Boulder Facts

1. Interesting fact: Baseline Road is a significant east-west route to both Boulderites & cartographers, for it marks the 40th parallel on world maps.

2. Weird fact: Boulder's Third Flatiron, which towers 1,400 feet high -- a few hundred feet higher than the Empire State Building -- has been climbed by people without using their hands, on roller skates, naked, and in 8 minutes (by separate climbers).

3. Fun fact: Robert Redford was a janitor at The Sink, before moving on to become famous!

4. Random fact: Boulder has more used bookstores per capita than any other city in the country.

5. The Flatiron Mountains got their name by pioneer women who said they looked like flat, metal irons used to iron their clothes.

6. The University of Colorado at Boulder's buildings are built with red sandstone, quarried in nearby Lyons.

7. With Coors, Anheuser-Busch, and local microbreweries such as Boulder Beer and Avery Brewing, this area has become the largest beer-producing triangle in the world.

8. In 1967, Boulder became the first city in the United States to tax itself for funds to be used specifically for the acquisition, management, and maintenance of Open Space.

9. One of Boulder's sister cities is Dushanbe, Tajikistan, which gifted us the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.

10. Boulder is surrounded by more than 31,000 acres of recreational open space and nature preserves.

11. Boulder has been referred to as the "Boulder Bubble" and "28 square miles surrounded by reality."

12. Boulder has received myriad accolades over the years, ranging from Foodiest to Brainiest City, from Best Biking City to Best City for Teleworking, from Best City for Young People to Best City to Retire in Style.