City: Boulder, CO

Category: Relocation

Address: 11 miles from Boulder

Description: Louis Nawatny founded this town in 1878, after discovering coal 200 feet below a settler’s farm. Twelve mines eventually thrived in Louisville, providing high wages for sometimes-dangerous work. In the early 1900s, labor organizer Mother Jones spoke to coal miners in the town. During this time, European miners, who occasionally worked as strikebreakers, came to town.Although the statue of a miner that stands outside city hall is still the town’s trademark, Louisville is a coal-mining town that has transformed itself into the epitome of a modern suburb. Centura Avista Adventist Hospital is located in Louisville. It specializes in maternity and neonatal care. The Coal Creek Golf Course was listed by Golf Digest magazine as one of the top 25 new golf courses in 1990. When the golf course first went in, next to US 36, there was concern that errant golf balls would hit cars, but it has not been a problem. The highway interchange is booming, with Louisville’s first modern hotels, small shops and huge chain outlets, a 12-plex theater, and practically every chain restaurant you can imagine.Louisville’s population has more than tripled since the 1970s, making it one of Colorado’s fastest-growing communities, but the goal is now to stabilize the population and put some effort into preserving open spaces. Most of the population growth has come from young families, with kids galore. Still, Louisville strives to maintain small-town charm with events such as a Fourth of July Community Picnic and a Labor Day food celebration (see the Festivals and Annual Events chapter). Louisville’s city offices are at 749 Main Street (303-666-6565).