- In 1981, Thornton had a population of 43,000 citizens was 19 square miles in
size.
- The Police Department now had 91 officers and 47 firemen filled the ranks of the Fire Department.
- February 1981, the City's Charter is reviewed by citizens and Council.
- May-June 1981 the City celebrates it's 25th anniversary.
- On June 3, 1981, at 2:30 p.m. the worst tornado in the Denver metro area’s history touched down in the City of Thornton, just a few days before the City was to celebrate its
silver anniversary.
- In 1982, the City joins the Two Forks project.
- In 1982, Thornton faced another weather-related problem with the "Blizzard of 1982" hit the metro area. Between five and six feet of snow was dumped on the metro area on Christmas Eve of 1982.
- In 1983, the City opened the Thornton Civic Center off I-25 and Thornton Parkway, a site formerly known as 9-Mile Hill, to house its municipal offices, courts, police and fire departments.
- In August 1984, the Thornton Senior Center opened at the former Public Safety
building on Dorothy Blvd.
- In 1985, Thornton created an urban renewal district to raise $3.5 million to build an I-25 interchange at the Thornton Parkway (92nd Avenue), and to assist in a face lift in the City’s original business district mainly along Washington Street between 84th Avenue and 92nd Avenue.
- In 1985, the current City Manager Jack Ethredge was hired.
- In 1986, the City Council passed a resolution declaring certain undeveloped
City land to be public open space.
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Future
