East Centennial - Englewood, CO

In 1858, miners arrived in Denver in search of gold, but the gold soon disappeared, and the city turned into a supply hub for mountain miners. As the metro area grew, an increasing number of residents moved into the surrounding countryside, now called East Centennial.

Sparsely populated for decades, the area blossomed in the 1960s when the freeway system expanded and again in the 1970s when developers erected the Denver Tech Center, an industrial and business hub less than 5 miles from East Centennial.

At the turn of the 21st century, most of the residents of the area were unincorporated, but in 2001, the city of Centennial was formed, incorporating over 100,000 area residents. Locals have access to the Denver arts scene, which includes the Denver Museum of Art as well as several annual festivals, including the Denver Chalk Art Festival and the Cherry Creek Arts Fest.

Restaurants abound in this area, especially in the commercial developments closest to the freeway. While many chains exist, independent shops can be found as well. For example, independently-owned GeJo's Original serves homemade pizza using recipes handed down from the owner's grandparents. This local favorite also serves Italian dishes such as eggplant parmesan, and it hosts priced-to-sell happy hour specials.

Another nearby pizza parlor, MOD Pizza, offers diners a more modern experience. MOD's pizzas sport a range of toppings from imported cheeses to pineapple, and white sauces seem to cover just as many of MOD's pies as red sauces.

If you'd rather grab a pint than eat a pie, that's not a problem, as the area has a host of bars. LoDo's Bar and Grill in Highlands Ranch has a spacious patio, perfect for watching the sun set behind the mountains on a warm evening. The bar also offers great drink deals, and the music starts pumping in the evenings, lending a nightclub feel to the place.

Locals also enjoy watching their teams play, and Sportsbook Bar and Grill attracts sports lovers with its flat screen TVs, innovative shots, bottomless nachos, and a fun atmosphere. When it isn't game night, Sportsbook often hosts live music.

Living near I-25 gives locals a convenient way to reach downtown Denver as well as communities to the north and south. Buses run through the area, and residents can also take the light rail from Dry Creek Station in East Centennial to downtown or other parts of the metro area.

Bicycle paths wind through the open spaces and along the streets of this area, and these paths link to over 300 miles worth of dedicated biking paths throughout the Denver area. Thanks to its safe streets, many people also walk in this neighborhood, but most residents need a car or a bicycle to reach work, home and shopping.

Cab companies and Uber drivers serve the area, but rather than trying to hail a cab in the street, most residents call them to schedule a pickup.

East Centennial offers a range of parks of all sizes. For a neighborhood park, check out Lonesome Pine Park. This park has playgrounds for kids, but it also has tennis courts and ball fields for people of all ages. Nearby Willow Springs Open Space gives residents of the Willow Springs and Willowbrook neighborhood access to an 810 acres of open space. Unfortunately, this area can only be used by residents of those two areas, members of the Cherry Creek Country Club and their guests.

If you live outside of those areas, check out Cherry Creek State Park when you need a nature fix. Although the park charges a daily admission fee, anyone who pays can enter and enjoy access to everything from camping to hiking. Inside of this park, a large reservoir provides boating and swimming opportunities as well. Miles of trails exist for walking or bicycling, and the park also includes playgrounds for the kids and an off-leash play area for your dogs.

Locals in the mood for an outdoor festival have a host of them at their disposal at all times of the year. During the summer, the Denver Chalk Art Festival covers the pavement along the 16th Avenue Mall with chalk art. In the fall, zombies fill the sidewalks as part of the annual Denver Zombie Crawl, and in the winter, the zoo gets covered in twinkling lights for the annual Denver Zoo Lights.

Residents of East Centennial face a slightly higher cost of living than residents in other parts of the metro area. While the average one-bedroom apartment in Denver rents for $1,041 per month, landlords in East Centennial price one-bedroom units at $1,226.

Due to the area's proximity to downtown, locals can reach it for only $3 on public transit, and many of the bars offer bottled beer for as low as $3 during happy hour. Outside of happy hour, expect to pay around $4 to $7 for a pint of craft beer. Gas stations sell gas for 5 percent less than the national average.

East Centennial residents live less than two miles from the Park Meadows Mall. Although the mall sits within walking distance of much of the neighborhood, most people enjoy driving there thanks to the valet parking. Once inside, you can find 185 shops including boutiques such as NV Boutique, as well as many restaurants. NV Boutique sells women's undergarments in a well-designed and inviting environment.

Dubbed a retail resort, the mall also hosts high-end shops such as Nordstroms, the American Girl Store and Sundance the Store. Selling luxury bags, clothing, and decor, Robert Redford's Sundance promises to be an idea rather than just a store.

For groceries, locals have their pick of Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Natural Grocers. Safeway offers conventional food at convenient prices with some organic options thrown in as well. Sprouts focuses on organic and bulk items, and it offers a meat counter with tasty sausages stuffed on site. A relatively small shop, Natural Grocers has everything from vitamins to protein smoothie powder.

If you want a larger shopping experience, check out one of the area chains, such as King Soopers or the Walmart Super Center. If you enjoy meeting the person who grew your food, check out the Centennial Farmers and Artisans Market. Taking place weekly during the summer, this market features local produce including famed Colorado peaches and artisan goods.