Known far and wide as the "mile high city" due to its elevation, Denver is the only major urban area for many miles in any direction. Perhaps that helps explain the fantastic concentration of cultural attractions and entertainment options. Though at certain points in its history it has been down and out, such as the late 1800s when the stalwart mining industry nearly collapsed on several different occasions, or when low oil prices devastated growth in the '70s and '80s, Denver has been a fairly consistent success story of growth, expansion, and a flowering of culture.