History is important no matter where you live in the United States of America. It is the factor which binds people together on the national, state, and local levels. If you own a piece of Aurora Colorado real estate, then you will likely find the history of industry in the area to be a fascinating one. In many ways, it reflects that of the rest of the state but with a spin that is all its own.
Similar to places such as Idaho Springs and Lakewood, the first industry in Aurora was the real estate industry. Founder Donald Fletcher believed that the rise of silver and gold bullion prices, and the good luck in strikes in the rest of the state, made the site an ideal location for expensive plots of land.
At first, this vision was proven to be accurate. Precious metals were found in abundance at nearby claims. The gold and silver boom helped to bolster the local economy, as the mining industry brought in a huge array of businesses. Saloons and retail stores selling everything from copper lugs to agricultural supplies did a brisk business.
Unfortunately, silver prices crashed just before the 20th century, which resulted in Fletcher abandoning the town. Unbeknownst to many residents, the developer had sold them water rights to supplies that did not exist. The result was a plummet in almost all industrial sectors, as residents began to leave.
The citizens of the town also decided to change the name of the town at that point from Fletcher to Aurora. A dearth of major industry in the area would continue to plague the city for over a decade.
The recovery of the town was based on two sectors which also play a major role in the history of the rest of Colorado. The first was the industrial sector of the United States Army. After World War One, many veterans were adversely effected by exposure to toxic gases and diseases such as tuberculosis. Fitzsimmons Army Hospital was specifically created to treat these members of the armed services. The hospital was completely state of the art, from its central heating boiler to the cutting edge research and laboratory facilities.
The presence of Fitzsimmons led to an increase in the Army's industrial presence within Aurora. This expansion included the building of Buckley Air Force base. As residents of Aurora know, the base is still in operation today. It is a major research facility, complete with modern tools and resources such as a bench calibrator and other diagnostic equipment.
The medical industry would also expand on its early presence within Aurora. This expansion was most notably seen during the last two decades, as the first bio tech companies began to move into the area. Buildings manufactured from lead-lined sheetrock and other protective equipment host some of the most important research operations in the country.
The industrial picture in Aurora has also benefitted greatly from its proximity to Denver. Many parts of Aurora provide more convenient access to Denver International Airport than in Denver itself. Expansion of light and heavy rail structures in the area have further facilitated this convenience in the last few years.
All in all, the industrial picture in Aurora today owes its success to the foundation laid out by businesses in the past. From the real estate industry to research and medical operations, the city has a booming industrial sector.
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