Aurora is a city located in Arapahoe County, Colorado with small sections in neighboring Adams County and Douglas County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 276,900.

Historically, Aurora began as a small farming community on the plains east of Denver.

Although Aurora has long been considered by many in Colorado as one of Denver's larger suburbs, its growing population in recent decades (now over half the size of Denver proper) has led to efforts by some of citizens to be recognized as co-equal with its larger neighbor. A former mayor once expressed the somewhat whimsical notion that eventually the area would be called the "Aurora Metropolitan Area." It is widely recognized, however, that such an effort is somewhat hampered by the lack of a large historically important central business district to the city, which is highly surburban in character.

Aurora is the location of the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, and is the birthplace of 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Geography

Aurora is located at 39°41'45" North, 104°48'29" West (39.695887, -104.808101).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 369.7 km² (142.7 mi²). 369.1 km² (142.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.17% water.

Aurora straddles Interstate 225. FasTracks, Denver's commuter rail, currently serves southern Aurora via the "Nine Mile" extension of the Southeast Corridor. By 2025, this extension will expand through downtown Aurora to the East Corridor, and be renamed the "I-225 Corridor" line.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 276,393 people, 105,625 households, and 68,867 families residing in the city. The population density is 748.9/km² (1,939.6/mi²). There are 109,260 housing units at an average density of 296.0/km² (766.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.86% White, 13.42% African American, 0.81% Native American, 4.37% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 8.14% from other races, and 4.23% from two or more races. 19.81% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 105,625 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% are married couples living together, 13.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% are non-families. 27.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.60 and the average family size is 3.19.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $46,507, and the median income for a family is $52,551. Males have a median income of $35,963 versus $30,080 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,095. 8.9% of the population and 6.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.0% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

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