Retirement in Castle Rock, Colorado
Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on January 03, 2019
Retirement in Castle Rock, Colorado
About Castle Rock, CO
Castle Rock is part of the Denver metropolitan area and is located in Douglas County, Colorado (https://www.douglas.co.us/). It is conveniently located midway between Denver and Colorado Springs.
With a reputation for small-town hospitality, this charming community has been nationally recognized as one of the best towns to live, work, dine, and play. With roots in mining and railroads, Castle Rock offers an updated taste of the Old West. Easily accessible by Interstate 25, the town encompasses 33 square miles and sits in the East Plum Creek Valley at the base of the Rocky Mountains. With over 300 days of sunshine each year, Castle Rock is a safe and welcoming place to enjoy nature, year round.
Interesting and Fun Facts
- Castle Rock is at an elevation of 6,224 feet (1.2 miles) above sea level. That’s why many refer to this region of the state as the ‘mile high city’.
- Amy Adams (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/bio), an actress, is a Castle Rock native.
- Mount Evans, Dawson Butte, Devils Head, and Pikes Peak landforms are all visible from Castle Rock.
- There really is a giant rock in the middle of town. It is a large rock formation, called a butte, that sits at the top of a hill just north of town center.
- Every year citizens of Castle Rock gather under the great rock (mentioned above) to light a Christmas ornament. This tradition began in 1936 and is called ‘Lighting of the Star’.
- Castle Rock is home to the Promenade, one of the largest community center developments in the United States. The Promenade covers 166 acres and includes retail stores, restaurants, services, multi-family residences, and outdoor spaces.
History of Castle Rock
Before white settlers arrived in 1874, Native Americans of the Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes appreciated the area for a location shielded from the winter storms of the mountains and the extreme heat of the eastern plains. Its grassy foothills also provided a game like antelope, buffalo, deer, and rabbit. Settlers were drawn to the area by rumors of gold and land. However, it was the discovery of rhyolite stone (https://geology.com/rocks/rhyolite.shtml), not gold, that led to the settlement of Castle Rock.
One of the first homesteaders in the area was Jeremiah Gould. He owned about 160 acres of land. In 1874, Jeremiah donated 120 acres of his land to “be known as Castle Rock”.
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Swedish immigrants came to the area to work in the rhyolite quarries near Plum Creek. Rhyolite is what put Castle Rock on the map and made it an important station for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway traffic. The train depot now houses the Castle Rock Historical Museum, where visitors can relive the 125+ year history. The train depot was moved from trackside to its present location on Elbert Street in 1970 and was carefully restored by the Historical Society. The building still retains the original interior features such as the old ticket window and baggage area with 125 years of graffiti on its walls.
Castle Rock Demographics
According to the 2017 Census, Castle Rock has a current estimated population of 62,276. In 1990, the population was 8,708, in 2000 it was 20,224 and in 2010 it was 48,592. Population continues to increase as more and more individuals discover the beauty of Castle Rock each year.
The overall median age is 34.6 years; 33.6 years for males and 35.5 years for females. For every 100 females, there are 99.7 males.
Based on data from the American Community Survey (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/), in 2017 there were 19,389 households in the city. The median house has seven rooms and has a value of $328,700.
The median income for households in Castle Rock is $93,153, while the mean household income is $110,445. The per capita income of families and individuals are below the federal poverty line.
According to the 2017 Census, the racial makeup of Castle Rock was:
- 90% of the population was White
- 9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino
- 2% of the population was Other Races
- 2% of the population was Two or More Races
- 1% of the population was Asian
- Below 1% of the population was American Indian
- Below 1% of the population was Three or More Races
Of the 16,688 households in Castle Rock, 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, and 65.4% were married couples. Female households with no husband present made up 8.5%, and the male households with no wife present made up 0.01%. Non-families were 22.3%, and 17.7% of all households were made of individuals while 8.3% had someone 55 years of age or older living alone.
Castle Rock residents are employed in a variety of industries, but the most common are Construction, Science/Technical Services, Educational Services, Finance and Insurance, Health Care, Public Administration, and Broadcasting and Telecommunications. In 2015 unemployment in Castle Rock was 2.8%. 33.4% of individuals work in Castle Rock while 9.9% work at home. The average travel time to work is 20 minutes and most individuals drove there alone in a car.
Things To Do and Places To Go
Castle Rock has an abundance of things to do, especially for outdoorsy folks.
