[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16786-16787]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  BOULDER, COLORADO'S SESQUICENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2009

  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 150th 
birthday of my home town, Boulder, Colorado.
  Boulder is a special place. When I meet people from other parts of 
the country who have passed through our fair state, the very mention of 
Boulder always brings a smile to their face. On February 10, 1859, 
settlers from the Nebraska Territory (the beginnings of a world 
renowned college football rivalry perhaps) founded the ``Boulder City 
Town Company.'' From its birth, our city has been a shining example of 
what is possible with a civic minded populace.
  From our humble beginning as a supply town for miners, to the 
national leader in smart growth and environmental stewardship we are 
today, Boulder has always been dedicated to the careful balance of 
entrepreneurship and wise land use.
  The beauty of our natural surroundings has caused generations of 
Boulderites to value our town and to embrace a life of grace rather 
than greed. Over the years, Boulder residents have taken extraordinary 
measures to mesh the human environment seamlessly with our natural 
environment. Through a citizen initiative, we brought Frederick Law 
Olmstead to Boulder at the beginning of the 20th century to craft a 
vision plan for our city designed to highlight our natural treasures 
such as Boulder Creek and the Flatirons. In 1959, our residents took 
action to create the ``blue-line'' to preserve the mountain backdrop, 
and made Boulder the first city in the nation to impose a tax for land 
conservation. We purchased the Arapahoe Glacier to ensure a source of 
drinking water for our residents and agricultural uses. Boulder was 
also the first community to adopt a ``carbon tax'' to deal with the 
crisis of climate change. Today, our open space program has made 
Boulder the envy of many an over-crowded community and is now a model 
duplicated state and nationwide.
  Boulder's commitment to the environment is equaled by its commitment 
to the community and especially to education. The Colorado Territory's 
first class of high school seniors graduated in Boulder. When Colorado 
became a state in 1874, Boulder citizens pooled their resources and 
raised $15,000, a fortune in those days, to build the state's first 
public university. The vibrant culture surrounding this top tier 
institution of higher learning--full of philosophical debate, football, 
and foreign exchange--has created the colorful lifestyle that makes our 
town unique.
  Our highly skilled workforce has attracted world class employers, 
such as IBM, Ball Aerospace, and Roche Pharmaceuticals Boulder, as well 
as some of the nation's premier

[[Page 16787]]

research institutes, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Agency (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and 
the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
  The heart of Boulder is our award winning Downtown. Boulder's small 
businesses are the life blood of our community and give Boulder the 
special sense of place that is loved by residents and visitors alike. 
For more than 50 years, Boulder residents have relied on the 
Boulderado, McGuckins Hardware, and The Sink. The Pearl Street Mall and 
our Downtown, both easily accessible by pedestrians, drivers and 
bicyclists, are national models of smart urban development. The 
eclectic mix of housing, independent retailers and commercial 
enterprises give Boulder an economic driver that many larger 
communities envy.
  I congratulate my fellow Boulderites on 150 years of progress and 
prosperity, and look forward with great anticipation of what the future 
holds for our diverse and vibrant community.
  Happy Birthday, Boulder.

                          ____________________