Wheat Ridge embodies the deep roots of a City with a rich history, that dates back to the early 1800s, and a strong sense of community. Its central location provides shorts commutes to major interstate highways, a soon-to-open commuter rail line, the majestic Rocky Mountains, and the amenities of the large metropolitan City of Denver, Colorado. With easy access from I-70, you can be skiing, hiking or participating in a wide range of internationally-acclaimed mountain sports in less than an hour. Wheat Ridge is a home-rule City, operating under a Council-Manager form of government. In this form of government, the Council is the governing body of the City elected by the public, and the manager is hired by Council to carry out the policies it establishes. The Council consists of eight members, two from each Council District, and an at-large, elected Mayor.