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.
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 Partnership
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
individual 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.
CASTLE ROCK
Located 25 minutes from Denver and 40
miles from Colorado Springs, Castle Rock
sits in the Crowfoot Valley. The town was
settled in the 1870s and incorporated in
1881, and its rich history is still felt in the
downtown area, which serves as the center
of several planned developments. A 2013
population estimate put the Castle Rock
residents at 53,466. Castle Rock’s low
100 METRO DENVER RELOCATION GUIDE – WINTER | SPRING 2015
www.douglas.co.us
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