Five men named Pete Ross, Ed Bosier, Brian Vogt, John Brackney, and Peter Pye, assembled at a pancake house in order to consider the benefits of incorporating the City of Centennial. A volunteer organization that called themselves the Arapahoe Citizens for self-determination was established. In 1998, an incorporating steering committee filed a petition in the District Court that requested an election in order to determine if the City of Centennial should be formed. The District Court determined that the petition was invalid based on the hearings that were conducted. In 1998, the volunteers corrected the petition and obtained over 2,500 signatures on a second petition, which came to be known as the Centennial Petition.

After being drafted, House Bill 99-1099 was introduced to the Colorado Legislature in order to clarify the current law that established a priority for developing large communities, including Centennial, over some of the smaller municipal annexations that were competing against one another, while the Centennial Petition was pending in District Court. The House Bill 99-1099 was passed out of the Colorado Senate with only six dissenting votes and out of the Colorado House of Representatives without a single dissenting vote. In this Bill was the first piece of legislation signed into law by Governor Bill Owens.

The District Court determined that the Centennial Petition was valid and to take priority over competing annexation proposals in1999, and ordered an election on whether Centennial should be incorporated. However, the interveners in the District Court case appealed the ruling. The Centennial case was transferred by the Colorado Court of Appeals directly to the Colorado Supreme Court for determination. In 2000, the Colorado Supreme Court held oral arguments where a mass of the volunteers from Centennial once again turned out in order to support the establishment of Centennial as well as the principles of self-determination. In a unanimous decision, later that same year, the Colorado Supreme Court that an election should take place to determine if the community of Centennial as a city should be established.

In 2000, the volunteer Election Commission for Centennial was appointed, and convened to determine if the voters within in Centennial wanted to establish a city. About 77% of the voters approved the establishment of Centennial as a City in late 2000. The City of Centennial was legally organized as Colorado City in 2001.

The year 2001 also brought the incorporation of Centennial as a statutory city, which w3as to be governed by state laws. The residents of Centennial elected 21 Home Rule Charter and had the Commissioners to draft a Home Rule Charter within 120 days in 2007. The residents of Centennial elected to approve a Home Rule Charter by a large margin i2008. Home Rule makes it possible for local governments to have control over local matters of local concern, such as audits and the collection of sales tax. The approved charter serves as the constitution for the community.

The community of Centennial asked some 3rd grade students to draw a picture to illustrate what Centennial meant to them, in order to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the City of Centennial.

The Centennial Center Park was officially opened in 2012. The first park in the community includes educational elements, picnic shelters, climbing w2alls, an amphitheater, and many water features. Governor John Hickenlooper as well as officials from Centennial cohosted a celebration of the Olympians of Colorado that featured the gold medal swimmer and resident of Centennial named Missy Franklin.

The Centennial Center Park was the recipient of the Starburst Award from the Colorado Lottery in late 2012. The Park also received the Denver Regional Council of Government’s Live, Work, and Play Award.

The Centennial Trail in Snohomish County continues to be a treasure for recreational activities. One of the two Centennial Trails in the State of Washington, the Snohomish County trail runs for the 29-mile distance from between the community of Snohomish in the northern part of Bryant to the abandoned railroad lines that connects, once again, to the downtown shopping districts, the parks, and the other communities. The rich heritage of the region is celebrated by the sites next to the trail. There is a significant amount of history to enjoy, from the almost 150-year lumber industry in the county to the dairy farms, and the agriculture, and the currently flourishing local main streets.

Trails for future railroads are considered assets of the community. They invite residents and visitors to actively explore and experience the surroundings. They are valued for their popular connectivity to destinations, such as schools, community centers, and parks. They are treasured places for jogging, walking, and biking since they are separated from motorized traffic.

Also tangible tributes to the past are the rail-to-trail conversions. Corridors that were once active as railroad lines are again connecting communities to each other and bringing people to play, shop, and work.

This is certainly the case with the Centennial Trail in Snohomish County. Recently there have been websites launched that depict the interesting history of the trail, while providing practical information about the communities that it passes though as well as the modern day trail.