Denver

Why Denver?
The exact location of our location
The weather
See more of Denver in our slideshow

Why Denver?

Plenty of things about Denver make it a great place for an Annual Gathering:

• Denver is a vibrant, growing place where the population has more than doubled since 1960. The city & county of Denver had a population of 554,636 in 2000, making it larger than the entire population of Wyoming (480,000). Denver's demographic also has much in common with American Mensa's; one-third of the city is between age 35 and 54.
• Denver is the most educated city in the country. It has the greatest percentage of college graduates of any major metropolitan area in the United States; 92.1 percent of those living in the metropolitan area have high school diplomas, and 35 percent have at least a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Census.
• Active minds, active bodies: Denver is consistently recognized as one of the healthiest cities, and Colorado as one of the healthiest states, in the country — probably because there is so much to get out and enjoy!

For more about visiting Denver, the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has lots of great information.

The exact location of our location

Contrary to popular belief, Denver is not in the mountains — it is near them. The "Foothills," a gentle series of peaks ranging from 7,000 to 11,000 feet, start to rise 15 miles west of the city. Slightly beyond that is the Continental Divide and a series of peaks soaring to heights of 14,000 feet, known locally as the "Front Range." Denver itself is located on high, rolling plains. The 15th step on the west side of the State Capitol Building is exactly 5,280 feet — one mile — above sea level.

Although considered "western" in character, Denver is actually located in the center of the country, just 346 miles west of the exact center of the continental United States. With the exception of Kansas City, Denver is closer to the exact center of the nation than any other metropolitan area.

The weather

Nothing about Denver is more misunderstood than the city's climate. Located just east of a high mountain barrier and a long distance from any moisture source, Denver has a mild, dry and arid climate. The city receives only 8-15 inches of precipitation a year (about the same as Los Angeles) and records 300 days of sunshine a year — more annual hours of sun than San Diego or Miami Beach. In summer, dry relative humidity makes Denver feel cool and comfortable, offering natural air conditioning.

Cool, casual clothing is ideal for the warm, sunny summer days. It can cool off considerably when the sun goes down, so it might be advisable to have a light sweater on hand. Summer days in the mountains are quite pleasant; however, summer storms can arise suddenly. Those who venture into the back country are strongly advised to take long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a warm jacket.
 

Photo courtesy of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau