Montclair (Denver, Colorado)

 neighbourhood, draw only border

Montclair was originally developed as a small suburban community east of Denver. The land was purchased and developed by the Montclair Town and Improvement Company in 1885. One of its founders, Matthias P. Cochrane, originally came from Montclair, New Jersey and named the new community in its honor.

The community was originally designed to attract wealthier residents who were turned off by Denver's "400 saloons and forty Market Street bordellos". To this end, homeowners were required to purchase and build on lots that were twice the Denver standard size of 25 feet by 125 feet. Homes were required to be at least three stories high, made of brick or stone. In addition, town trustees had to approve all plans and saloons and alcohol were forbidden.

In 1893, the crash of the silver market and the ensuing Panic of 1893 brought all development to a halt. Its founders then began to promote the town as a health retreat, calling it the 'Carlsbad of Colorado'. However, plans for a health spa, art museum, hotel, casino and pavilions never materialized. By 1900, the US Census recorded only eighty-eight families living in Montclair.

In 1902, the newly created City and County of Denver began to incorporate the town of Montclair. The town objected strongly to its inclusion and fought the City of Denver all the way to the State Supreme Court. Montclair lost and annexation was made final in 1903.

In 1975, residents and the Denver City Council voted to make the central heart of Montclair a historic district. This made Montclair one of the first neighborhoods to seek landmark designation, and the district was the fifth city-designated landmark district.

The neighborhood includes grand old trees, large lots, and distinctive houses, including nineteenth-century Victorian architecture and Queen Anne Style architecture as well as 'TB houses' designed specifically for tuberculosis sufferers. However, during the twentieth century these original homes were joined by bungalows, cottages, Tudor revival, and modern Ranch-style houses.