Barnum is a neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The neighborhood is located in the area known as West Denver. According to the Piton Foundation, in 2007, the population of the neighborhood was 6,456, and there were 1,924 housing units.^[1]

As of the year 2000, the racial makeup of Barnum is 20.73% White non-Hispanic, 0.61% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.64% Asian, and 75.78% Hispanic or Latino.^[2]

The neighborhood's northern boundary is the Sixth Avenue Freeway, its eastern boundary is Federal Boulevard, its southern Boundary is Alameda Avenue, and its western boundary is Perry Street.

In 1865, Daniel Witter bought 160 acres southwest of Denver, the first in a series of land deals in the development and promotion of Villa Park. Envisioned as a vast development with unique features such as curving streets, Witter's dream of a home for Denver's wealthy was never realized. The Denver Villa Park Association raised money for development, but lawsuits followed and the association was soon bankrupt. Lands were placed with a trustee, and on March 11, 1878, offered for sale. Less than two weeks later, on March 21, 1878, the American circus mogul P.T. Barnum of the Barnum and Bailey Circus bought 760 acres (308 ha) for just $11,000, and a few years later, the Barnum subdivision was platted.

Barnum's involvement with his namesake's development has become part of Denver folklore, especially in the durable legend of the showman's plan to establish a winter home for his circus in the city. In fact, Barnum never wintered his animals anywhere other than Connecticut or Florida, and the entertainment entrepreneur made just four documented trips to Colorado. Barnum sold as much of Barnum as possible before disposing of the remainder to his daughter, Helen Buchtel, for the price of one dollar. Ironically, much of Barnum's initial development was a result of efforts by Helen, and her second husband, William Buchtel, who also served as mayor of an independent, incorporated Barnum established in 1887.^[3]

• Villa Park, Denver

39°43′05″N 105°01′57″W / 39.71806°N 105.03250°W / 39.71806; -105.03250

v t e Neighborhoods of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, USA
Central	Auraria Capitol Hill Civic Center Central Business District Five Points (RiNo) Lincoln Park North Capitol Hill Union Station
North of CBD	Clayton Cole Elyria-Swansea Globeville Whittier
Northeast of CBD	Central Park City Park West Denver International Airport Gateway Green Valley Ranch Montbello North Park Hill Northeast Park Hill South Park Hill Skyland
Northwest of CBD	Berkeley Chaffee Park East Highlands Highland Jefferson Park Regis Sunnyside West Highlands
South of CBD	Baker College View Overland Platte Park Rosedale Ruby Hill Southmoor Park Speer University University Hills University Park Washington Park Washington Park West Wellshire
Southeast of CBD	Country Club Goldsmith Hampden Hampden South Kennedy
East of CBD	Belcaro Cherry Creek Cheesman Park City Park Congress Park Cory-Merrill Crestmoor East Colfax Hale Hilltop Indian Creek Lowry Montclair Virginia Village Washington Virginia Vale Windsor
West of CBD	Athmar Park Barnum Barnum West Harvey Park Mar Lee Sloan Lake Sun Valley Valverde Villa Park West Colfax Westwood
Historic Districts	Alamo Placita Curtis Park LoDo
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