Centennial is a home rule city in Arapahoe County with a population of over 108,000, making it the 11th most populous municipality in Colorado. Incorporated on February 7, 2001, it was the largest municipal incorporation in U.S. history at the time, approved by 77% of voters. The city is named after Colorado's nickname as the "Centennial State," admitted to the Union in 1876, the centennial of American independence.
Centennial is known as a high-tech industry hub, home to Arrow Electronics — the largest company headquartered in Colorado — and United Launch Alliance. Centennial Airport is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States, serving as a hub for private and corporate aviation. The city also hosts the second-largest IKEA store in the country, which opened in 2011.
The city offers excellent outdoor recreation with trails along the High Line Canal, Big Dry Creek, and Little Dry Creek, plus the award-winning Centennial Center Park featuring an 11-acre recreational area with meadows, climbing walls, and an amphitheater. Centennial has consistently earned accolades as one of Colorado's safest and most livable cities. For DTC commuters, the city offers direct access via I-25 and RTD light rail, with the Dry Creek Station providing a convenient connection to the Tech Center.
