According to Census 2000 data, Jefferson County had the highest median household income - $60,843 - in the Front Range of Colorado and ranks 29th in the nation in this category. High incomes reflect the strength of our economy in Jefferson County, as well as translating into more spending power for individuals.

Utility costs have remained below the national average. Our utility costs are among the lowest in the nation–due to Denver's mild weather–a fact that surprises many people who have the perception that the Mile High City has a colder climate.

Cost of Living Index Grocery Items Housing Utilities Transportation Healthcare All Items Index New York City 144.1 392.7 155.5 125.1 130.5 210.7 San Fransisco 143.7 275.7 88.5 115.6 128.6 169.2 Washington, DC 109.8 216.7 121.3 110.4 113.5 140.3 Boston 122.7 173.2 131.8 114.4 137.6 139.5 Portland, OR 119.5 135.5 107.3 108.8 112.2 119.7 Chicago 109.9 125.1 109.4 117.3 112.6 111.5 Denver 99.2 110.8 108.1 96.6 102.3 102.5 Dallas 96.5 77.7 109.8 103.9 102.2 94.2

*Index measures the relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating cities as compared with the national average of 100 for all participating cities. Source: American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association, Third Quarter 2006.

Housing options are highly varied in the County. Newer and higher-end homes tend to be located in the southern and western areas of the County, especially along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, while more affordable housing for first-time or lower-income home buyers is available along the County’s eastern boundaries.

For additional information on housing in Jefferson County, contact the Jefferson County Association of Realtors.

Exempla Lutheran Medical Center - Wheat Ridge

Exempla Lutheran Medical Center (LMC)

Exempla LMC, a major medical facility in the city of Wheat Ridge, takes an active role in preventive outpatient and wellness education throughout Jefferson County. Click here for directions and a campus map. To contact Exempla LMC, call 303-425-4500.

Exempla LMC is one of the largest, full-service, licensed hospitals in the metropolitan Denver area. It has been named in the national study "100 Hospitals, Benchmark for Success" four times in the past eight years. The study, done by HCIA, a healthcare consulting company, selects hospitals that perform well in providing high value, quality care, effective use of resources, and efficient provision of care.

In a separate HCIA study, Exempla LMC was honored for outstanding orthopedic care. Additionally, in 1998, the hospital received a "Mercury Award" in recognition of its care of oncology patients, and the National Philanthropy Foundation recognized the hospital as an outstanding business for its commitment to the community. Most recently, Exempla LMC was honored by the Colorado Patient Safety Coalition and received the "Hospital Award" for excellent work in promoting patient safety.

Exempla LMC provides a full continuum of care in specialty areas such as cardiology, orthopedics, respiratory/pulmonary, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, surgery, mental health services, emergency medicine, and preventive outpatient and wellness education throughout the community. Construction is complete on a comprehensive, new Heart Center at Exempla LMC. The one-of-a-kind Heart Center offers a full range of cardiology services to patients at one location.

AMC Cancer Research Center

The AMC Cancer Research Center is also located in Jefferson County. This world-renowned cancer research institution is located in the city of Lakewood and is dedicated to the prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases.
For additional information, call AMC Cancer Research Center:

• Local - 303-233-6501
• Long distance - 1-800-321-1557
• Cancer information and counseling - 1-800-525-3777

Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment

The Department of Health and Environment provides a variety of community health services such as immunizations, a communicative disease control program, family planning services, HIV counseling, prenatal care, nutrition education, outpatient drug and alcohol treatment, and environmental health services related to air and water quality, food safety, and sanitation control. The department also issues birth and death certificates. For additional information, call Jefferson County Health & Environment Department:

• Lakewood Office - 303-232-6301
• Arvada Office - 303-275-7500
• Golden Office - 303-271-5700

Major Hospitals in the Metro Denver Area

In addition to Exempla LMC, Jefferson County residents have access to several major hospitals in the Metro Denver area.

Additional Healthcare Resources

• Medical Emergencies - 911
• Rocky Mountain Poison Center - 303-739-1123
• Bonfils Blood Center - 303-277-0426

Jefferson County is a premier location for people who are interested in outdoor recreation and a healthy lifestyle. Roughly 72 percent of the County's 773.2 square miles is mountainous, providing a wealth of outdoor activities.

The Jefferson County Open Space program, established by a vote of the people in 1972, is one of the most renowned and ambitious in the country. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the county's uniqueness–striking mountain vistas, rolling plains, fish-filled streams, and abundant wildlife–for future generations of Jefferson County citizens to enjoy. Since 1972, over $211 million has been spent to acquire land and facilities.

To date, the program has preserved over 49,278 acres of scenic land, hiking, biking, and riding trails, and wildlife habitats in urban and rural areas of the County. There are a total of 29 open space parks/facilities, 163 miles of trails. Open space lands include unique, abundant wildlife habitats, streams, lakes, historic areas, trail corridors, parks, and recreation facilities.

The Open Space Department has just moved into Phases 2 and 3 of its $160 million plan authorized by voters in 1998 to preserve more land in the County for open space.
Over $20 million has been allocated for the Trails 2000 program to aquire and develop 100 miles of trail and trail connectors.

Maps showing open space locations in Jefferson County

Jefferson County Open Space
700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100
Golden, CO 80401
303-271-5925

Camping

Jefferson County Open Space offers semi-primitive camping opportunities at two locations, White Ranch Park, northwest of Golden, and Reynolds Park, southeast of Conifer. Both locations offer the solitude of mountain camping with the convenience of being close to the metro area. More information on camping in Jefferson County

Golf Courses

There are over 20 public and private golf courses located throughout Jefferson County. With our temperate climate and extremely mild winters, golfing is a year-round sport in Colorado.

