years, the county would become smaller and more populated. Today, Arapahoe County is one of the most densely populated counties in the state. It is located east of Denver and the county seat is Littleton.
Littleton is an attractive city and is considered a suburb of the Denver-Aurora metro area. The area was settled around the time of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in 1859. The city is named after Richard Sullivan Little, who started a flour mill in the area in 1867. Littleton hosts an annual festival called Western Welcome Week that began in the 1920s. It is also home of the Hudson Gardens, a 30-acre botanical garden located along the South Platte River.
The largest city in Arapahoe County is Aurora. It is home of Buckley Air Force Base, a base established in 1943 and one of the city’s largest employers. Aurora has plenty of open green space – 6,000 acres – and plenty of parks that consist of 1,800 acres. Golfing is a popular pastime and Aurora is home to seven award-winning public golf courses and many private clubs. Aurora hosts the annual Arapahoe County Fair, a popular event that includes a rodeo, carnival rides, food vendors, games, concerts and other entertainment, and a demolition derby.