Denver is the largest city in Colorado in terms of population and it also happens to be the capital. It's located smack in the middle of the Platte Valley on the High Plains due east of the front range of the Rocky Mountains. This is one reason why Denver got the name: Mile-High City—the High Plains of the Platte Valley are roughly one mile above sea level. Visitors (and visiting sports teams) who experience the thinner air at those altitudes know the truth about the city being a mile-high. Denver is home to approximately 500,000 people which ranks it as the 27th largest US city in terms of population. Denver residents pride themselves on their outdoor lifestyle and with numerous mountain ranges within city limits it's no wonder they feel this way. In addition, several academic institutions are located in Denver and they help give the city a more carefree college town feel. A recent burgeoning high tech center is emerging focusing on telecommunications and medicine. Popular neighborhoods in Denver include: LoDo (short for Lower Downtown), Mckinley, capital Hill, Highland, Washington Park, Burbank, Curtis Park, Alamo Placita, Park Hill, and Golden Triangle.