Castle Rock, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The Town of Castle Rock is the county seat
of Douglas County
, Colorado
, United States
and is named for 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 (46 km) south of Denver and 37 miles (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 Native Americans
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.
One of the first homesteaders in the area near today's Castle Rock was Jeremiah Gould. He owned about 160 acre (0.6474976 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 acre (0.4856232 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 (34.1 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. The depot building now houses the Castle Rock Historical Museum on Elbert Street, where visitors can see history of how Castle Rock changed over the years. Castle Rock currently encompasses about 35 square miles (90.6 km²), with a population of more than 42,000 in town and 70,000 in the surrounding area.
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.
on the western edge of the Great Plains
. The Front Range
of the Rocky Mountains
lay a few miles to the west. East Plum Creek, a stream within the South Platte River
drainage basin, runs north then northwest through Castle Rock.
Common landforms in Castle Rock consist of rock outcroppings, steep hillsides, cliffs, canyons, mesas, and plateaus. About 37 million years ago, a volcanic eruption took place that covered the area around Castle Rock with 20 feet (6.1 m) of extremely resistant rock called rhyolite
. After a few million years, mass flooding and erosion of the volcanic rock gave way to the castle-shaped butte that is the town's namesake. The butte sits near the town's center, immediately north of downtown. Other prominent landforms visible from Castle Rock include Dawson Butte, Devils Head, Mount Evans
and Pikes Peak
.
Castle Rock is within the Colorado Foothills Life Zone. The hillsides are covered with large meadows of grass, small plants, scattered juniper trees and open Ponderosa Pine
woodlands. Other trees common in the area include Gambel Oak
(Scrub Oak or Oak Brush), Pinyon, and Pinyon Pine
. Local wildlife includes the American Badger
, American Black Bear
, Bobcat
, Coyote
, Colorado Chipmunk
, Gray Fox
, Mountain Cottontail Rabbit
, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer
, Pocket Gopher
, Porcupine
, and Skunk
. Birds that can be found in the area include the Golden Eagle
, Peregrine Falcon
, Sharp-shinned Hawk
, Black-billed Magpie
, Red-tailed Hawk
, Pinyon Jay
and Western Tanager
.
Castle Rock is located in central Colorado on Interstate 25
roughly 28 miles (46 km) south of Denver and 37 miles (60 km) north of Colorado Springs. Lying within the Front Range Urban Corridor
, the town is part of the greater Denver metropolitan area. Nearby communities include Castle Pines North
, Lone Tree
, Parker
, Highlands Ranch
, Larkspur
, Franktown
and Sedalia
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, Castle Rock has a total area of 31.6 square miles (81.8 km²).
BSk) with cold, dry, snowy winters and hot, wetter summers. On average, the town receives 17.3 inches (439.4 mm) of precipitation annually. Snowfall averages 60 inches (152.4 cm) per year. On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Castle Rock was 99 °F (37 °C) in July 1973; the coldest temperature recorded was -35 °F (-37 °C) in January 1963.
was 1,526.3 people per square mile (589.3/km²). There were 17,626 housing units at an average density of 557.8 per square mile (215.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.7% White
, 1.1% Black
or African American
, 0.6% Native American
, 1.7% Asian
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
, 2.9% from other races
, and 2.8% from two or more races. 10.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino
of any race.
There were 16,688 households out of which 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples
living together, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86, and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town, the population was spread out with 32.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the town was $86,777, and the median income for a family was $97,599. Males had a median income of $65,996 versus $46,151 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $34,664. About 3.6% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Castle Rock is the 17th most populous municipality in Colorado and is the center of the burgeoning urbanization
of the county.
form of government. The town council
consists of seven members, each representing an election district, elected to two-year terms.
One member, appointed by the council, serves as mayor
, presiding over council meetings, and another member serves as mayor pro tem
. The mayor presides over council meetings and casts one vote, like other council members.
The council sets policy for the town, adopts ordinances, approves the town budget, makes major land-use decisions, and appoints key town government staff including the town manager
, town attorney
, municipal judge, and members of town boards and commissions.
