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.

Aurora mulls data center limits

Data centers have become a national flashpoint.

Climate

Aurora is poised for a wider debate over data center rules, as Councilmember Amy Wiles explores new regulations and residents question whether the city is ready for AI-fueled growth.The big picture: Aurora is the latest Colorado city grappling with data centers as communities statewide weigh the infrastructure needed to support cloud services, businesses and artificial intelligence.

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.

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.

Denver area office vacancies remain high in 2026

Nearly 9 million square feet of office space is sitting empty as hybrid work reshapes demand.

Real Estate

Office space is sitting empty across the Denver Tech Center and south metro.Why it matters: The pandemic triggered a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="permanent shift" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/office-vacancies-moodys-real-estate" data-vars-content-id="168f7db5-2ccf-466b-bf5d-b1be701d7d35" data-vars-headline="Denver area office vacancies remain high in 2026" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/office-vacancies-moodys-real-estate" target="_self">permanent shift</a> in how — and where — Denver-area workers show up.

Real Estate 🏠

Aurora mulls data center limits

Bow Mar's starter homes cost $1M+

Aurora neighborhood awaits Stanley's future

Castle Rock residents can now stop solicitors with a sign

Denver area office vacancies remain high in 2026