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Aurora History, Colorado

How Aurora got its name?

In 1891, Donald Fletcher founded the town of Fletcher, which was situated on the plains eastwards of Denver. He went on to name the town after himself. But, the town got renamed as Aurora in 1907 and it remained to be a small community till World War II.

Counties in Aurora

Two counties have been always awkwardly split from Aurora in the past, whereas 3 counties have been spilt recently, although it lies distant from its respective county seats. Later in the mid 1990s, a consolidated county and city government was considered, but it failed in winning the approval by the voters of the city. In 2006, the issue was again reconsidered. Earlier the voters of Colorado created the City and County of Denver in the year of 1902, whereas in 2001 they created the City and County of Broomfield.

Fastest Growing City of 80s and 90s

After the World War II, the town went rapid suburban development making it to be the fastest growing city in the whole of United States between the periods of 1970 to 1980. Aurora was largely considered as larger suburbs of Denver for a long time, but the increasing population of the city in the last few decades gave it an equal recognition with its larger neighboring country.

Role of Medical Centers in Aurora on its history

During the fall of 1955, the world attention was largely focused on the city of Aurora for nearly seven weeks, as Dwight D. Eisenhower, the then president, recovered from a serious heart attack at its famous Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. This hospital in Aurora was also famous as it was the birthplace of the Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 1943. Kerry was elected as presidential candidate in 2004. The facility was decommissioned in 1999, and is currently undergoing redevelopment for the new campus of University of Colorado Health Sciences Centre and Hospital.

Sportstown

The city of Aurora was honored as “Sports town” for Colorado in the 50th anniversary of the Sports Illustrated magazine for its fabulous exemplary involvement in enhancing and facilitating sports. The active populace of Aurora also gets reflected in a huge number of professional athletes, who hail from the city. Aurora Cavalry was the first ever semi-professional sports franchise of Aurora in the International Basketball League. The Aurora Cavalry began playing in 2006, but soon they were folded by few seasons because of some serious budget mishaps.