Douglas County is a suburban county located in the southern portion of the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of 2000, the population is 175,766. Douglas County is one of the fastest growing areas in Colorado. The county seat is Castle Rock, named after a small butte just north of the town. Castle Rock is on the Interstate 25 corridor just east of the frontrange of the Rocky Mountains.



Douglas County is lightly wooded, mostly with ponderosa pine, with broken terrain characterized by mesas and small streams. Cherry Creek and Plum Creek rise in Douglas County and flow north toward Denver and into the South Platte River. Both were subject to flash flooding in the past, Plum Creek being partially responsible for the Denver flood of 1965. Cherry Creek is now dammed.

Residents generally commute to workplaces elsewhere in the metropolitan area outside of the county. Urbanization is gradually displacing the ranching economy of the county.

Geography

Highlands Ranch is located at 39'32'40" North, 104'58'5" West (39.544549, -104.968080).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 61.0 km? (23.5 mi?). 60.9 km? (23.5 mi?) of it is land and 0.1 km? (0.04 mi?) of it is water. The total area is 0.09% water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 70,931 people, 24,544 households, and 19,733 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,164.4/km? (3,015.4/mi?). There were 25,421 housing units at an average density of 417.3/km? (1,080.7/mi?). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.76% White, 1.29% African American, 0.33% Native American, 4.03% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 2.00% from two or more races. 5.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 24,544 households out of which 49.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.0% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 14.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 32.7% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 41.9% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $136,792, and the median income for a family was $142,563. Males had a median income of $162,474 versus $70,910 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $104,707. 0.25% of the population and 0.2% of families were below the poverty line. 1.7% of those under the age of 18 and 4.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Homes range in price from starter-home levels on up to $1,500,000+ houses, as well as at least 4 high schools and many primary schools.