In a region where many Denver suburbs are celebrating their actual centennial, the town of Centennial is a comparable tot. In 2001, the area that became Centennial -- comprised of formerly unincorporated land in Arapahoe County – ended a legal debate that took over two years in the State Supreme Court and Legislature. The City of Greenwood Village came out on the losing end after efforts to annex the land to improve their tax base.
In February 2001, after the 100,000 residents of what would become Centennial voted to incorporate (or become a self-governing entity), the town became largest incorporation in United States history. As a result of the maelstrom that precipitated the city’s founding, Centennial’s 28-square-miles is comprised of highly irregular borders and a city pride still in want. Many of Centennial’s residents still refer to their hometown as Littleton, which abuts the town to the west or Lone Tree and Greenwood Village, which borders it to the south.
Despite ambiguous allegiance, Centennial families have little to complain about. The average household income is slightly more than $76,000 per year, about $20,000 above the regional average and even more than that above the national average. Most than half of the city’s population is in a professional field or management, which accounts for their impressively high salaries. Centennial is served by two prestigious school districts: Littleton Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District, which in sum equals eleven public schools, and three private schools.
When in Centennial, stick to South University Boulevard for cool hangouts and restaurants or head to nearby Santa Fe Drive, which hosts Friday Night Artwalk, a weekly gallery exhibition during the summer months.
