Map of Thornton city, Colorado

The City of Thornton is a home rule municipality located in Adams and Weld counties, Colorado, United States. The city population was 141,867, all in Adams County, at the 2020 United States Census, an increase of +19.44% since the 2010 United States Census. Thornton is the sixth most populous city in Colorado and the 191st most populous city in the United States. Thornton is 10 miles (16 km) north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver and is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Thornton city overview:
Name:	Thornton city
LSAD Code:	25
LSAD Description:	city (suffix)
State:	Colorado
County:	Adams County, Weld County
Incorporated:	June 12, 1956
Elevation:	5,351 ft (1,631 m)
Total Area:	37.947 sq mi (98.282 km²)
Land Area:	35.924 sq mi (93.043 km²)
Water Area:	2.023 sq mi (5.239 km²)
Total Population:	141,867
Population Density:	3,949/sq mi (1,525/km²)
ZIP code:	Denver 80221, 80229, 80233, 80241, 80260 Brighton 80602
Area code:	Both 303 and 720
FIPS code:	0877290
GNISfeature ID:	0181265

Online Interactive Map

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Thornton online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Thornton location map. Where is Thornton city?

Thornton location on the U.S. Map. Where is Thornton city. — Thornton location on the U.S. Map.

Thornton location on the Colorado map. Where is Thornton city. — Location of Thornton in Colorado.

History

Thornton consisted solely of farmland until 1953, when Sam Hoffman purchased a lot off Washington Street about seven miles (11 km) north of Denver. The town he laid out was the first fully planned community in Adams County, and the first to offer full municipal services from a single tax levy, including recreation services and free trash pickup. Thornton was named in honor of then-incumbent Colorado Governor Dan Thornton.

The Thornton Community Association (TCA) was formed in 1954 to help guide the new community’s development. By the end of 1955, Thornton had 5,500 residents in over 1,200 homes. The TCA was instrumental in Thornton’s 1956 incorporation as a city. Oyer G. Leary was elected the first mayor.