The changing patterns of
Globeville are inextricably bound up with the history of the community and its
ethnic and religious groups. Globeville was established on ranch land purchased
for that purpose by the Globe Smelter Company. Slavic workers were known to have
settled in the area around 1885. As other smelter and packinghouses located
nearby, local workers were attracted to Globeville. The tall smokestack
represented in Denver's City Seal depicts the smelting industry era centered in
Globeville.
History
The Globeville
neighborhood was originally settled in the late 1880s around the Globe Smelting
and Refining Company. Many of the early workers were Eastern European
immigrants, including Austrians, Croatians, Germans, Poles, Russians,
Scandinavians, Slovenians, and other Slavic peoples. In addition to the
smelters, the railroad and packing plant industries offered employment
opportunities. Even in its early years, Globeville was isolated from the rest of
the city. The railroads and South Platte River served as physical barriers. With
such limited access, the majority of people who worked within Globeville also
lived in the neighborhood. The diverse immigrant populations thrived as churches
and social organizations grew up around the various nationalities. Globeville’s
isolation was further impacted in the mid-20th century when two interstates were
constructed that bisected the neighborhood. Construction of Interstate 25 began
in 1948 and was completed in 1958. Interstate 70 was subsequently completed in
1964. Interstate 70 divided the eastern residential area of Globeville, and its
construction resulted in the loss of 30 homes.
Today
Globeville’s history as a home for immigrants has
continued into the present. Over the past few decades, an increasing Latino or
Hispanic population has moved into the Globeville neighborhood. The current mix
of multi-generational residents and new immigrants continues the rich diversity
that the Globeville neighborhood experienced in the past. Today, portions of
Globeville continue to be physically isolated from the rest of Denver by the
freeways, railroad lines, and the South Platte River. However, the freeways and
railroads have also continued to make Globeville an attractive location for
business and industry. Several large operations and employers are located within
the neighborhood and nearby, including the Denver Coliseum and Stock Show
complex, the Bannock Street furniture business district, and the Pepsi bottling
plant.
Source: Wikipedia
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