[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 67 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E643-E644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF AURORA, COLORADO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 29, 2016

  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate my hometown of 
Aurora, Colorado on its 125th birthday.
  Aurora has been a center of rich history throughout its 125 years as 
a city.
  In the year 1866, on the heels of the gold rush, a man named Thomas 
Gully and his family decided to settle into a quiet ranching and 
farming life in what is now the city center of Aurora.

[[Page E644]]

  Less than 30 years later, thirty-six Aurorans voted to incorporate 
Aurora, then known as Fletcher, and it was officially formed on April 
30, 1891. Throughout the years, Aurora has transformed from the Gully's 
quiet ranching and farming community to the bustling urban metropolis 
we see today.
  From humble beginnings, Aurora has grown to be the 3rd largest city 
in Colorado with a rich and ethnically diverse population.
  Aurora continues to thrive and grow, with a number of new 
construction and redevelopment projects already in motion. New 
businesses and residences, revitalized community centers, and even new 
light rail expansion all mark the 125th anniversary of the city of 
Aurora.
  Even in the face of this advancement, the Gully House, believed to be 
the oldest structure in Aurora, still stands as a symbol of our humble 
past and a reminder of the progress we have made together as a city.
  So, in recognition of our past, present, and future, Happy Birthday, 
Aurora, and I look forward to celebrating many more.