100 years of US routes: 1926-2026

Denver is not the only Denver

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, so I enjoy seeing other places named Denver. This map shows the locations of all communities in the US called "Denver".

When someone says the word "Denver", which one comes to mind? In 2023 The Pudding published an article about this (not just for Denver, but for many other US cities too). Their map below shows the locations of the most well-known Denvers, and also illustrates that for people in the vast majority of the country, the word "Denver" brings to mind the one in Colorado. However, there are small pockets where people hearing the word "Denver" are likely to assume the reference is to a more local Denver:

infographic courtesy of The Pudding (linked to source)

I have visited all of the Denvers shown on the map above (except Denver NC). This webpage includes photos from all of the Denvers on that map, as well as some additional Denvers that were not shown there.

Denver, Pennsylvania

The first "other" Denver I visited was the one in Pennsylvania. This place is roughly between Reading and Lancaster, just a ways north of Ephrata. Following is an interesting highway sign, because the "Denver" here is not a reference to the one in Colorado, and the I-76 referred to here is not the same one that serves Colorado:

O'Reilly, Jun. 2005

The Pennsylvania Turnpike (the "eastern" I-76) goes right past the town, but drivers must use the Reading exit to get there. It is populated by over 3000 people, so there are probably some interesting things to see, but unfortunately I did not spend much time there. I only snapped this photo of the city limits sign:

Sanderson, Nov. 2000

I was surprised to learn of a town "way back east" (from my perspective) that was named for my western city. At least that is how that sign told the story; however the history given on Denver Borough's website does not say their town was named after the one in Colorado.

Denver, Missouri

In 2002 I made a few detours on my way to Columbus OH in order to see some towns called "Denver" in three other states. The first of these was the one in Missouri. I approached from Mound City (nw of St. Joseph) and very much enjoyed the drive: hilly and scenic. There were a few one-lane bridges on northbound highway 113 where the signs instructed me to yield to southbound traffic (had there been any). This is a country of rivers with distinctive names: Nishnabotna, Tarkio, Nodaway, Hundred-and-Two. Maryville (north of St. Joseph) is the seat of Nodaway County, and has a beautiful courthouse.

Much of the drive from there to Denver was along state secondary routes, on which one can never quite know what to expect. Let's just say one does not want to be in a big hurry:

Sanderson, Oct. 2002

Denver itself was very quiet when I was there, which I guess is what you would expect in a town of only 53 people. There was a post office; it was a modern but unremarkable building:

Sanderson, Oct. 2002

Denver, Illinois

The next day I stopped in Denver, Illinois, which is maybe ten miles south of Carthage. This place is even smaller than the one in Missouri. Below is the signage from northbound IL hwy. 94. The sign in the background also pointed to the right, and read "Providence Primitive Baptist Church":

Sanderson, Oct. 2002

Travelers taking that right turn soon saw this city limits sign. The house behind the fire hydrant was big, old, and probably very pretty one hundred years ago. Unfortunately it was also about to collapse. And that was the most remarkable thing I observed during my five minutes in Denver, Illinois:

Sanderson, Oct. 2002

Denver, Indiana

Denver, Indiana, was probably the liveliest town of the bunch. Certainly the largest, with a population of over 400. I went north from Logansport on highway 25, and used highway 16 to get to Denver. It was a very narrow road, which I doubt would even qualify for official highway status in most states. I think I remember a pretty neat church building there. I definitely remember "The Denver Hot Spot", which appeared to be the one store in town. They were proud of all the services they provided: the sign there said something to the effect of "Get a tan -- get a pop -- all in one spot!"

Sanderson, Oct. 2002

(detail)

The post office occupied a storefront right on Route 16 (the main road through town). After my visit, I continued east on that highway. It was a pretty drive: in Stockdale, there was an old mill on the Eel River, and just down the road in Roann was a covered bridge.

Denver, Iowa

In 2005 I had a chance to see Denver, Iowa. Here are a few scenes from there:

Sanderson, Aug. 2005

Denver City, Texas

2016 was the year of my visit to Denver City, Texas:

Hathorn

That is (or at least was) the local newspaper building; interesting architecture. This is another Denver that has a water tower. The line underneath "Denver City" read "Mustangs & Fillies", which I assume are the mascots for the boys and girls high school teams:

Sanderson, Oct. 2016

The circle on the right read "Denver Unit: Home of the World's Largest CO2 Flood" (as in carbon dioxide -- I am uncertain about the significance of that).

Denver, South Carolina

Some Denvers are very small. In 2017 I had a chance to visit Denver, South Carolina...

Berry

Sanderson, Nov. 2017

Denver, Arkansas

...and in 2018 I passed through Denver, Arkansas:

Sanderson, Mar. 2018

Denver, Alaska

Denver, Alaska, can no longer be considered a town, but I believe it was a mining settlement at some point during the Klondike gold rush years. Today it is the name of a trailhead to an eponymous glacier above Skagway. Since there is a sign for it along the White Pass scenic railroad, and since I took a photo, I am posting it here:

Sanderson, Aug. 2023

Denver, North Carolina

On my 2002 trip, I also intended to visit Denver, Ohio (which is a little ways south of Chillicothe). But I didn't have a map detailed enough to tell me which road to take, and there was no signage from US 23, so I missed it. But I will try again if I ever have a chance. And I hope to visit other Denvers, too -- there are several others besides the ones on this page. Feel free to submit any photos you may have, like this shot from Denver NC:

Prince, Dec. 2007

Research and/or image credits: The Pudding; M.B. Berry; Charlie O'Reilly; Adam Prince; Dale Sanderson; D. Witman (a native of Denver PA)

Page originally created 2002;last updated Sep. 08, 2025.

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