Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Golden City

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 4, 2011

1. Golden City Marker

Inscription. From the beginning, Clear Creek has determined the layout of the town first known as “Golden City.” Golden is placed at an angle from the compass to align its streets to the river. The first river crossing also determined the location of Golden’s main street, Washington Avenue. Originally, Golden’s streets had different names on each side of the river. On the south side, Jackson Street was originally Miner Street; Illinois Street was Jeanette (later Mary) Street; Maple Street was Mary (later Helen) Street. On the north side, Ford Street was Green Street; Arapaho (later Arapahoe) Street was Aurora (later Russell) Street; Cheyenne Street was Camp Street. Numbered streets were originally only south of Clear Creek, numbering ten less than they do now; 1st through 10th Streets were Junction, Main, Park, Golden, Gregory, Fayette, King, Wall, Garrison, and Platte streets. Only Washington Avenue and East Street had the same name on both sides of Clear Creek. Golden’s street names were unified with changed in 1881 and 1904.

Clear Creek also divided Golden along cultural lines. The poor and immigrant families generally lived on the north side of Clear Creek. The more affluent as well as the middle classes generally lived on the south side. Industries usually congregated to the north while merchants set up shop on the south. Each neighborhood had its own school, and the student rivalry between north and south was fierce. As time passed, the differences between north and south have faded.

Background photo: Golden, 1908, Courtesy Denver Public Library, Western History Collection.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 39° 45.404′ N, 105° 13.355′ W. Marker is in Golden,

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Colorado, in Jefferson County. It is on Washington Avenue Bridge, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Golden CO 80401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Irrigation and Farming (here, next to this marker); Transportation (here, next to this marker); Gold (here, next to this marker); Golden and Clear Creek (here, next to this marker); Native Americans on Clear Creek (a few steps from this marker); The White Ash Mine Disaster (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 2 (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Golden.

Golden City Marker Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leslie Eudy, November 4, 2025

2. Golden City Marker Wide View

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,063 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 27, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. 2. submitted on November 6, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.