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University Hill, Boulder

Coordinates: 40°00′27″N 105°16′36″W / 40.007443°N 105.276747°W / 40.007443; -105.276747
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40°00′27″N 105°16′36″W / 40.007443°N 105.276747°W / 40.007443; -105.276747

Panoramic shot of The Hill business district from 13th and College looking North and East

The Hill, a neighborhood in Boulder, Colorado, lies directly west of the University of Colorado campus. The fraternities and sororities associated with CU are located on The Hill as are several establishments associated with the social lives of its students. It is a mixed residential neighborhood with substantial private student housing.[1][2] It was the center of counterculture activity in Boulder during the 1960s and 70s.[3]

Boulder was a dry town, no liquor sales allowed. However, 3.2% beer was allowed, which 18 year olds could purchase. The Sink, founded in 1923,[4] and Tulagi's, founded in the 1940s,[5] were 3.2% watering spots located on The Hill that were popular with students.[6] Tulagi's was a modest music venue, where, in winter 1971, a new band, The Eagles, played to an audience of 30.[5] Other notable businesses, past and present, include Albums on the Hill, vinyl records; the Fox Theatre, a music venue; the Flatiron Theatre, now closed; Jones Drug and General Store, now closed; and The Fitter (formerly known as The Pipefitter), still open. [7]

The Hill was popular with street people, who were not welcomed by business owners. The riots in May, 1971 resulted from an attempt by Boulder police, in response to complaints by businesses, to apply broken-window policing. Few, if any, students were involved. The riots involved hundreds of people and over 100 police and lasted 3 days; there were many arrests.[8]

The City of Boulder has established the Hill Revitalization Working Group, an organization of stakeholders with interests on or with University Hill. It has been concerned with improving the business and residential climate on the Hill including the behavior of partying university students who sometimes celebrate later and more loudly than is acceptable.[9]

Unrest

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On the evening of March 6, 2021 during COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado a crowd, of as many as 800 mostly university students, frustrated with COVID restrictions, gathered at 10th and Pearl on the Hill shooting off fireworks and flipping a car. A Boulder SWAT team in an armored vehicle was deployed and issued verbal warnings. Most of the crowd left, but some remained. Tear gas was employed. 3 SWAT officers were injured with their armored vehicle and a fire truck damaged.[10] About 50 students who participated were sanctioned by the University with most receiving probation and a few being suspended.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tara Calihman (18 May 2013). "Boulder Neighborhood Guide: University Hill". yourboulder.com. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Boulder's 'The Hill' is a funky mix of college and residential". Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  3. ^ Carol Taylor (June 20, 2021). "In Retrospect: Counterculture on the Hill shaped Boulder". Daily Camera. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "3D Virtual Tours - VPiX 360".
  5. ^ a b Christie Sounart (October 1, 2010). "How Tulagi Got Its Start". Coloradan Magazine. No. Fall, 2019. Alumni Association. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "A Letter from John Lund: My Recollections of the Sink and Boulder 1954-1958".
  7. ^ "Hope You're Not Over the Hill". Coloradan Magazine. No. Winter 2011. December 1, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Paul Danish. "Riot of '71". Coloradan Magazine. No. Spring 2018. Alumni Association. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Deborah Swearingen (March 17, 2021). "Boulder to research University Hill solutions". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Kelsey Hammon (March 9, 2021). "Boulder police forced to break up massive party on University Hill". Daily Camera. Retrieved June 2, 2021. A large, out-of-control party on University Hill raged for several hours Saturday evening until Boulder police were able to disperse the large crowd, but not before hundreds of people gathered with no social distancing, set off fireworks and flipped a car.
  11. ^ Katie Langford (May 21, 2021). "Dozens of CU Boulder students sanctioned in Hill riot". Daily Camera. Retrieved June 2, 2021. University of Colorado Boulder has placed 43 students on probation and suspended four others in connection with the March 6 riot on University Hill.
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