The town manager supervises all departments, prepares and implements the town budget, and works with the council to develop policies and propose new plans.
Tax revenues are used to provide general government, fire, police, parks maintenance and programs, street maintenance and operations, public transit, support for recreation and planning and code enforcement services. The town also provides development services, golf, water and sewer services to residents through self-supporting enterprise funds.
, better known as "The Denver Tech Center" (DTC), which is a 15 minute drive north on I-25. Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport
are both approximately a 40 minute drive from Castle Rock.
provides public primary
and secondary education
with fourteen schools in Castle Rock:
Public Elementary Schools
Public Middle Schools
Public High Schools
Private Schools
. Within town there are several medical offices, an urgent care and an emergency room. A hospital
is currently under construction and is expected to open in 2013. Additionally, a large medical campus, JCAHO accredited hospital and 24 hour level III trauma center is only fifteen minute drive north of town.
, The Douglas County News-Press.
Castle Rock is part of the Denver radio and television market. Radio station
KJMN
is licensed
to Castle Rock, but broadcasts from Denver playing a Spanish
Adult Hits
format on 92.1 FM
. Television station
KETD, an affiliate of the LeSEA
network, broadcasts on digital channel 46. Licensed to Castle Rock, the station is located near Centennial, Colorado
.
North of Downtown / West of I-25
South of Downtown / West of I-25
North of Downtown / East of I-25
South of Downtown / East of I-25
Link to a Map of the Neighborhoods in Castle Rock, Colorado
and parks comprise 27% the town’s total land area (5415 acres (21.9 km²) of parks and open space / 20224 acres (81.8 km²) total land area. Additionally, there are 56 miles (90.1 km) of soft-surface and paved trails.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Douglas County
Douglas County, Colorado
Douglas County is the eighth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado, in the United States. The county is located midway between Colorado's two largest cities: Denver and Colorado Springs...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is named for the prominent castle tower-shaped butte
Butte
A butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
near the center of town. It is part of Colorado's Front Range Urban Corridor
Front Range Urban Corridor
The Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
and is located roughly 28 miles (46 km) south of Denver and 37 miles (60 km) north of Colorado Springs. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 48,231.
History
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.The region in and around Castle Rock was originally home to Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the Arapahoe and Cheyenne
Cheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
tribes. They occupied the land between the Arkansas
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
and South Platte
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
Rivers.
White settlers were drawn to the area by rumors of gold and by land opened through the Homestead Act
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
of 1862. However, it was the discovery of rhyolite
Rhyolite
This page is about a volcanic rock. For the ghost town see Rhyolite, Nevada, and for the satellite system, see Rhyolite/Aquacade.Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition . It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic...
stone not gold that ultimately led to the settlement of Castle Rock.
One of the first homesteaders in the area near today's Castle Rock was Jeremiah Gould. He owned about 160 acre (0.6474976 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 acre (0.4856232 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 (34.1 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. The depot building now houses the Castle Rock Historical Museum on Elbert Street, where visitors can see history of how Castle Rock changed over the years. Castle Rock currently encompasses about 35 square miles (90.6 km²), with a population of more than 42,000 in town and 70,000 in the surrounding area.
From 1986 through 2006, a professional golf tournament was held in Castle Pines Village. The International
The International (golf)
The International was a professional golf tournament played from 1986 to 2006 at the Castle Pines Golf Club at Castle Pines Village in Castle Rock, Colorado. It had the distinction of being one of two PGA Tour events not conducted at traditional stroke play, the only other exception is the match...
, a PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
event, was held in August at the Castle Pines Golf Club.
Geography
Castle Rock is located at 39°22′20"N 104°51′22"W (39.372212, -104.856090) at an elevation of 6,224 feet (1,897 m). The town lies in the Colorado PiedmontColorado Piedmont
The Colorado Piedmont is the geologic term for an area along the base of the foothills of the Front Range in north central Colorado in the United States...
on the western edge of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
. The Front Range
Front Range
The Front Range is a mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains of North America located in the north-central portion of the U.S. State of Colorado and southeastern portion of the U.S. State of Wyoming. It is the first mountain range encountered moving west along the 40th parallel north across...
of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
lay a few miles to the west. East Plum Creek, a stream within the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
drainage basin, runs north then northwest through Castle Rock.
