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Our History
As one of 13 institutions in the Colorado Community College System, CCD is the third largest with more than 8,000 students taking classes both online and in the classrooms. In 1967, the Colorado legislature created CCD, with classes commencing in North Denver, then three years later in a renovated auto showroom close to the Civic Center. Over the next few years, the college expanded into nearby retail storefronts due to a rapidly increasing enrollment. Thankfully, in 1975, the College moved to the 150-acre Auraria Higher Education Center campus in downtown Denver.
Originally the site of the 1858 frontier town of Auraria, the campus has the oldest-standing structure in Denver — the former Temple Emmanuel (now Emmanuel Gallery), an exhibition space for student and faculty artwork. Situated along the west bank of Cherry Creek, CCD is also the only community college in the nation to share a campus with two four-year universities — Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado - Denver. Together the three institutions share classroom buildings, a fully accessible health center, a regional library, recreational facilities, a performing arts center and a student union.
Join our rich student body and start your educational goals here at a college that supports its students’ goals, celebrates their achievements, and seeks to increase the number of college graduates in the city of Denver and surrounding communities.
"As we gather today, we honor and acknowledge that the Auraria Higher Education Center is on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Nations. This area was also the site of trade, hunting, gathering, and healing for many other Native Nations: The Lakota, Ute, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Shoshone, and others.
We recognize the Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of the land, water, plants, and animals who called this place home. As these words of acknowledgment are spoken and heard, the ties that these nations have to their traditional homelands are renewed and reaffirmed. Let us also acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal. We respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land on which we gather. We pay our respect to them and give thanks to all Tribal Nations and the ancestors of this place.
We also want to recognize the community and families of Auraria who lived, worked, and worshipped at Auraria. The decision to provide this sacred land in order to create a permanent home for Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and University of Colorado Denver was a difficult one. Let us honor the families of Auraria and their generous contribution, which made this public campus of higher education possible to benefit so many."
-Presented by AHEC and approved by the Auraria Board of Directors (ABOD) at the October 19, 2021 ABOD meeting