- Rock Park – Climb this historic landmark and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of Downtown Castle Rock, I-25, Pikes Peak, and the Front Range. http://www.crgov.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Rock-Park-41
- Castle Rock Zipline Tours – This attraction has nine different courses of zip lines as long as 1,000 feet. Daredevils will reach speeds of more than 50 miles per hour and get incredible views of local scenery. https://castlerockziplinetours.com/
- The Outlets at Castle Rock – With more than 100 name-brand stores offering deep discounts, The Outlets at Castle Rock are a popular draw. Some featured stores include Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, COACH, Nike, The North Face, Columbia, Adidas, and much more. https://www.outletsatcastlerock.com/
- Castlewood Canyon State Park – This expansive park contains hiking trails, rock climbing walls, wildlife viewing opportunities and more! The park retains a unique part of Colorado’s history, the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam, which burst in 1933.
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/Parks/castlewoodcanyon
- Rink at the Rock – This community recreational skating rink is the perfect place to gather, recreate, and establish lifelong memories. In the off-season, The White Pavilion hosts additional events. http://www.downtowncastlerock.com/rink-at-the-rock/
- DC Fair and Rodeo – The Douglas County Fair and Rodeo continue to be a family tradition. Highlights include two entertainment stages, three professional rodeos, extreme bulls, a carnival, an antique tractor-pull, 4-H and FFA exhibits. https://www.douglascountyfairandrodeo.com/
- Theater of Dreams – Joe Givan, Carol Massie, and friends have delighted audiences and messed with their minds since 2003. Performances include jugglers, ventriloquists, circus acts, mind readers, and escape artists. http://amazingshows.com/Amazing_Shows/Home.html
- Cherokee Ranch and Castle - This castle’s unique architecture combines aspects of the Western United States and a 1450s Scottish-style castle. It is packed with historic collections of fine art, furnishings, and memorabilia from around the world. https://cherokeeranch.org/
The Essentials
Castle Rock is full of amenities and services for all ages, including an award-winning library system, state-of-the-art recreation center, golf, art, movies, music, and more. Looking for religious services? There is no shortage of Churches in Castle Rock; in fact, they have 49 to be exact.
Another thing to love about Castle Rock is their delicious dining options. Whether you’re looking for a casual meal or a fine dining experience, they’ve got it. Some popular restaurants include Scileppi’s at The Old Stone Church, VistaVino Modern Grill, Danielle’s Scratch Kitchen, Manna Restaurant, Union An American Bistro, Damascus Grill and many more.
Castle Rock is also home to an array of grocery shopping, hair salons and barber shops, and medical providers such as physical therapy, eye care, dental care, and more.
Castle Rock Senior Center
Douglas County is experiencing the nation’s most dramatic percentage of population growth in adults age 60 and older. The State Demography Office estimates that by 2030, one in four residents of Douglas County will be age 60 or older (approximately 24% of the County’s population).
Castle Rock Senior Center exists to bring older adults together in the effort to combat isolation. Castle Rock Senior Center opened in 1971 and now has a membership of over 1,000. The senior center offers over 150 activities each month including things like golfing, whitewater rafting, low-impact exercise, coffee and conversation, computer and cell phone classes, garden club, book club, creative writing, art class, drama workshops, Bunco, casino trips, and so much more.
Assured Assisted Living
Assured Assisted Living is a Memory Care community offering a full range of services to provide a supportive living environment for individuals with dementia. Residents at Assured benefit from 24-hour supervision, a high staff-to-resident ratio, assistance with tasks of daily living, a maintenance-free lifestyle, medication administration, nutritional meals, stimulating activities, and more.
Assured Assisted Living communities are conveniently located in and around Castle Rock, Colorado. Residents enjoy beautiful ranch style living with their choice of a furnished private or companion suite. With access to outdoor gardens and patios as well as attractively landscaped and fenced backyards with large decks, there are many opportunities to relax and take in the picturesque Colorado landscape.
Assured is proud to offer a variety of therapeutic activities designed specifically for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Some activities include music and karaoke sing-a-longs, arts and crafts, exercise, pet therapy, aromatherapy, gardening, classic movies and musicals, and games and reminiscing activities.
When you choose Assured Assisted Living for your loved one, you’re giving them safety and security, health and happiness, and the assistance they need to live life to the fullest.
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