Sitting at more than 6,200 feet in altitude and about 28 miles and a 35-minute drive south from Denver, Castle Rock CO is unique in that it's also 41 miles and 40 minutes north of Colorado Springs, another major city. The town was founded in the late 1800s is named after a nearby rock formation that resembles a castle wall on a hill, and once attracted people hoping to find gold. It has come a long way since those early days.
The population of Castle Rock CO was more than 58,000 as of July 2015, which is up significantly from 3,000 residents in 1980. The median age is slightly lower than 35. The most prevalent age range is 35 to 44, with the second most prevalent being children ages 5 to 14. There are people of various ages in the city, although there aren't as many between the ages of 15 and 24 or older than 65. There are about the same number of males as females, and 69% of people are married so there aren't large numbers of single people. In Castle Rock more than 93% of residents are Caucasian, more than 2% are mixed race, and 1.5% are Asian. Other races make up less than 1% each of the population, and 91% of residents speak English. Newcomers to Colorado can feel welcome in Castle Rock, because 54% of residents in the city were born out of state and 38% were born in Colorado.
The most prevalent income range in Castle Rock is $60,000 to $100,000, with 26% at this level, whereas 23% have an income of $100,000 to $150,000 and 19% have an income of $150,000 to $200,000. The predominant source of income is salaried employment, with 90% of residents being in this category. The second most common source of income is investments, with about 23% of residents having investment income.
Cultural and arts events and activities are popular throughout Colorado, and Castle Rock is no exception to that lifestyle. In September for two days during the weekend after Labor Day, Artfest takes place in downtown Castle Rock to spotlight the work of close to 200 artists from all over the country. Yet another festival is WineFest, which features wine tastings of nearly 200 Colorado wines. The event takes place outdoors in the crisp, fresh Colorado air. Creative people in the community find plenty of camaraderie with the Greater Castle Rock Art Guild, a group made up of artists and people who support and love art. The renaissance festival stretches through the summer and harkens back to a time when knights and castles were the norm. Of course, a place called Castle Rock is the perfect spot for such a fest.
The Douglas County Fair, Rodeo, and Parade over the summer features entertainment stages, rodeos, a carnival, pancake breakfast, and livestock events. The parade that's part of the festivities travels directly through downtown.
As is true throughout much of Colorado, there are plenty of beautiful parks and trails for hiking and bicycling in Castle Rock. Thanks to Castle Rock's commitment to art in public places, residents can enjoy viewing art throughout the city while enjoying the outdoors.
Because Castle Rock CO is so close to both Denver and Colorado Springs, job seekers have the benefit of being able to search for opportunities in both cities, which can significantly increase their options. The same is true for access to shopping, entertainment, health practitioners, and other amenities – residents of Castle Rock can go to either major city for any of these amenities.
The weather in the area is quite pleasant, with it being semi-arid and therefore wonderful in the summer because of the low humidity. Sunny days are common throughout the year, and the sun feels quite hot because of the high altitude. Snow is needless to say a common occurrence every winter, but there's not nearly as much snow in Castle Rock as there is in the nearby mountains. As far as extreme weather, there can be very windy days at any time of the year and even tornadoes at times. Wildfires can occur, particularly during phases when there's a drought. Floods have also occurred in the vicinity in recent years, although these tend to be rather rare.
Crime rates in Castle Rock are low, so the community tends to feel safer than various larger cities.
Castle Rock is definitely not a sleepy bedroom community or suburb of another city. It has many amenities of its own, including a beautiful, historic downtown with upscale shops and unique restaurants. There's also the massive outlet mall that's the largest outlet in Colorado and offers more than 100 stores and plenty of restaurants and day spas.
From the Douglas County fair's parade that comes through downtown to annual holiday festivities and a star lighting around Thanksgiving, there's something to do at any given time of the year. Fairs and festivals are also common.
Castle Rock CO is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the country. It's easy to see why, given its small-town charm yet proximity to everything anyone would need. The spectacular scenery and modern amenities draw people to the area and make them never want to leave. If you're looking into Castle Rock, see what all the buzz is about and give us a call. We'll be happy to help you gather more information as you make your all-important housing decisions.
