DENVER METRO AREA — This term includes the 8 counties that make up the metropolitan area. (Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Douglas and Elbert) These counties encompass portions of the plains, the foothills and the Palmer Divide — hence the reason precipitation from storm events, particularly snow, can vary so much in a relatively short distance.
You may have noticed that we defined the foothills as being elevations between 6,000 and 9,000 feet and the plains as areas east of Interstate 25. So what about the small strip of land east of the foothills but west of Interstate 25? (Such as Boulder, Longmont, Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Loveland, Fort Collins, Golden and Highlands Ranch) These areas can go either way, foothills or plains, but in general, tend to have climate characteristics closer to the foothills, especially when it comes to wind.
FRONT RANGE — This is technically the front mountain range, or the eastern most range, of the Rocky Mountains. Because you have this mountain range, the foothills, and locations along the Interstate 25 corridor all within about 50 to 75 miles — the entire area is often collectively termed the Front Range. It may be helpful to picture everything from just east of the Continental Divide to Interstate 25 as the Front Range. This includes cities of Denver and most of its suburbs, Ft. Collins, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.
Posted by: Jeffery McClintock
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