DOUGLAS
COUNTY
Douglas County is one of the fastest growing
counties in the United States. Its population
estimate for 2014 was more than 302,000.
Towns in Douglas County include Castle
Rock, Larkspur, Lone Tree and Parker, as
well as Highlands Ranch—a large, master-planned community. Each city has its own
mayor and provides services in cooperation
with Douglas County.
As part of the county’s collaborative work
with other communities, the Partnership of
Douglas County Governments is a notable
example. Established in 2002, the Partner-
ship includes the Towns of Castle Rock,
Larkspur and Parker, the Cities of Castle
Pines and Lone Tree, Douglas County, the
Douglas County School District, Douglas
County Libraries and the Highlands Ranch
Metro District. A nationally recognized
model of collaborative statesmanship, the
Partnership has successfully sidelined indi-
vidual agendas in the interest of working
collaboratively on issues, projects and
programs for the greater good of Douglas
County. Outcomes of this collaborative
effort include the creation of the Douglas
County Housing Partnership and the
Douglas County Youth Initiative.
Although Douglas County continues to grow, it
is also committed to preserving the area’s natural
beauty and open space, as well as agricultural
land encompassed here. The County is approximately 843 square miles, of which 48,741 acres
are permanently protected land through the
Douglas County Open Space Program. Recreational areas include more than 146,000 acres of
Pike National Forest, Roxborough State Park,
Castlewood Canyon State Park and the Chatfield State Recreation Area.
Shoppers from throughout the region flock
to the Park Meadows Mall and the Outlets
at Castle Rock. Another draw is the county’s
many public and private golf courses, cultural
events, sports, and area festivals. A county
cultural highlight is The Wildlife Experience,
an educational and entertaining interactive
museum that connects visitors with wildlife
and habitats. The Wildlife experience blends
interactive exhibits, large format film, fine art,
natural history and community educational
programs and events.
Douglas County, founded in
1861, was named after Stephen
a. Douglas, who was known as
the “little giant” because of
his well-known political battles
with his own Democratic Party
and republican abraham
lincoln over issues of slavery,
the Kansas-nebraska act and
popular sovereignty.
although the county originally
extended from the rockies to
the Kansas border, it now sits
in the geographic center of
Colorado. Its proximity between
Denver and Colorado Springs
makes it an ideal location for
the 80 percent of Douglas County’s workforce that commutes
to these cities. the county’s
strength, as the centerpiece of
the Denver/Colorado Springs
development corridor, is a
perfect blend of quality lifestyle
and business environment.
Photo Courtesy of John ott and
the Parker Chamber of Commerce
Note: Some cities are located in multiple counties. For
information on Littleton, see the Arapahoe County section.
