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. Douglas County originally stretched from the Rockies to the State of Kansas border.
Today, the County’s strength, as the centerpiece of the Denver/Colorado Springs development corridor, is a perfect blend of quality lifestyle and business environment. The County is approximately 843 square miles, of which 63,037 acres 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.
Five incorporated municipalities are located within the boundaries of Douglas County: Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Lone Tree and Parker. Each has its own mayor and provides services, many in collaboration with Douglas County.
As part of the County’s collaborative work with other communities, Partnership of Douglas County Governments is a notable example. Established in 2002, the Partnership today 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.
Douglas County is recognized for being one of the most family friendly communities in Colorado, offering a quality of life unmatched elsewhere in the state. For the fourth year in a row, Douglas County, Colorado ranks in the top ten happiest Counties in the United States. Douglas County’s jobless rate the lowest in Metro Denver at 2.5 percent. Douglas ranks No. 1 in Colorado for overall health behavior for eighth consecutive year.
In 2016 Douglas County ranked as a top Digital County in the U.S. Specifically the County ranked number nine in the top ten of the 117 U.S. Counties in the 250,000-499,999 population category as one of the most technologically innovative counties in the nation for initiatives that save tax dollars; boost transparency; cybersecurity and civic engagement.
Douglas County also ranks particularly well in the household income, homeownership rate and educational attainment categories. Combine those with our great location, excellent schools, wonderful weather and outstanding recreational and cultural opportunities why more than 300,000 call Douglas County their home.
