by C.J. Gustafson
ComputerSchools.com Contributing Writer
June 14, 2005
The cities of Denver, Colorado Springs, and Boulder make up one of the most populated and popular areas of Colorado. Intensely influenced by the Rocky Mountains, the area has a history of Native American culture, mountain men, mining, ranching, and outdoor recreation. The area also offers a wealth of educational and employment opportunities for those with computer technology training.
Three Unique Cities
Although the three cities share many common features and are within 100 miles
of each other, they are distinct entities with their own personalities, histories,
and influences. Denver, the state's capital, was founded in 1858 during
the gold rush. It began as a supply center for surrounding mining camps but
soon became an important regional hub, providing much of the goods and services
needed by residents for hundreds of miles. Today the city has a population of
nearly 555,000 and covers a land area of approximately 155 square miles. It
has become known for its communications industry, professional sports teams,
breweries, and scenic beauty.
In an article about Denver, Thomas J. Noel, a local professor and historian, wrote that, "Denver's economic base has come to include skiing and tourism, electronics, computers, aviation and the nation's largest telecommunications center. As the regional center of a vast mountain and plain hinterland, Denver boasts more federal employees than any city besides Washington, D.C."
When it comes to computer technology in Denver, software development and computer storage companies stand out. Organizations such as PeopleSoft, Inc., Oracle Corporation, Sun Microsystems Inc., Evolving Systems Inc., Cisco Systems, and CIBER Inc. are top software companies. And Storage Technology Corp., IBM Corp., Hewlett-Packard Company, Seagate Technology, and Cisco Systems are well known in the storage and peripherals industry.
Colorado Springs, which was founded in 1870 by General William Jackson Palmer, got its start as a residential and recreational area for mining millionaires. It has come to be known for Pike's Peak and its mineral springs, Garden of the Gods park, and numerous military installations including Peterson Air Force Base, NORAD (North American Radar and Air Defense), Shriever Air Force Base, the United States Air Force Academy and the US Space Command. With a population of over 366,000, it is Colorado's second largest city.
The military is the top employer in the city, but MCIWorldCom has three divisions located in the city, employing a large number of people as well. Other top employers in the computer/technology industry include Hewlett-Packard and ATMEL Corporation. As the third largest sector, tourism also plays a large role in the Colorado Springs economy.
Like Denver, Boulder began as a supply town for mining camps. It was incorporated as a town in 1871 and as a city in1882. The University of Denver was established in the city in the late 1800s, drawing new residents to the area. Although many businesses developed in the city, tourism was the main industry during the first half of the 1900s. A turnpike connecting Boulder and Denver was established, causing the city's population to jump from 20,000 in 1950 to 72,000 in 1972.
Today the city is home to over 103,000 people and comprises just over 25 square miles. As the city's largest employer, the University of Denver continues to play a large role in the city's economy and everyday life, providing jobs for approximately 7,500 people. IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Ball Aerospace are next in line, each employing several thousand workers. This combination of education and technology makes Boulder a very appealing community for those interested in computer related careers.
Excellent Educational Opportunities
In addition to the University of Colorado at Boulder, the state university system offers several other campus locations in the tri-city area including the University of Colorado - Denver, Department of Computer Science and Engineering and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Department of Computer Science.
Other colleges in the area include Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs campus or Denver campus, The Art Institute of Colorado and DeVry University.
Students at these institutions can prepare for Microsoft certifications and earn degrees in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer Animation/Computer Graphics, Web Design and Development, Computer Programming and Security, Networking, Information Technology, Computer Repair and other computer science fields.
The tri-city area of Denver, Colorado Springs, and Boulder offers many quality educational facilities and the relatively close proximity of the three cities creates an amazing conglomeration of computer technology employment opportunities across a wide variety of industries and specialties. With three distinct communities in one regional area, there is a setting and lifestyle for anyone who enjoys beautiful scenery and outdoor activities.
Carol Anderson, a computer security specialist who moved to the area nearly
ten years ago, says there are few places that compare with the tri-city area
when it comes to diverse scenic beauty, outdoor adventure, and availability
of services and culture. "There is truly something for everyone here," she shared.
"It snows, but it doesn't stay for long unless you're in the mountains. The
sun shines for at least part of the time nearly every day. And if you get bored,
there are hundreds of things to do, all within a fifty-mile radius. And the
best part is that if you work with computers, you probably get paid enough to
be able to enjoy all that this area has to offer."
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