More historic than 12% of U.S. towns · #112 of 159 in Colorado. What drives it
Most of Glendale was built recently: 0.3% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1984. Below: maps from 1940 on and the census since 1960.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Glendale is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #112 of 159 in Colorado. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Glendale’s overall grade.
Few Colorado towns list much on the Register (a typical Colorado town has 1.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Glendale’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (22% of Colorado towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1859.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±0.5 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Glendale’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In 1859, the Cherokee Trail (and the Smoky Hill Trail -south branch) came down Cherry Creek Valley past the Four Mile House and through what is now called Glendale. The Four Mile House was one of the stage stops along the road, becoming a way station for freight wagons and a stock ranch.
The first documented use of the name Glendale was the Glendale Grange, which was organized in December 1896. J.M. and Agnes Riddle helped to found and donated land for a new Grange Hall that was completed in 1897. In 1902, William Harold Baumert named his dairy the Glendale Farm Dairy which solidified the term Glendale which is now used to describe the community.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Glendale. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1940Englewood sheet · 1:31,680
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Glendale.
People over time
Glendale, census by census
Grew from 468 people in 1960 to 4,613 in 2020, 9 times over.
7 censuses, 1960–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Glendale’s Wikipedia page.
Questions about Glendale’s history
What year was Glendale founded?
In 1859, according to Wikidata. the census of 1960 counted 468 people here.
How does Glendale rank for history?
Glendale is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #112 of 159 in Colorado. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Glendale?
0.3% of Glendale’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 2.5% for a Colorado town; the median home was built in 1984.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (9), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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