Common landforms in Castle Rock consist of rock outcroppings, steep hillsides, cliffs, canyons, mesas, and plateaus. About 37 million years ago, a volcanic eruption took place that covered the area around Castle Rock with 20 feet (6.1 m) of extremely resistant rock called rhyolite
Rhyolite
This page is about a volcanic rock. For the ghost town see Rhyolite, Nevada, and for the satellite system, see Rhyolite/Aquacade.Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition . It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic...
. After a few million years, mass flooding and erosion of the volcanic rock gave way to the castle-shaped butte that is the town's namesake. The butte sits near the town's center, immediately north of downtown. Other prominent landforms visible from Castle Rock include Dawson Butte, Devils Head, Mount Evans
Mount Evans
Mount Evans is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains, in Clear Creek County, Colorado. It is one of 54 fourteeners in Colorado, and the closest fourteener to Denver...
and Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
.
Castle Rock is within the Colorado Foothills Life Zone. The hillsides are covered with large meadows of grass, small plants, scattered juniper trees and open Ponderosa Pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
woodlands. Other trees common in the area include Gambel Oak
Gambel oak
Quercus gambelii, or Gambel oak, is a deciduous small tree or large shrub widespread in the foothills and lower mountain elevations of the central southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico: its range is centered on the Colorado Plateau–Four Corners states of Utah-Colorado,...
(Scrub Oak or Oak Brush), Pinyon, and Pinyon Pine
Pinyon pine
The pinyon pine group grows in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. The trees yield edible pinyon nuts, which were a staple of the Native Americans, and are still widely eaten...
. Local wildlife includes the American Badger
American Badger
The American badger is a North American badger, somewhat similar in appearance to the European badger. It is found in the western and central United States, northern Mexico and central Canada, as well as in certain areas of southwestern British Columbia.Their habitat is typified by open...
, American Black Bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, Bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, Coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, Colorado Chipmunk
Colorado Chipmunk
The Colorado chipmunk is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.-References:...
, Gray Fox
Gray Fox
The gray fox is a mammal of the order Carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to the northern part of South America...
, Mountain Cottontail Rabbit
Cottontail rabbit
The cottontail rabbits are among the 16 lagomorph species in the genus Sylvilagus, found in the Americas.In appearance, most cottontail rabbits closely resemble the wild European Rabbit...
, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, Pocket Gopher
Pocket gopher
The pocket gophers are burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae. These are the "true" gophers, though several ground squirrels of the family Sciuridae are often called gophers as well...
, Porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
, and Skunk
Skunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
. Birds that can be found in the area include the Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
, Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
, Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small hawk. In fact, "sharp-shins" or "sharpies" are the smallest to reside in USA and Canada, though some Neotropical species are smaller...
, Black-billed Magpie
Black-billed Magpie
The Black-billed Magpie is a bird in the crow family that inhabits the western half of North America. It is notable for its domed nests, and for being one of only four North American songbirds whose tail makes up half or more of the total body length The Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) is a...
, Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
, Pinyon Jay
Pinyon Jay
The Pinyon Jay is a jay between the North American Blue Jay and the Eurasian Jay in size. It is the only member of the genus Gymnorhinus, . Its overall proportions are very Nutcracker-like and indeed this can be seen as convergent evolution as both birds fill similar ecological niches...
and Western Tanager
Western Tanager
The Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana, is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family...
.
Castle Rock is located in central Colorado on Interstate 25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
roughly 28 miles (46 km) south of Denver and 37 miles (60 km) north of Colorado Springs. Lying within the Front Range Urban Corridor
Front Range Urban Corridor
The Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
, the town is part of the greater Denver metropolitan area. Nearby communities include Castle Pines North
Castle Pines North, Colorado
The City of Castle Pines North is an incorporated Statutory City located in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The city is situated south-southeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Castle Pines North has an estimated population of about 9,500...
