(Source: Wikipedia)

The City of Centennial is a Home Rule City located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The city was estimated to have a total population of 98,243 in 2005.^[3] Centennial is the tenth most populous city in the State of Colorado.

History

Centennial was incorporated from portions of unincorporated Arapahoe County in 2001. The city was incorporated to prevent the City of Greenwood Village from annexing certain portions of Arapahoe County to improve its tax base. The money generated from those businesses in the unincorporated portion of Arapahoe County funded the majority of the county's services, including road work. There were a number of court cases establishing the right of incorporation to take precedence over the right of annexation. Located entirely within Arapahoe County, and forming part of the Denver Metropolitan Area, Centennial was formed February 7, 2001 (the day after its first city officials were elected). The citizens of the formerly unincorporated portion of Arapahoe County had voted to incorporate on September 12, 2000, choosing Centennial as the official name during the vote. It was created on a promise to keep city taxes at 1% (one of the campaigns against incorporation appealed to maintain the unincorporated 3.8% sales tax). According to the City of Centennial website, the current sales tax rate is two and one-half times the promise, at 2.5%. Incorporation was approved by 77% of the voters, and the 100,000+ person population of the area made it the largest incorporation in U.S. history as of its creation.

The City recently held a home-rule charter convention, where a new charter was adopted. The new charter was approved by voters on June 10, 2008 by a margin of 2-to-1 ^[5].

Centennial Airport, formerly Arapahoe County Airport, lies adjacent to, but outside of the city limits; it is not named after the city, as it predates it by over 30 years.

Geography

Centennial covers 27.9 square miles (72 km²). Population-wise, it is the seventh-largest city in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area, behind Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Thornton and Westminster, but as it is new, many people even in the area do not recognize the area by the name Centennial, often referring to the area with the names of neighboring cities, notably Littleton and Aurora. Centennial's boundaries are highly irregular and evocative of a gerrymander, particularly eastern portions of the city which appear with Foxfield, portions of Aurora, and unincorporated areas as a distorted checkerboard on a map.

Centennial is located at 39°35'47" North, 104°50'38" West (39.5963, -104.8439)^[6].

Demographics

Population: 103,100 (2004 estimate) There are also 36,200 households in Centennial.

The city is approximately 87.4% White, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 3.6% Asian, 2.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, and 1/4% from other races.

The median age is 37.2 years, in comparison to the 35.3 year national average. For every 100 females there are 98.0 males.

Schools

Centennial is serviced mainly by Cherry Creek Public Schools and Littleton Public Schools, as well as a few private schools.

Government

The city is governed in what is known mayor-council style, which limits the city's tax levying and collection powers. The city council comprises eight members. The Mayor and all Council Members are part-time officials and hold other full time jobs.

Points of interest

The Denver Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormon Church) is located in Centennial. The temple, 40th operating of the church, was dedicated 24–28 October 1986 by president Ezra Taft Benson.

International Headquarters for Gamma Phi Beta sorority are located in Centennial. Gamma Phi Beta was the first women's organization to use the term sorority.

On September 10, 2008, it was announced that Centennial will be the site of Colorado's first IKEA location. ^[7]

References