Denver, CO

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Denver is the capital and most-populous municipality in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is located just east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is nicknamed the Mile High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile (5280 feet) above sea level. Denver is ranked as a Beta-world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. It has an estimated population of of 716,492 in 2018, making it the 19th-most populous city, and with a 19.38% increase since the 2010 United States Census, it has been one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States. Denver is the most populous city of the 18-county Front Range Urban Corridor, an oblong urban region stretching across two states with an estimated 2018 population of 4,976,781. In 2016, Denver was named the best place to live in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

The Denver MSA has an estimated gross metropolitan product of $208.8 billion in 2017, making it the 18th largest metro economy in the United States. Denver’s economy is based partially on its geographic position and its connection to some of the country’s major transportation systems. Because Denver is the largest city within 500 miles, it has become a natural location for storage and distribution of goods and services to the Mountain States, Southwest states, as well as all western states. Another benefit for distribution is that Denver is nearly equidistant from large cities of the Midwest and some large cities of the West Coast. Naturally, Denver is home to large corporations, making the city a key trade point for the country.

Denver has also enjoyed success as a pioneer in the fast-casual restaurant industry, with many popular national chain restaurants founded and based in Denver. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Quiznos, and Smashburger were founded and headquartered in Denver. Geography also allows Denver to have a considerable government presence, with many federal agencies based or having offices in the Denver area. Along with federal agencies come many companies based on US defense and space projects, and more jobs are brought to the city by virtue of its being the capital of the state of Colorado.

#4 Best Places for Business and Careers (2018, Forbes)

#2 Best Place to Live (2019, U.S. News & World Report)

#5 Best City Economy in the U.S. (2018, Business Insider)

10 Fortune 500 Companies Call Denver Home (Fortune)

32m Tourists Visits the Area Each Year (The Denver Post)