, Lone Tree
Lone Tree, Colorado
Lone Tree is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,873 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lone Tree is located at . It is on the northern border of Douglas County, and directly adjacent to Arapahoe County...
, Parker
Parker, Colorado
The Town of Parker is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. As a self-declared "Town" under the Home Rule Statutes, Parker is the 2nd most populous town in the county, behind Castle Rock. In recent years, Parker has become a commuter town at the southeasternmost...
, Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Highlands Ranch is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The population was 96,713 at the 2010 census; it is one of the most populous unincorporated communities in the United States...
, Larkspur
Larkspur, Colorado
The Town of Larkspur is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The population was 234 at the 2000 census. Each year on weekends in June and July, the Colorado Renaissance Festival is held in the hills just west of the town...
, Franktown
Franktown, Colorado
Franktown is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Colorado, in the United States. The population was 395 at the 2010 census. The Franktown Post Office has the ZIP Code 80116. Pike's Peak Grange No...
and Sedalia
Sedalia, Colorado
Sedalia is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The CDP population was 211 at the 2000 census. The Sedalia Post Office has the ZIP Code 80135.-Geography:Sedalia is located at ....
. According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Castle Rock has a total area of 31.6 square miles (81.8 km²).
Climate
Castle Rock experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) with cold, dry, snowy winters and hot, wetter summers. On average, the town receives 17.3 inches (439.4 mm) of precipitation annually. Snowfall averages 60 inches (152.4 cm) per year. On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Castle Rock was 99 °F (37 °C) in July 1973; the coldest temperature recorded was -35 °F (-37 °C) in January 1963.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 48,231 people, 16,688 households, and 12,974 families residing in the town. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,526.3 people per square mile (589.3/km²). There were 17,626 housing units at an average density of 557.8 per square mile (215.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.7% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.1% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.6% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.7% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.9% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.8% from two or more races. 10.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 16,688 households out of which 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86, and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town, the population was spread out with 32.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the town was $86,777, and the median income for a family was $97,599. Males had a median income of $65,996 versus $46,151 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $34,664. About 3.6% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Castle Rock is the 17th most populous municipality in Colorado and is the center of the burgeoning urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
of the county.
Government
Castle Rock is a Home Rule Municipality with a council-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. The town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
consists of seven members, each representing an election district, elected to two-year terms.
One member, appointed by the council, serves as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, presiding over council meetings, and another member serves as mayor pro tem
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
. The mayor presides over council meetings and casts one vote, like other council members.
The council sets policy for the town, adopts ordinances, approves the town budget, makes major land-use decisions, and appoints key town government staff including the town manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
, town attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
, municipal judge, and members of town boards and commissions.
The town manager supervises all departments, prepares and implements the town budget, and works with the council to develop policies and propose new plans.
Tax revenues are used to provide general government, fire, police, parks maintenance and programs, street maintenance and operations, public transit, support for recreation and planning and code enforcement services. The town also provides development services, golf, water and sewer services to residents through self-supporting enterprise funds.
Economy
Many of Castle Rock’s residents work in the Denver Technological CenterDenver Technological Center
Denver Technological Center, better known as The Denver Tech Center or DTC, is a business and economic trading center located in Colorado in the southeastern portion of the Denver Metropolitan Area, within portions of the cities of Denver and Greenwood Village. It is home to several major...
, better known as "The Denver Tech Center" (DTC), which is a 15 minute drive north on I-25. Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
are both approximately a 40 minute drive from Castle Rock.
