The Town of Castle Rock is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States.[4][page needed] Castle Rock is located about 35 miles (56 km) south of Denver and 40 miles (64 km) north of Colorado Springs on the Interstate 25 corridor just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The town is the center of the burgeoning urbanization of the county. Castle Rock is named after a small prominent butte just north of the town, clearly visible from I-25. Public access is provided to climb to the top of the rock. Castle Rock is on East Plum Creek, a small stream which periodically floods. As of 2005, the city is estimated to have a total population of 35,745.[5] Castle Rock is now the 19th most populous municipality in Colorado.
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 of the Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes. They occupied the land between the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers. White settlers were drawn by rumors of gold and by land opened through the Homestead Act of 1862.
One of the first settlers in the area near today's Castle Rock was the original homesteader, 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.
It was not gold that put Castle Rock onto the map. The discovery of rhyolite stone made the reason to build a settlement that would become Castle Rock.
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 (91 km2), with a population of more than 42,000 [6] in town and 70,000 in the surrounding area.
From 1986 through 2006, a professional golf tournament was held in Castle Rock. The International, a PGA Tour event, was held in August at the Castle Pines Golf Club.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.6 square miles (81.9 km²), all of it land.
Castle Rock is traversed by Interstate 25, and three different exits (181, 182, and 184) provide access to the town. The Front Range Express (FREX) bus serves a park and ride at The Outlets at Castle Rock near exit 184, the northernmost exit.
Demographics
As of the census[7][page needed] of 2000, there were 20,224 people, 7,226 households, and 5,542 families residing in the town. The population density was 639.9 people per square mile (247.0/km²). There were 7,447 housing units at an average density of 235.6/sq mi (91.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.85% White, 0.47% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. 6.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,226 households out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 38.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,138, and the median income for a family was $72,563 (these figures had risen to $81,136 and 88,811 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[8]). Males had a median income of $47,626 versus $32,328 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,760. About 2.5% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
- Castle View High School
- Douglas County High School
- Castle Rock Middle School
- Mesa Middle School
- Castle Rock Elementary School
- Flagstone Elementary School
- Meadowview Elementary School
- Rockridge Elementary School
- Soaring Hawk Elementary School
- South Elementary School
- Academy Charter School-Elementary K-5
- Academy Charter School-Middle 6-8
Media
Castle Rock has a weekly newspaper, The Douglas County News-Press.[9]
Radio station KJMN is licensed to Castle Rock, broadcasting a Spanish Adult Hits format on 92.1 FM.[10]
Television station KWHD, an affiliate of the LeSEA network, broadcasts on digital channel 46. Licensed to Castle Rock, the station is located near Centennial, Colorado.[11]
Noted residents
See also
References
External links
