The Highlands, Potter Highlands, Highlands Park, Scottish Highlands, Upper Highlands, Lower Highlands, East Highland and West Highlands. These are all names associated with the neighborhoods the city recognizes as Highland and West Highland, which represent some of Denver’s earliest suburbs.

This month, we’re highlighting West Highland, the enclave between Federal and Sheridan Boulevards to the east and west and 38^th and 29^th Avenues north to south.

Originally, West Highland was part of the town of Highland, a region of the growing metropolis in the hills overlooking the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. As subdivisions were platted and developed, Highland became a destination for people who wanted to live in grand homes with access to clean air and artesian well water above the dirty and vice-ridden towns of Denver and Auraria below. As the 19^th century gave way to the 20^th, the area became known more for its embrace of the growing middle class than its dazzling Victorians, and the architecture began to reflect residents’ more modest pocketbooks: smaller lots and homes and the rise of the Craftsman movement with its sturdy bungalows.

Today, West Highland is one of Denver’s most desired locations. Encompassing a small retail strip on West 29^th Avenue east of Sheridan, and Highland Square, the vibrant business district at 32^nd and Lowell that hosts a farmer’s market on Sunday mornings in season, West Highland serves up great eats at stalwarts like Pizza Alley, Three Dogs Tavern, Trattoria Stella and Mead St. Provisions. And it doesn’t stop there! Additional restaurants Fire on the Mountain, El Camino Community Tavern, Himchuli and Tacos Tequila and Whiskey. For dessert? There’s “the magic of moo” from Sweet Cow Ice Cream.

There are all the attributes of a great city neighborhood: walkability, window-shopping and great eats with easy access to transit and both major interstate highways. It’s also minutes away from the city center. And, at 5,426-feet elevation, a view from your West Highlands second story can get you a glimpse of city lights and maybe the spires of the Front Range.

West Highland Highlights
Population: 9,707
Location: Ten minutes northwest of downtown Denver between Federal and Sheridan Boulevards and 29th^st and 38^th Avenues.
Rankings: Niche.com ranks thousands of neighborhoods based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and expert insights. They rank the West Highland neighborhood . . .

• Overall Niche Grade: A
• Best Neighborhoods for Young Professionals in Denver
  • 17 of 76
• Best Neighborhoods to Raise a Family in Denver
  • 32 of 76
• Best Neighborhoods to Live in Denver
  • 35 of 76
• Housing stock: Housing from the late 1800s through 21^st century, mostly single-family.
• Public schools: Denver Public Schools
• Public high school: North High School
• Nearest hospital: SCL Health Lutheran Medical Center
• Nearby parks: Highland Park and Pferdesteller Park
• Fun fact: Packard’s Hill, which encompasses all or parts of three early West Highlands’ subdivisions, dates back to the 1880s and is Denver’s 53^rd historic district. It sits roughly between Lowell Boulevard and Perry Street and 33^rd and 35^th Avenues.