Education
Douglas County School DistrictDouglas County School District RE-1
The Douglas County School District Re. 1 is a school district that serves Douglas County, Colorado. It is the third-largest school district in Colorado, serving more than 61,000 students with 70+ schools....
provides public primary
Primary education in the United States
Primary education in the United States typically refers to the first six years of formal education in most jurisdictions. Primary education may also be referred to as elementary education and most schools offering these programs are referred to as elementary schools...
and secondary education
Secondary education in the United States
In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with...
with fourteen schools in Castle Rock:
Public Elementary Schools
- Castle Rock Elementary School (Grades K-6)
- Clear Sky Elementary School (K-6)
- Flagstone Elementary School (K-6)
- Meadow View Elementary School (K-6)
- Renaissance Expeditionary Magnet SchoolMagnet schoolIn education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
(K-6) - Rock Ridge Elementary School (K-6)
- Soaring Hawk Elementary School (K-6)
- South Street Elementary School (K-6)
- Academy Charter SchoolCharter schoolCharter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
(K-8)
Public Middle Schools
- Castle Rock Middle School (7-8)
- Mesa Middle School (7-8)
- Rocky Heights Middle School (6-8)
Public High Schools
- Castle View High SchoolCastle View High SchoolCastle View High School is a public high school in Castle Rock, Colorado. It opened to serve students in the Douglas County School District in August 2006.- Campus :...
(9-12) - Douglas County High SchoolDouglas County High School (Castle Rock, Colorado)Douglas County High School is a public high school in Castle Rock, Colorado and it is the oldest school in the Douglas County School District.-History:...
(9-12) - Daniel C. Oakes High School (9-12), alternative school
Private Schools
- Woodlands Academy (1-8) website
- Valor High School
Health care
Castle Rock residents have access to numerous options when it comes to quality health careHealth care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
. Within town there are several medical offices, an urgent care and an emergency room. A hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
is currently under construction and is expected to open in 2013. Additionally, a large medical campus, JCAHO accredited hospital and 24 hour level III trauma center is only fifteen minute drive north of town.
Media
Castle Rock has a weekly newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, The Douglas County News-Press.
Castle Rock is part of the Denver radio and television market. Radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
KJMN
KJMN
KJMN is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish adult hits format licensed to Castle Rock, Colorado, USA, serving the Denver-Boulder area...
is licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to Castle Rock, but broadcasts from Denver playing a Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
Adult Hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
format on 92.1 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
. Television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
KETD, an affiliate of the LeSEA
LeSEA
LeSEA Broadcasting , also known as World Harvest Television, is an American Christian television network with over 40 affiliate stations in a number of U.S...
network, broadcasts on digital channel 46. Licensed to Castle Rock, the station is located near Centennial, Colorado
Centennial, Colorado
The city of Centennial is a Home Rule City located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States, and part of the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area. The city was to have a total population of 100,377 in 2010 census. Centennial is the tenth-most populous municipality in the state of Colorado and its...
.
Neighborhoods
Castle Rock's postal codes include many neighborhoods:North of Downtown / West of I-25
- The MeadowsThe Meadows, Castle Rock, ColoradoThe Meadows is a Master Planned Community, located in Castle Rock, Colorado along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. It is approximately south of Denver and north of Colorado Springs. The community is inter-connected by of trails and contains of parks and land for public use...
website - Red Hawk Ridge website
- Castle Pines Village website
South of Downtown / West of I-25
- Keene Ranch website
North of Downtown / East of I-25
- Founders Village website
- Escavera website
- Diamond Ridge Estates website
- Sapphire Pointe / Puma Ridge / Cliffside / Cutter's Ridge website
South of Downtown / East of I-25
Link to a Map of the Neighborhoods in Castle Rock, Colorado
Parks and recreation
Castle Rock’s open spaceOpen space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
and parks comprise 27% the town’s total land area (5415 acres (21.9 km²) of parks and open space / 20224 acres (81.8 km²) total land area. Additionally, there are 56 miles (90.1 km) of soft-surface and paved trails.
- 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 SpaceRidgeline Open SpaceRidgeline Open Space is a public park located within The Meadows neighborhood in Castle Rock, Colorado along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. It sits at an elevation of and consists of of public land that has been designated for conservation and recreational use...
, Rock Park, The Bowl.
Recognition
Castle Rock has been recognized by a number of national periodicals:- MoneyMoney (magazine)Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
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-of-living criteria. - Family CircleFamily CircleFamily Circle is an American women's magazine published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation. It began publication in 1932 as a magazine distributed at supermarkets such as Piggly Wiggly and Safeway. Cowles Magazines and Broadcasting bought the magazine in 1962. The New York Times Company bought...
