The City of Golden is an affluent home rule municipality and the
county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along
Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky
Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining
camp was originally named Golden City in honor of Thomas L. Golden. Golden City
served as the capital of the provisional Territory of Jefferson from 1860 to
1861, and capital of the official Territory of Colorado from 1862 to 1867. In
1867, the territorial capital was moved about 12 miles (19 km) east to
Denver City
