05/05/2026
Happy Incorporation Day Parker! Thank you to the visionaries who saw what incorporating could do for our community and thank to all along the way who made Parker what it is today. Happy 45th Birthday Parker!
Town of Parker at 45 — How Parker became a Town
May is a significant month for celebrating history in Parker. Not only is it Colorado Historic Preservation Month, but May 5 also marks the anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Parker in 1981.
In 2026, we celebrate Parker’s 45th birthday as part of a larger initiative recognizing additional milestone birthdays for the United States (250th) and State of Colorado (150th).
Way back in 1976, the area around what is now Parker’s downtown was beginning to take shape but mostly limited to one new, rural, unincorporated subdivision named Rowley Downs, where fewer than 300 residents lived at the time. Despite its appeal as a new community, the area lacked reliable public services. The fledgling community faced serious issues, such as an unstable water system, inadequate fire protection, limited law enforcement, unpaved roads and scarce phone service. Residents often relied on private security and even citizen patrols for safety.
Frustrated by these conditions, a group of local residents began meeting regularly to discuss possible solutions. This “Incorporation Group,” made up of both longtime locals and newer residents, concluded that forming a town government was the only way to secure essential services and local control.
With financial backing from the Parker Chamber of Commerce and support from local leaders, the group initiated the incorporation process. After meeting legal requirements and holding public hearings, an election was held Feb. 24, 1981. Voters narrowly approved incorporation with 48 votes in support and 38 votes in opposition. On May 5, another election was held to elect Parker’s first Mayor (Dean Salisbury) and six Trustees (Gerald Baumgartner, Dale Brinker, Charlie O'Brien, Tino Mendez, Jean Martin, and Bill Witthans), today known as Councilmembers.
This election completed the incorporation process.
At that time of its founding, Parker had an official population of just 285 residents. Since then, we have grown into a full-service community of 72,147 with unique neighborhoods, special amenities and features that make Parker such a special place to live.
Interested in Learning More? Discover more about Parker’s unique history at ParkerCO.gov/History. Parker History also offers a wealth of information and resources at ParkerHistory.org.
Photo from the May 14, 1981 Douglas County News-Press. Caption: BIRTH OF THE TOWN OF PARKER - The town's first mayor and winners of board seats are shown with Judge Richard Turelli, who administered the oaths of office. Left to right are: Judge Turelli, attorney Cheryl Torpey, Mayor Dean Salisbury, Gerald Baumgartner, Dale Brinker, Charlie O'Brien, Tino Mendez and Jean Martin (Trustee Bill Witthans absent). (Staff photo by William Peyton)
