Arapahoe County

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Big Boy's Colorado adventure

The world's largest operating steam locomotive will stop in Strasburg for the final leg of its coast-to-coast America 250 tour.

America at 250

The train that &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="makes grown men cry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/a-locomotive-named-big-boy-is-making-grown-men-cry-0f965e12" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/a-locomotive-named-big-boy-is-making-grown-men-cry-0f965e12" target="_blank">makes grown men cry</a>&quot; rolls into Arapahoe County on Monday afternoon.Driving the news: Union Pacific&#x27;s Big Boy No. 4014 stops at Strasburg&#x27;s Main Street crossing from 3:45-4:15pm for the final leg of its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="coast-to-coast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track" target="_blank">coast-to-coast</a> America 250 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tour" data-vars-click-url="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule" target="_blank">tour</a>.

Inside Zyn's $1.2B Colorado bet

The new campus grows manufacturing jobs as debate over nicotine pouches continues.

Business

Philip Morris International ramps up production at its planned $1.2 billion Zyn campus in Aurora on Monday, cementing Colorado&#x27;s role at the center of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="booming" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/business/zyn-nicotine-pouches-tobacco.html" data-vars-content-id="fa4b3586-1dbd-43d0-9448-2b0d8033175c" data-vars-headline="Inside Zyn&#x27;s $1.2B Colorado bet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/business/zyn-nicotine-pouches-tobacco.html" target="_blank">booming</a> nicotine pouch business.Why it matters: The tobacco giant&#x27;s first U.S. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="greenfield" data-vars-click-url="https://www.archistar.ai/blog/what-is-a-greenfield-development/" data-vars-content-id="fa4b3586-1dbd-43d0-9448-2b0d8033175c" data-vars-headline="Inside Zyn&#x27;s $1.2B Colorado bet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.archistar.ai/blog/what-is-a-greenfield-development/" target="_blank">greenfield</a> manufacturing complex is being pitched as a boon to Aurora&#x27;s economy, but critics say Colorado is backing a product that could addict young users.

Colorado's golden beginnings

I found Colorado gold, but the story's worth far more.

Culture

Colorado&#x27;s 150th birthday is next month, but I don&#x27;t need a beard or a pickaxe to connect with stories that helped put our Centennial State on the map.Flashback: An 1858 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gold discovery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.the-old-west.com/articles/pike-s-peak-gold-rush" data-vars-content-id="9c95c7d2-1ee0-4ba1-b69d-67baa69d3041" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s golden beginnings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.the-old-west.com/articles/pike-s-peak-gold-rush" target="_blank">gold discovery</a> near Arapahoe County&#x27;s South Platte River and Little Dry Creek confluence was a major moment in the rush that drew fortune-seekers West.

Bennett's big small-town boom

Cheaper homes, open plains and aging infrastructure collide just beyond Aurora's edge.

A small town straddling the Arapahoe-Adams county border is becoming Colorado&#x27;s latest growth test, as less expensive homes, open plains and aging infrastructure collide just beyond Aurora&#x27;s edge.Why it matters: Bennett is increasingly part of metro Denver&#x27;s housing market as builders look east and buyers search for something they can afford.

Bow Mar's starter homes cost $1M+

It's one of three Colorado cities with seven-figure starter homes.

Bow Mar has become a place where &quot;starter home&quot; means spending seven figures.Why it matters: The tiny town straddles Arapahoe and Jefferson counties and shows how the definition of entry level has shifted in wealthy, supply-constrained neighborhoods, where even the bottom rung of the market is mostly out of reach.

The local's guide to 250/150

Festivals, fireworks and drone show are popping up this summer.

Colorado&#x27;s biggie birthday is also America&#x27;s star-spangled blowout. Can you say &quot;two-fer&quot;?Great news: No need to hit up Denver for party time — or go to Wyoming for … <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="well …. you know" data-vars-click-url="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdWt4ZHQ1aDE0azRidjdraDlxYmtoZjZ2eTg4a2dkMnMzbDVoYXV5bSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/hqIaXesRGpP44/giphy.gif" data-vars-content-id="a7715cc7-9b97-43be-807d-bfb7f920a645" data-vars-headline="The local&#x27;s guide to 250/150" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdWt4ZHQ1aDE0azRidjdraDlxYmtoZjZ2eTg4a2dkMnMzbDVoYXV5bSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/hqIaXesRGpP44/giphy.gif" target="_blank">well …. you know</a>.

Aurora neighborhood awaits Stanley's future

Neighbors worry about Stanley Marketplace's next chapter

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stanley Marketplace sale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/arapahoe/2026/05/26/stanley-marketplace-redevelopment-plans-aurora" data-vars-content-id="a5347ca1-4d37-462c-9b41-5f84276d21b2" data-vars-headline="Aurora neighborhood awaits Stanley&#x27;s future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/arapahoe/2026/05/26/stanley-marketplace-redevelopment-plans-aurora" target="_self">Stanley Marketplace sale</a> could reshape one of Aurora&#x27;s beloved community hubs.Why it matters: That has lots of neighbors and business owners wondering — and worrying — what comes next.

Castle Rock residents can now stop solicitors with a sign

Castle Rock residents can now stop solicitors with a sign.

Neighborhoods

Door-to-door solicitors aren&#x27;t leaving, but Castle Rock just made it easier to turn them away.Why it matters: A &quot;no-soliciting&quot; sign or town-issued sticker is now enough to keep solicitors at bay — no <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="registry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.crgov.com/2404/Opt-out-of-Door-to-Door-Solicitation" data-vars-content-id="44cc6a98-ba4d-454d-9e0d-694fbecc1246" data-vars-headline="Castle Rock residents can now stop solicitors with a sign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.crgov.com/2404/Opt-out-of-Door-to-Door-Solicitation" target="_blank">registry</a> required.

Struggling East Colfax shops say help is urgently needed

Business owners say safety concerns are driving customers away and threatening their survival.

Aurora is setting up a new development authority to tackle safety and disinvestment concerns along East Colfax, and immigrant shop owners say help can&#x27;t come soon enough.Why it matters: East Colfax Avenue has long offered an affordable foothold for small businesses. But crime is eroding that access — and empty storefronts show the costs.

Neighborhoods

Colorado's golden beginnings

Bennett's big small-town boom

Bow Mar's starter homes cost $1M+

Arapahoe County dog bowl tracks voting years

The local's guide to 250/150