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. - ForbesForbesForbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine named Castle Rock No. 5 of “America's 25 Best Places To Move,” 7 July 2009 - MoneyMoney (magazine)Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
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 - American City Business JournalsAmerican City Business JournalsAmerican City Business Journals is an American newspaper chain based in Charlotte, North Carolina owned by Advance Publications. It has a range of media including 41 primary metropolitan weekly publications, which reach 4 million readers with business community related news, and Bizjournals, the...
(ACBJ) ranked Douglas County No. 4 in the nation for “Quality of Life,” May 2004 - Denver Business JournalAmerican City Business JournalsAmerican City Business Journals is an American newspaper chain based in Charlotte, North Carolina owned by Advance Publications. It has a range of media including 41 primary metropolitan weekly publications, which reach 4 million readers with business community related news, and Bizjournals, the...
reported that Castle Rock was ranked No. 6 on Gadberry Group’s list of "2008 High-Growth Areas in the United States". 9 January 2009 - SchoolDigger.com ranked Douglas County School DistrictDouglas County School District RE-1The Douglas County School District Re. 1 is a school district that serves Douglas County, Colorado. It is the third-largest school district in Colorado, serving more than 61,000 students with 70+ schools....
No.1 in the Denver Metropolitan Area and No.12 in Colorado based on 2009 test scores. (School district rankings were determined by averaging the rankings of individual schools within each of the 122 districts evaluated). Source: National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
, U.S. Dept of EducationUnited States Department of EducationThe United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, and Colorado Department of EducationColorado Department of EducationThe Colorado Department of Education is the state education agency of Colorado. It is headquartered in Denver....
.
Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Castle Rock include:- Amy AdamsAmy AdamsAmy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
, actress - Kirsten BombliesKirsten BombliesKirsten Bomblies is a biological researcher. She was born in 1973 in Germany and grew up in Castle Rock, CO. She received a BA in Biochemistry and Biology from The University of Pennsylvania in 1996. Her research plumbs the genetic, biophysical and other processes that may give rise to new species....
, biologist - Jim CottrellJim CottrellJames Allen Cottrell is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, NFL linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... - Gary HallbergGary HallbergGary George Hallberg is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour....
, professional golfer - Tom HamiltonTom Hamilton (musician)Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton is an American musician, best known as the bassist of hard rock band Aerosmith. He has co-written two of Aerosmith's hits, "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got a Gun". Hamilton occasionally plays guitar and sings backing vocals Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton (born...
, AerosmithAerosmithAerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
bassist - Nelson RangellNelson RangellNelson Rangell is an American velvet-smooth jazz musician and composer originally from Castle Rock, Colorado. Although Rangell is known for his work with the tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, his primary instrument is the piccolo flute, which he began playing at the age of 15...
, jazz musician - Edward SeidenstickerEdward SeidenstickerEdward George Seidensticker was a noted scholar and translator of Japanese literature. He was particularly known for his English version of The Tale of Genji , which is counted among the preferred modern translations...
, Japanologist - Ann StrotherAnn StrotherAnn Elise Strother is an American basketball coach, and former professional player, most recently for the Indiana Fever. Strother played at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, helping the team to two national titles....
, WNBA player, coach
See also
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaDenver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Areathumb|300px|Map of the 12-county Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaThe Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Combined Statistical Area located in the Denver region of the state of Colorado...
- Douglas County, ColoradoDouglas County, ColoradoDouglas County is the eighth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado, in the United States. The county is located midway between Colorado's two largest cities: Denver and Colorado Springs...
- Front Range Urban CorridorFront Range Urban CorridorThe Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
- State of Colorado
- Castle Rock v. GonzalesCastle Rock v. GonzalesCastle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 , was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, in which the court ruled, 7-2, that a town and its police department could not be sued under 42 U.S.C...
(2005), a U.S. Supreme Court case