Displacement in Denver: A Research Guide

This is a guide to the published and unpublished records that document major events of displacement in Denver's history. It should be noted that this guide is in no way comprehensive in capturing all occurrences of displacement to Denver residents. While some of these records are available digitally, most are available for in-person research only through DPL's Special Collections and Archives at the Central Library.

Disclaimer: Our collections contain racist, sexist and violent imagery and language that may be upsetting and traumatizing to our customers. By making sure historical materials are publicly available, the library acknowledges shameful injustice in our history to prompt open discussions, further historical scholarship, and support an informed and educated public.

Displacement of Indigenous People
Photo is a copy of a primitive drawing by A.H. Barker mounted on card. The drawing shows what is purported to be the first house built in Denver, Colo. once located at 12th and Wynkoop Street. A photographic portrait of Barker in the upper right hand corner has been inset into the original negative.
The First House in Denver 1858, by A. H. Barker, 1888.

The area that is now Denver was once used by the Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples as a seasonal camp. Unjust treaties drawn up by the United States federal government placed restrictions on this land, and on November 29, 1864, violence carried out by Colonel John M. Chivington and U.S. volunteer soldiers ended in the murder of an estimated 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people — the majority of them were women, children, and the elderly.

Resources:

Anti-Chinese Riot of 1880
View of an anti-Chinese riot on a street in Denver, Colorado. Rioters assault Chinese men, throw belongings out of windows and use wooden beams to destroy frame buildings. Rioters wear hats and sack suits, and Chinese men have queues (braids) and wear shan ku (tunic and trousers) and bu xie (cotton shoes).
View of an anti-Chinese riot on a street in Denver, Colorado, October 31, 1880.

On October 31, 1880, a pool table dispute turned into a full-blown riot when a white mob pillaged Denver's Chinatown. The incident, fueled by escalating anti-Chinese sentiment in Colorado, resulted in the murder of Look Young, injuries to dozens of people, the destruction of Chinese homes and businesses, and the fleeing of 100 Chinese residents.

Resources:

Research Tools

City and Householder Directories

Denver City Directories date from 1873 and are arranged by name of resident or business name. Many also list occupations. Denver Householder Directories date from 1924 and are arranged by address and show owners, residents, and business names.

Smiley's History of Denver

Published in 1901, Smiley’s History of Denver was originally compiled for the Denver Times. Jerome Smiley’s book gives a very detailed early history of Denver and the region. Beginning with the development of local geological formations, Smiley takes the reader through prehistoric inhabitants, Spanish and French exploration of the area, fur traders and trappers, early settlers, the growth of Denver, and finally Denver’s prospects for the future.

Klan-era Zoning
Studio portrait of Mayor Ben Stapleton, Denver, Colorado; he wears wire rim glasses and a suit.
Studio portrait of Mayor Ben Stapleton, circa 1930

Beginning in the early 1920s, Denver's urban planning efforts reflected the KKK values of its leaders. Discrimination against African Americans, Catholics, and Jews was formalized in ordinances and deed restrictions.

Resources:

Research Tools

Mapping Prejudice in Denver: 1931-1935 Interactive Map

A StoryMap that reveals findings of a 2022 grant-funded review of 144,000 Denver land records from 1931-1935. Explicit racism was identified in over 300 real estate deeds. This interactive map shows the modern address of each restriction and provides details about the restriction itself.

Redlining
Map is dated August 15, 1938 and illustrates the redlining of neighborhoods in the City and County of Denver where minorities were excluded from receiving home loan funds because they were considered poor economic risks. Redline aspects added to commercially published map by Hotchkiss entitled: Guide map of Denver and suburbs, Colorado.
Residential security map (redlining map) of Denver, 1938

Redlining originated with 1930s New Deal homeownership initiatives that sought to provide government-insured mortgages as a way to prevent widespread foreclosures. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) introduced color-coded maps to assess the creditworthiness of neighborhoods in over 200 cities and towns nationwide. 

Neighborhoods were graded from "A" to "D" — "A" being most desirable while"D" being where property values were anticipated to decline. D neighborhoods were marked in red ("redlined") and deemed unsuitable for inclusion in homeownership and lending initiatives. As a result, people living in redlined neighborhoods were denied access to credit, even if they personally qualified for loans. It is important to note that the majority of redlined neighborhoods were inhabited by Black residents. 

Resources:

Valley Highway Project (Interstate 25)
View of the preparation for Valley Highway (I-25) construction, in Denver, Colorado; shows graded earth, houses, and a car.
Valley Highway construction

The Valley Highway project looked to build an efficient roadway from Greeley to Colorado Springs. Part of the project included the purchase (and in some cases, condemnation) of homes in Denver to make way for the highway. The result was the destruction of entire neighborhoods and the displacement of an estimated 15,000 Denver residents.

Resources:

Auraria & the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA)
Aerial view of the new Auraria Higher Education Campus (AHEC) not long after redevelopment leveled most of Auraria in the 1970s. Denver's central business district can be seen to the east.
Aerial view of Auraria, in Denver, 1983

The June 1965 flood that submerged Denver's Auraria neighborhood prompted a thorough examination of the area, leading to plans for extensive urban redevelopment. The establishment of Metropolitan State College, alongside proposals to place campuses of the University of Colorado and Denver Area Community College in a central urban location, spurred the initiative to transform Denver's oldest neighborhood into a modern urban campus. Funding for land acquisition and relocation from the federal government, particularly Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was supplemented by a voter-approved bond. Consequently, Auraria residents were displaced, with many relocating to neighboring Lincoln Park, which faced an influx of new residents. By 1972, relocations were completed, and the Auraria campus was finished in 1976.

Resources:

Research Tools

Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) Relocation List

Indexed list of residents displaced during the development of the Auraria campus. Compiled by Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA). Held by Auraria Library.

Denver Reparations Programs