Golden

Town and administrative headquarters of Jefferson County, north-central Colorado; population (1990) 13,100. It is situated on Clear Creek, at the foot of Lookout Mountain, 16 km/10 mi northwest of Denver. Settled as a mining town in 1859, it was capital of the Colorado Territory in 1862-67. Local produce includes coal, clay, gold, wheat, and sugar beets, Coors beer, porcelain, cans, bottles, firebrick, and cement blocks. The town is home to the Colorado School of Mines (1874) and houses several technological research facilities. Nearby Lookout Mountain is the burial place of Col William Cody and the site of the Buffalo Bill Museum; the city celebrates annual Buffalo Bill Days.