Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2019

Making up 34 percent of Denver, the Hispanic population is a major cultural and economic force - one that is growing. In the next five years, experts at the Colorado State Demography office expect Denver’s Hispanic population will grow by nearly 10 percent. Now, as #HispanicHeritageMonth closes to an end, we look to shine the spotlight on this prominent feature of our collective identity.

For a little background, Colorado has a large Hispanic population because our history is closely intertwined with both Spanish exploration and native Hispanic cultures; after all, much of Colorado was once Mexican territory. Following the World Wars, many of the rural Hispanic population moved their families into urban areas like Pueblo, Greeley and, of course, Denver. Denver’s Hispanic population was so potent, it became an important site for Hispanic civil rights. The Chicano Movement of the 1960s is often attributed to have started in Denver. By 1983, Denver had its first Hispanic mayor, Federico Peña. You can read more about Colorado’s Hispanic history here.

As a result, Denver is a Hispanic cultural hot spot, and you should certainly take advantage of that fact. There are plentiful ways to discover and celebrate the culture. Santa Fe’s art district is a perfect place to start! Galleries, murals, restaurants, food trucks, a Latino theater and a Latino museum are all to be found in this neighborhood.

Click here to learn more about how you can discover this beautiful culture in Denver.