Aurora is Colorado’s third largest city, and boasts a culturally rich environment full of art, theatre, nature and dining experiences. Aurora is located just minutes away from Denver International Airport and spans across Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas Counties. Aurora is a largely military town, with Buckley Air Force base employing over 12,000 of Aurora’s residents.
Yesterday and Today
Aurora was originally founded as the town of Fletcher in the 1880s, and was renamed in 1907 after one of the city’s first subdivisions. In 1918, Aurora was home to Army General Hospital #21, which cared for soldiers wounded in WWII. Today Buckley Air Force base is the largest employer in the city, and the population has grown to over 325,000 residents.
Economy
Aurora is a growing city with a strong economic outlook. The median household in 2010 was $46,507, while the median income for a family in Aurora was $52,551. The average house sold for $147,902 in 2011.
The Arts in Aurora
Aurora puts a lot of effort into the promotion of the arts. The Art in Public Places program has over 240 pieces of artwork publically displayed along streets, on buildings and in parks in the area. The city created a 1993 ordinance that requires 1% of all City construction and remodeling projects over $100,000 be used for public art in the city. The city also is home to the Aurora Fox Arts Center, the Aurora Symphony Orchestra, the East End Arts District and various arts related festivals throughout the year.
