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The pioneer spirit, accompanied by the beauty of the mountains, foothills and plains, is gloriously evident in Douglas County.  In 1861, the Colorado Territorial Session Laws created Douglas County, named after Stephen A. Douglas. Known as the "Little Giant," Stephen A. Douglas battled his own Democratic Party, as well as the Republican Abraham Lincoln, over issues of slavery, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and popular sovereignty. Douglas County originally stretched from the Rockies to the State of Kansas border.

Today, Douglas County is virtually the geographic center of Colorado.  The County is approximately 843 square miles, 96 square miles of which 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. 

There are five incorporated municipalities within the boundaries of Douglas County: Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Lone Tree and Parker.  Each has its own mayor and provides services in cooperation with Douglas County. 

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 has plenty to offer to its residents and is quick to respond to their demands. 

As part of the County’s collaborative work with other communities, the ten-year-old 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.  The Partnership’s latest initiative will examine current and future needs and potential locations for various regional facilities.

While service delivery is one primary role for Douglas County government, it is only one aspect of a total problem-solving approach to governance that requires citizen engagement for total effectiveness.

Additional Information

2011 Demographic Update

  • Population estimate for Jan. 1, 2011: 288,430
  • 90.2 percent of the population lives in urban areas which is 17.5 percent of the County land area.
  • 9.8 percent of the population lives in rural areas which is 82.5 percent of the County land area.
  • Incorporated towns and cities estimated populations
    • Castle Pines -10,388
    • Castle Rock -49,169
    • Larkspur - 183
    • Lone Tree - 10,891
    • Parker - 45,552
  • The housing growth rate in 2010 was 1.1%, which has slowed considerably from 15.3 percent in 1996.

Municipalities

Castle Pines

Incorporated Feb. 12, 2008, Castle Pines is located just 20 miles south of Denver in Douglas County and is home to about 10,000 people. The 21st century city has a vision that balances the preservation of the community's history with growth that enhances the quality of life for its citizens.

Castle Rock

Castle Rock, the County seat, is a historic mining and ranching area that incorporated in 1881. Today, the Town's council-manager form of government serves 46,822 residents.

Larkspur

The Larkspur area began as a resort and eventually was incorporated in 1979. It has a population of approximately 245 people.

Lone Tree

The City of Lone Tree was incorporated in November 1995 and became a Colorado Home Rule City on May 5, 1998.  It is governed by Council-Manager form of government where Council sets the City policy and the Manager is responsible for City operations and has an estimated population of approximately 10,533 residents. 

Parker

The Town of Parker was incorporated in 1981. The newly incorporated area encompassed approximately one square mile and included 285 residents. In the first decade of the Town's history, the Town increased from one square mile to 13 square miles. Since incorporation, the population has increased from 285 to more than 45,000 today.

 
 
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