Church & State

NIWOT

Entering Niwot, the wooden sign that greets you reads: Vintage Colorado. It’s a catch phrase that is spot on for a place that is a perfect medium of life along the Front Range.

Niwot is a place that people choose as a refuge from everywhere else that their daily lives call them. The majority of residents commute to Boulder, Broomfield or IBM (it’s across the street) for work, yet choose to come home to Niwot. It attracts families with its safety; kids can actually go outside and play without parents having to worry. And with nearly everything being centrally located, there’s no need to make a twenty-minute trip out of going to buy milk. It’s a town that moves at a leisurely pace—something that is increasingly rare (and appreciated) in the kind of modern day tumult that surrounds us.

Sergeant Whitener of the Boulder County Sheriff Department has the privilege of checking in on Niwot as part of his assigned area—a privilege for many reasons, not least of which is because this is a community that’s largely self-sufficient. Residents have taken it upon themselves to implement a neighborhood watch system, something that contributes to the extremely low rate of crime: “Violent crimes make up a very small percentage of what we deal with,” Whitener says. It’s also due to the fact that Niwot is a family-oriented environment with parents who are steadily involved (not overbearingly, of course) in their children’s activities, schoolwork and sports. Whitener describes the town as having the kind of “neighborly coexistence” that just isn’t found other places.

In the seven years that Whitener has been working in Boulder County, he says that Niwot hasn’t changed all that much, but has proven to be a constant draw for people. While the mostly residential town is comprised of expansive homes—like those in the Niwot Hills neighborhood—the vibe here is very low profile. There’s no need to deny that this is a wealthy community, yet driving through town it becomes clear that there is also no need for that aspect to be showcased. Rather, people’s priorities lie with their kids, their community, and enjoying the beautiful place they live in. Whitener says it’s common to see people out pushing their kids in strollers on a run, or biking on trails that break up the open fields next door. On the snowy day of my visit, we pass a woman cross-country skiing down her street.

“Knowing the people helps you understand the community better, which allows you to help them better,” Whitener says of officers’ close relationship with Niwot. Each August the Sheriff’s office hosts National Night Out, which is a chance for the community to get to know the officers while enjoying BBQ and games together. Whitener is also on the county’s SWAT team, which takes a proactive approach rather than reactive, with extensive training for any scenario that might arise. They make sure Niwot-ers are aware that the team is prepared to handle whatever situation might arise.

There’s a lot of trust within Niwot—among the Sheriff’s department, residents, parents and kids. It’s what allows this quiet town to fly a bit under the radar, and what makes it such a desirable, easygoing place to call home.