Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch Real Estate | Information | Douglas County | Homes For Sale
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Highlands Ranch is in northern Douglas County in the beautiful state of Colorado. Founded in 1981, Highlands Ranch is a 22,000 acre community with a population as of the year 2005 of 88,450. It is approximately 12 miles from the Mile High City and is known for its caring and community oriented residents. With over 20 parks and more than 70 miles of hiking trails Highlands Ranch is perfect for your active family.Highlands Ranch maintained its open space as new homes were being built. The builders, such as Shea Homes were very happy to hear the residents input when the master-planned community was being developed. As of 2005 housing units reached the 31,000 mark. Homes include single family, town homes, condominiums, and apartment dwellings. Over 80% of the homes are owner occupied in Highlands.
Colorado seems to be one of the few places where the average asking price has gone up. The market is rich with inventory so buyers have a wide variety of single family detached homes as well as condominiums and town homes. If the seller is willing to keep his property on the market for a bit longer then usual, chances are he will have his buyer at the price he is looking for.
Residents in Highlands Ranch median income is $93,677 with over half the population has a bachelors degree or higher. Not only are they healthy and active, they are smart too! The poverty rate is one of the lowest in the nation at 2.4%.
Have you ever watched a movie where someone is sitting on their porch enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning light? When suddenly a quiet herd of elk cross the fields and a red tailed hawk floats in circles looking for that warm draft. The leaves are changing and the morning promises to be filled with blustery trees bending to the breeze. This is what its like on the many trails of Back Country Wilderness Area in Highlands Ranch. With over 8,200 acres of conserved open space it is part of the Wildcat Mountain Trail System. Even the builders that came to Highlands Ranch have taken part in preserving acreage for the Highlands Ranch Community Association. You and your guests can enjoy over 6.5 miles of trails. It is not a wonder that Colorado is one of Americas healthiest states.
The history of Highlands Ranch really starts with Rufus H. Clark. He purchased a 160 acre homestead where the Highlands Ranch Golf Club is located today. Farmers across northern Colorado were having a very successful time at growing potatoes. Mr. Clark tried his hand at it and had such accomplishment that he was later to be known as Colorados Potato King. Dad Clark has he was called, was a caring and giving individual. He often donated crops, and proceeds from crops to various organizations across the land. Included in his generosity was the Methodist College of which Mr. Clark donated 80 acres and gifted a whopping $500.00. Later the Methodist College was to become the University of Denver. You can find his name all over Highlands Ranch with many streets and parks and even a gulch named in his honor.
Another part of Highlands Ranch was the Diamond K Ranch owned by a Mr. Phipps. He volunteered his land to be used by the Arapahoe Hunt Club. The club was founded in 1907 and strictly hunted coyote. The coyote was more likely to run for miles as opposed to a fox which might take to ground and never be found. The area the hunt club used consisted of 28,000 acres of Highlands Ranch as well as Cherokee Ranch and Daniels Park. The buffalo preserve and many other smaller ranches were also part of the hunting area for the club.
Today Highlands Ranch encompasses 23.5 square miles. The length of stay since moving is significantly lower then the state average which basically means, people move to Highlands Ranch, love it and stay! This is also an indication of a strong close knit community dedicated to their environment and quality of life.
Colorado is considered by some to have it all perfectly as far as the weather is concerned. Summer months usually are in the mid 70s although it has been known to go as high as 89. It is not a humid heat. Winter months are generally in the 30s and 40s although nights can sometimes go as low as 10 degrees. Burrrrr, Bundle Up, sit in front of the warm fire! Snow will fall from around December to sometimes March and April as the elevation in Highlands is 5,680. January has about 6 inches and March can reach as high as 8 to 10 inches.
There are 3 high schools, 3 middle schools and 7 elementary schools in the Highlands Ranch area through the Douglas County Unified School District.
Not only does Highlands Ranch take care of the environment they live in but the residents are also mindful of those that have laid down their lives for this country. The Highlands Ranch Veterans Memorial fundraising campaign is joined by the Metro District of Highlands Ranch which is the local government for Highlands, as well as the Highlands Ranch Park and Recreation Foundation. Community volunteers are busy raising funds to have the monument built. You can visit the website to read what you can do to support their efforts.
The community also takes its health issue seriously. From March through to September there is a series of 5 and 10k runs scheduled annually. At least seven separate runs organized by the HRCA.Cost is minimal but fun is at a maximum!
If you find you are interested in learning more about the real estate of Highlands Ranch, please contact Dave Richins ar derichins@yahoo.com or 303.882.7706.
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