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 Aurora - Colorado - History

The story of Aurora begins in 1870, when John and Bridget Gully Delandy settled on land along Tollgate Creek at 2nd Avenue and Chambers. Bridget's parents built the Gully Homestead at Chambers and Mississippi. The Delaney's round barn and the Gully Homestead are now both on the National Register of Historic Places.

The community was founded in 1891, when residents called the town Fletcher. In 1907, the town changed its name to Aurora and later adopted a City seal designed by Albert Christen, which bears five stars representing home, church, school, business and industry; a rising sun indicating the rising community sharing its light and making its voice heard throughout the Rocky Mountains. The city colors of blue and gold are symbolic of our azure skies and the gold which brought settlers to Colorado.

The city has come a long way since 1891. Aurora, known as the "Gateway to the Rockies", was established in 1891 Along with the silver panic of 1893, all but destroyed this hopeful town. Aurora had become totally dependent on Denver for their water supply. They planned and worked toward a goal they finally reached in 1967, their own supply of the precious liquid. Today Aurora is the only metro city that has a supply of water independent from Denver's. There is enough to support twice the current population. In 1907, the town council approved changing the town's name to Aurora.
The town of Aurora grew slowly over the next decade. World War I was a turning point in Aurora's history. It was selected as the site an Army Recuperation Camp. This temporary medical facility was designated Fitzsimons Army Hospital in 1920. At the beginning of World War II, Lowry Field, an Army Air Corps. Training School was established. By 1942, the Army's need for more fighter pilots led to the construction of a second airfield east of Buckley. That airfield is now Buckley Air National Guard Base. Also that same year,
the Rocky Mountain Arsenal was built north of Aurora. The weapons plants and airfields drew thousands of workers to the area. 

In the 1970's, the Denver Technological Center drew Aurora's population further south and east. By 1980, Aurora's population had reached over 150,000 and at the beginning of 1998 there were over 253,000 residents. Aurora's future continues to shine as the city welcomed the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
to the former Fitzsimons area in 1997. This enormous move will bring even more jobs to the Aurora area over the next two or three decades.

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