Jeffco Offers A Rocky Mountain Hi
Published Dec 22, 2009
Though it’s the fourth-most populated county in Colorado, Jefferson County offers wide-open spaces, spectacular natural assets, and a blend of thriving business districts and well-planned communities.
Its location on the western edge of metropolitan Denver serves as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains, and the majestic Rockies are present throughout 560 of the county’s 773 square miles.
Jefferson County also features land within the Arapahoe, Pike and Roosevelt national forests, and the county is home to 30 open space parks that cover more than 50,000 acres.
Its residents can enjoy nearly 200 miles of trails, water recreation on four lakes, five ice arenas, 42 recreation centers, five equestrian centers and a mountaineering center.
Nate Oatman and his family moved to Jeffco from Minneapolis when he accepted a job in 2008 as director of business development at GHP Horwath. The Denver-based company specializes in accounting and wealth management.
“I am actually a Colorado native who moved away years ago and ultimately married my wife, Kristy, in Minneapolis,” Oatman says. “But when we wanted to start a family and set down roots, we didn’t want to deal with Minnesota winters every year, and decided that the beauty of Colorado would be ideal for us.”
The Oatmans have two sons, 3-year-old Cooper, and Eli, who was born in early 2009. “We love it here,” Nate Oatman says.
Oatman and his family reside in Golden on a cul-de-sac street that features 10 homes inhabited by 12 children under the age of 5.
“We are close to the mountains, live in a smaller community with an interesting downtown, the schools are excellent, our city is kid friendly and we enjoy the changing seasons,” he says. “Plus my commute to downtown Denver is only 20 minutes. Living in Jefferson County is convenient, interesting and fun.”
Another recent transplant is Ray Johnson, president and CEO of Infinite Power Solutions, which has facilities in unincorporated Jeffco.
“Jefferson County is a progressive place to work, and as for scenery, the mountains, parks, open spaces and forests are amazing,” he says.
Johnson lived in Minneapolis for 23 years before he was hired in September 2005 to run Infinite Power Solutions, a clean-technology company that designs and manufactures thin-film micro-energy storage devices for a variety of micro-electronic applications.
“My family and I have now been here in Colorado since August 2006 and it has been an easy transition for all of us,” Johnson says. “We love the outdoors and the terrain is ideal for recreational activities, especially since my family likes to hike mountain trails. As for entertainment, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is one of the best outdoor settings for concerts that I’ve ever seen in all my years of attending events around the world.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
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