Born in the frenzy of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1859, Littleton has continued to thrive thanks to agriculture, railroads, manufacturing, and aerospace—plus a strong spirit of community and reinvention.
The city’s founder, Richard Sullivan Little of New Hampshire, started out as an engineer, helping bring water to the farms and businesses in the rapidly growing Denver City. He fell in love with the site of present-day Littleton, filed a home stake, and began to farm. Little did he know that the Village of Littleton he platted in 1872 would grow to nearly 50,000 people today.
Early milestones for Littleton include establishing the Rough and Ready Flour Mill in 1867, welcoming the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1871, Colorado earning statehood in 1876, incorporating as the Town of Littleton in 1890, and becoming the permanent county seat of Arapahoe County in 1904. All these milestones helped attract people to Littleton and provided a solid base of employment and infrastructure for the community to grow.
After World War II, agriculture took a back seat to manufacturing and aerospace, freeing up land for a housing boom from the 1950s through the 1970s. The addition of Arapahoe Community College in 1972 added to the appeal for young families and employers. In the decades since, the city has revitalized Historic Downtown Littleton, attracted new developments such as the outdoor shopping center of Aspen Grove and Breckenridge Brewery, and developed housing areas for people of all ages and incomes.
Early milestones for Littleton include establishing the Rough and Ready Flour Mill in 1867, welcoming the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1871, Colorado earning statehood in 1876, incorporating as the Town of Littleton in 1890, and becoming the permanent county seat of Arapahoe County in 1904. All these milestones helped attract people to Littleton and provided a solid base of employment and infrastructure for the community to grow.
After World War II, agriculture took a back seat to manufacturing and aerospace, freeing up land for a housing boom from the 1950s through the 1970s. The addition of Arapahoe Community College in 1972 added to the appeal for young families and employers. In the decades since, the city has revitalized Historic Downtown Littleton, attracted new developments such as the outdoor shopping center of Aspen Grove and Breckenridge Brewery, and developed housing areas for people of all ages and incomes.
EVENTS
04/28/2024
Tell Me More Tours, in partnership with the City of Littleton, is hosting a FREE Littleton mural crawl series from April
EVENTS
04/28/2024
Tell Me More Tours, in partnership with the City of Littleton, is hosting a FREE Littleton mural crawl series from April