Arvada: Going for the gold and a whole lot more.

A jubilant cry rocked the caravan of covered wagons parked along a bucolic creek a few miles downstream from the serene foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

"Gold," Lewis Ralston shouted. "I've found gold."

Sure enough, on the banks of what would be renamed Ralston Creek, a mini-gold rush ensued, and ambitious folks from far and near sought their fortune near today's intersection of West 57th Avenue and Fenton Street.

Even so, the 1850 gold rush never really panned out, but Ralston's entrepreneurial verve did. Nearly 150 years later, that same independent streak and hardworking zeal characterizes the community that surrounds Ralston Creek. Arvada is the name, and it's home to 98,000 stouthearted residents.

"Arvada has always been populated more strongly with an independent business community," says City Manager Craig Kocian. That entrepreneurial spirit began with pioneer families, many of whom still have descendants in business today.

Call it an intangible asset, but it's the kind of attitude that attracts companies and startup businesses to Arvada every day.

"When new businesses come to town, they catch that spirit," says Kocian.

Commerce and industry may be catching something else from Arvada's agrarian traditions ... A dynamic vision for the 21 st Century.

Even though residents and city officials are just beginning to define Arvada's next 100 years, significant projects are in the works:

* Olde Town Renaissance. Developer Dana Crawford has spent the past 30 years combining her passion for historic preservation with real estate savvy, and probably no one in Colorado has done more for revitalizing Denver's core city, first at Larimer square and more recently in LoDo. No wonder local officials are ecstatic about Crawford's participation in the redevelopment of Arvada's original downtown centered near the intersection of Old Wadsworth Boulevard and Grandview Avenue.

City council is poised to adopt the Olde Town Renaissance master plan, including designs for a major activity hub centered on a new Arvada library. Preservation of many of Arvada's classic structures, including the flour mill, the water tower and several blocks of turn-of-the-century commercial structures, remains a high priority.

* Vauxmont Intermountain Communities. South of Rocky Flats on a mesa overlooking the metro area, a 1,100-acre business park is taking shape that could become Jefferson County's premier multifaceted development, combining high-end, view-driven housing with first-class industrial and commercial structures plus retail, restaurant and hotel facilities.

"It's such a visually critical area," says Vauxmont Vice President Bruce Nickerson. "We have a unique opportunity because we're completely surrounded by open space."

Although the emphasis will be on low-key, high-quality construction that blends in with and enhances the mountain backdrop, Nickerson says Vauxmont will be cutting edge from a technological standpoint, wired throughout for high-speed Internet access, including its residential neighborhoods.

Located between Golden and Boulder along Highway 72, Vauxmont's proximity to Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado in Boulder is certain to attract high-tech research and development firms, he adds.

* Ridge Home Redevelopment. Originally the location of the state hospital for the developmentally disabled and other state-owned commercial buildings, the 135-acre Ridge Home site could become a metro-area "showplace," according to Kocian. A final master plan is in the works and includes a community center, a transit station, housing, retail establishments, open space and office space. Red Rocks Community College is expected to expand its presence, currently at the north end of the site west of Kipling Parkway between Interstate 70 and Ridge Road.

"The campus already gives Arvada a jumpstart on redevelopment," said Kocian. "Red Rocks' administration has a firm grasp of the educational needs of Arvada and Jeffco residents, and they are highly in tune to the labor pools needs, as well."

RELATED ARTICLE: VALUE-ADDED ARVADA

* Arvada does not charge sales or use tax on equipment used in the manufacturing process, or in research and development.

* Arvada does not charge an occupational privilege tax.

* Arvada has a skilled, technologically trained labor pool initially created by the operation of Rocky Flats. With its imminent closure, many of the workers have chosen to remain in the Arvada area.

* Arvada city staff has earned a reputation for excellence and efficiency, and maintains one of lowest per-capita costs for municipal government in the metro area.

* Arvada has a long-standing network of water systems and has secured extensive water supplies for the next century.

* Arvada is home to the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, one of the top 10 cultural venues in Colorado, offering year-round theater, concerts, art shows, classes, children's programs and banquet facilities.

* Arvada is home to Stenger Soccer Complex, the second-largest soccer venue in Colorado, with 21 fields.

* Arvada boasts one of the most extensive open space, parks and trails systems in Colorado. It is also home to the 27-hole West Woods Golf Course, honored by the Audubon society with its Environmental Steward Merit Award.

RELATED ARTICLE: ARVADA BUSINESS:: Eclectic and Exciting

Ever since the Ralston family discovered gold in 1850, Arvada has enjoyed a reputation for its fine family-based businesses. Generations of Arvadans have created comfortable lifestyles in a variety of fields - everything from growing the finest Pascal celery in the world to milling the best flour in the Rocky Mountain region. In fact, the legendary Lloyd King opened the first King Soopers, a public company owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., dominates the front range with 15;000 employees.

So it is that Arvada's commercial, retail and professional mix remains exciting today. Here's a look at some of Arvada's more unique businesses:

* Yenter Companies is known as the premier explosive technicians in the United States, but its expertise is internationally acclaimed when it comes to stabilizing mountain-sides, building retaining walls, monitoring seismic activity and constructing highways through the most challenging terrains.

* Stephany's Chocolates has earned a sweet spot in the hearts of candy connoisseurs throughout Colorado. Its manufacturing facility opened in Arvada two years ago.

* Easter-Owens manufactures control panels for the highly specialized prison industry.

* Barber Nichols, a distinctive engineering firm, manufactures prototypes for such divergent projects as rockets, space stations and submarines. Clients include NASA and Lockheed Martin.

* Entrepreneur Harry Mathews created the first touchless car wash system in 1966 with three employees. Recently he sold his Mark VII Equipment company, which now boasts 300 employees and worldwide distribution.

* Sun Company manufactures high-quality promotional items, such as compasses and thermometers.

* Barone Inc. manufactures Vacmasters, a specialized vacuum system that exposes underground wires and prevents the accidental rupture of utility lines and pipes.

* S & H Products manufactures fire-suppression equipment.

* Wanco Inc. manufactures traffic signs.

* Qualchem Inc. processes molybdenite concentrates to make a variety of products.

* FDG Inc. develops custom workstations.