Country State County Founded Incorporated (town) Government • Type • Town Manager Area • Total • Land • Water Elevation
United States Colorado Douglas County Seat 1874 May 17, 1881 Home Rule Municipality Mark Stevens 33.79 sq mi (87.5 km2) 33.79 sq mi (87.5 km2) 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) 6,224 ft (1,897 m)
• Total • Estimate (2012) • Density Time zone • Summer (DST) ZIP Codes Area code(s) Website
Population (2010) 48,231 51,348 1,400/sq mi (550/km2) MST (UTC-7) MDT (UTC-6) 80104, 80108, 80109 303 & 720 Town of Castle Rock
The Town of Castle Rock is the county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States and is named after the prominent, castle tower-shaped butte near the center of town. It is part of Colorado's Front Range Urban Corridor and is located roughly 28 miles (45 km) south of downtown Denver and 37 mi (60 km) north of Colorado Springs. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 48,231.
The region in and around Castle Rock was originally home to American Indians of the Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes. They occupied the land between the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers. White settlers were drawn to the area by rumors of gold and by land opened through the Homestead Act of 1862. However, it was the discovery of rhyolite stone, not gold, that ultimately led to the settlement of Castle Rock. Castle Rock was founded in 1874 when the eastern Douglas County border was redrawn to its present location. Castle Rock was chosen as the county seat because of its central location. One of the first homesteaders in the area near today's Castle Rock was Jeremiah Gould. He owned about 160 acres (0.65 km2) to the south of "The (Castle) Rock." At that time, the settlement consisted of just a few buildings for prospectors, workers, and cowboys. In 1874, Jeremiah Gould donated 120 acres (0.49 km2) to the new town that was also now home to the Douglas County government. For the beginning the six streets named Elbert, Jerry, Wilcox, Perry, Castle and Front were laid out to build the actual town of Castle Rock. The Courthouse Square was defined and about 77 lots, each 50 by 112 feet (34 m), were auctioned off for a total profit of US$3,400. A new train depot brought the Denver and Rio Grande Railway to the area. Castle Rock currently encompasses about 35 square miles (91 km2), with a population of more than 42,000 in town and 70,000 in the surrounding area.
Neighborhoods Castle Rock's postal codes include many neighborhoods: North of Downtown / West of I- North of Downtown / East of I-25 25 • Founders Village • The Meadows • Escavera • Red Hawk Ridge • Diamond Ridge Estates • Castle Pines Village • Sapphire Pointe / Puma Ridge / Cliffside / Cutter's Ridge South of Downtown / West of I25 South of Downtown / East of I-25 •
Keene Ranch
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Plum Creek Castlewood Ranch
North of Downtown / East of I-25 • • • •
Founders Village Escavera Diamond Ridge Estates Sapphire Pointe / Puma Ridge / Cliffside / Cutter's Ridge
South of Downtown / East of I-25 • • •
Plum Creek Castlewood Ranch Bell Mountain Ranch
Primary and secondary education Douglas County School District is based in Castle Rock and operates 18 public schools in the town. These include ten elementary schools, two middle schools, two charter schools, one magnet school, one alternative high school, and two high schools: Castle View High School and Douglas County High School. In addition, there are three private primary schools located in Castle Rock: The Rock Academy (Grades PK-3), School of the Rock (PK-8), and Woodlands Academy (1-8).
Libraries The Douglas County Libraries public library system is based in Castle Rock, co-located with the local branch library, the Philip S. Miller Library, south of downtown. The Miller Library includes the Douglas County History Research Center and offers several educational and recreational programs to the public.
Health care Castle Rock residents have access to numerous options when it comes to quality health care. Within town there are several medical offices, an urgent care and an emergency room. Castle Rock Adventist Hospital, a full service hospital opens August 1, 2013. The 50 bed hospital will offer comprehensive health care to the growing southern Douglas County area. Labor and delivery suites, NICU, orthopedic surgery, ICU and medical imaging make it convenient for Castle Rock residents to receive quality medical care close to home. Castle Rock's open space and parks comprise 27% the town’s total land area (5,415 acres (21.91 km2) of parks and open space / 20,224 acres (81.84 km2) total land area). Additionally, there are 56 miles (90 km) of soft-surface and paved trails. •
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Parks - Baldwin Park, Bison Park, Butterfield Park, Castle Highlands Park, Castle North Park, Castlewood Canyon State Park, Centennial Park, Festival Park, Founders Park, Gemstone Park, Glovers Tot Lot, Matney Park, Metzler Ranch Park, Mitchell Gulch Park, Paintbrush Park, Plum Creek Park, Rhyolite Regional Park, Rosecrown Park. Trails & Open Space - East Plum Creek Trail, Gateway Mesa Open Space, Hidden Mesa Open Space, Memmen Ridge Open Space, Mitchell Creek Canyon Trail, Mitchell Creek Trail System, Native Legend Open Space, Quarry Mesa Open Space, Ridgeline Open Space, Rock Park, The Bowl.
Points of interest The Castle Rock Historical Museum is located in the former Denver and Rio Grande Railway depot building on Elbert Street. Visitors can see history of how Castle Rock changed over the years.
Sports From 1986 through 2006, a professional golf tournament was held in Castle Pines Village. The International, a PGA Tour event, was held in August at the Castle Pines Golf Club.
In the media In the 2000s, Castle Rock developed a positive reputation in American media as an affordable and family-friendly community: •
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Money magazine ranked Castle Rock No. 19 in the nation in its list of the “100 Best Places to Live in America" September 2011 . Ranking methodology was based on job growth, home affordability, safety, school quality, health care, arts and leisure, diversity and several ease-ofliving criteria. Family Circle magazine ranked Castle Rock No. 1 in the nation in its list of the “10 Best Towns for Families," August 2010. The article shares the results of the magazine’s quest to identify "the best communities across the country that combine big-city opportunities with suburban charm" and "an ideal blend of affordable houses, good jobs, top-rated schools, wide-open spaces and a lot less stress." This is Castle Rock's second time making Family Circle's top ten list. In the August 2007 issue Castle Rock was ranked No. 9. Forbes magazine named Castle Rock No. 5 of “America's 25 Best Places To Move,” 7 July 2009 Money magazine ranked Douglas County No. 5 in the United States for “Job Growth over the Last Eight Years”. (Towns include Castle Rock, Parker, Stonegate, Lone Tree, and Highlands Ranch), 18 August 2009
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Castle Rock include: Amy Adams, actress • Kirsten Bomblies, biologist • Jim Cottrell, NFL linebacker Gary Hallberg, professional golfer Tom Hamilton, Aerosmith bassist] • Nelson Rangell, jazz musician Edward Seidensticker, Japanologist Ann Strother, WNBA player, coach •
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