Hang Gliding/Paragliding

The truly adventurous take advantage of Golden's Lookout Mountain for hang gliding and paragliding activities.

Hiking

Colorado is a mecca for adventurous climbers who seek some of the highest of all U.S. mountain peaks. Colorado has 54 "Fourteeners" (mountain peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation) - six of which can be easily reached from Jefferson County. They are:

• Longs Peak
• Torreys Peak
• Grays Peak
• Mt. Evans
• Mt. Bierstadt
• Pikes Peak

For further information, contact the experts at the Colorado Fourteener's Club or the American Alpine Center (see mountaineering).

Kayaking

The only championship-caliber kayak course in metro Denver, the Clear Creek Kayak Course is extremely popular, attracting hundreds of sports enthusiasts wanting to test the wild rapids of Clear Creek in Golden. Established kayak companies in the area rent equipment and provide classes. The course has attracted the Eddie Bauer Kayak International as well as youths training for the U.S. Junior Olympics.

Mountaineering

The American Alpine Center is home to the American Alpine Club, which moved its headquarters from New York City to Golden in 1993, and the Colorado Mountain Club. The Center has the largest mountaineering library in the western hemisphere, a 350-seat auditorium, and features including a mountaineering museum, climbing wall, and conference facilities. The Center encourages the preservation of mountain environments while cultivating interest in mountaineering.

American Mountaineering Center
710 10th Street
Golden, CO 80401
303-279-3080 ext. 102

Mountain Biking

Excellent mountain biking trails can be found in many of Jefferson County's Open Space parks. In addition, some of the ski resorts in Colorado offer mountain biking opportunities during the summer. More information and downloadable maps can be obtained from the Colorado State Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, or the U.S. Forest Service.

Nature Center

The Nature Center's mission is to create awareness, understanding and conservation of Jefferson County's natural systems through free, year-round public programs and exhibits. The 110-acre park's trails wind through towering ponderosa pines and mountain meadows. The Center also serves as a wildlife habitat.

Lookout Mountain Nature Center
910 Colorow Road
Golden, CO 80401
303-526-0594

Parks

There are 29 open space parks/properties in the County. The parks have a variety of features, including picnic shelters/pavilions, wildlife viewing, fishing, swimming, walking paths/trails, cross-country skiing, playgrounds, historical points of interest, handicap facilities, and ball fields. Detailed listing of parks and their amenities

Skiing

Colorado has some of the most beautiful and popular ski resorts in the world–and Jefferson County offers convenient access to nearly all of them. The nearest ski resort is only 50 minutes away. Some of the ski resorts that can be easily accessed from Jefferson County are:

• Berthoud Pass–50 miles West of Denver
• Eldora–52 miles west of Denver
• Loveland–56 miles west of Denver
• Winter Park–67 miles northwest of Denver
• Arapahoe Basin–68 miles west of Denver
• Copper Mountain–75 miles west of Denver
• Keystone–75 miles west of Denver
• Silver Creek–79 miles northwest of Denver
• Breckenridge–85 miles west of Denver
• Vail–100 miles west of Denver
• Beaver Creek–110 miles west of Denver
• Ski Cooper–125 miles west of Denver
• Steamboat –157 miles northwest of Denver
• Monarch–157 miles southwest of Denver
• Howelsen Hill–160 miles northwest of Denver
• Crested Butte–230 miles southwest of Denver

Additional information can be obtained from Colorado Skiing.

Spectator Sports/Metro Denver

Baseball - Colorado Rockies
Football - Denver Broncos - 1999 & 1998 Super Bowl Champions
Hockey - Colorado Avalanche - 2001 & 1996 Stanley Cup Champions
Basketball - Denver Nuggets
Soccer - Colorado Rapids
Lacrosse - Colorado Mammoth

• Belmar
  Wadsworth Boulevard & Alameda Avenue
  Lakewood, CO 80226
  Major Anchors: TBA
• Colorado Mills
  I-70 and Denver West Boulevard
  Lakewood, CO 80401
  303-384-3000
  Major Anchors: Borders Books Music Café, Eddie Bauer Outlet, ESPN X Games Skatepark, Gart Sports, Jillian's, Last Call Clearance Center from Neiman Marcus, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, OFF 5TH Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Super Target, United Artists Theatres, Walden Family Playhouse
• Denver West Village
  I-70 and Denver West Boulevard
  Golden, CO 80401
  303-278-6857
  Major Anchors: Barnes & Noble, Wild Oats Market, Bed Bath & Beyond, Christy Sports, Old Navy, SoundTrack, OfficeMax
• Lakewood Commons
  Wadsworth Boulevard & Alameda Avenue
  Lakewood, CO 80226
  Major Anchors: Cub Foods, OfficeMax, Michael's Crafts, Ross, PetCo
• Southwest Plaza
  Bowles Avenue & Wadsworth Boulevard
  Littleton, CO 80127
  303-973-5300
  Major Anchors: Dillard's, Foley's, J C Penney, Borders Bookstore
• Westminster Mall
  5491 W. 88th Avenue
  Westminster, CO 80030
  303-428-5634
  Major Anchors: Dillard's, Foley's, Sears, J C Penney
• Westminster Promenade
  I-36 and 104th Avenue
  Westminster, CO 80020
  303-469-2100
  Major Anchors: AMC Theatres, Sun Microsystems Ice Arena, The Westin Hotel