Edward Louis Berthoud
Courtesy "History of Clear Creek and Boulder Valleys", 1880

Edward Louis Berthoud, who was born in Geneva, Switzerland, came to Golden with the gold rush and became famous as an engineer, surveyor, geologist, meteorologist, historian, School of Mines teacher, and more, surveying the passes that bear his and Loveland's names in Colorado. The town of Berthoud is named after him. He was the first of many immigrants who found Golden a place of opportunity, and led Golden as Mayor. German-born Nicholas Koenig and his family ran the mercantile for 57 years, while cousin Rudolph ran the Golden Smelting Works and was Jefferson County Commissioner, and both were Mayors. The Welsh-born John Nicholls ran the Pittsburg and other coal mines and also was Mayor, Commissioner and Sheriff. Golden's Swedish immigrants established the 1st Swedish and 2nd Lutheran church in Colorado, while German Adolph Coors co-founded what has become the world's largest single site brewery. Italians including the renowned hoteliers Charles and Louis Garbareno were long part of the community. Sing Lee long operated his laundry as a main street business among the Chinese community of Golden. The rich legacy of foreign-born Goldenites continues to be strongly felt to this day.