The 1980s
1980
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office establishes K-9 Unit
- Tiny Town reopens including a puppet theater and pony rides
- Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society at 6401 W. Colfax Avenue in Lakewood listed as a National Register Historic District
1981
Coors begins producing Killian's Irish Red beer
March 31, 1981
Part-time Evergreen resident John Hinckley, Jr. shoots President Ronald Reagan and three others leaving the Washington DC Hilton Hotel in a deranged attempt to impress actress Jodie Foster. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and released from a mental hospital in 2016.
June 3, 1981
The first of three tornadoes touched down at 2:23 pm at 6th & Sheridan in Lakewood. A second touched down in Thornton at 88th & Washington at 2:43 pm and a third in Fort Lupton at 3:31 pm.
July 4, 1981
Evergreen holds its first July 4th fireworks over Evergreen Lake
1982
December 1982
Conifer holds its first Christmas parade
1983
Tiny Town is again closed to the public
August 25, 1983
Three-year old Lori Poland, kidnapped from the front yard of her Sheridan home three days earlier by 21 year old Robert Thiret, is discovered in the pit of an outhouse near Genesee
1986
- Sheriff and Detention Facility completed in Jefferson County Government Center campus at 200 Jefferson County Parkway
- Senator Gary Hart of Kittredge announces his run for the presidency
1988
- First Rhubarb Festival held in Pine Grove
- A member of American Atheists tries to have the Mount Lindo cross extinguished permanently. In response, Jeffco Commissioners create zoning for landmark signs.
1989
- Elk Creek Elementary School opens
- Wildfire in Mount Falcon Open Space Park chars 100 acres - believed to be intentionally set
May 1989
Tiny Town reopens after restoration
June 1989
FBI Agents and the Environmental Protection Agency raid the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant for investigation of environmental crimes, discovering numerous violations. Rocky Flats becomes a Superfund site.
Fall 1989
Human Services building completed in Jefferson County Government Center campus at 900 Jefferson County Parkway