Highlands Ranch CO Homes For Sale

Located 12 miles south of Denver in Douglas County, Highlands Ranch, Colorado is a 22,000-acre community with a current population of almost 98,000. Both Forbes Magazine and Business Week cited Highlands Ranch as one of the top ten places to live in the nation. The area offers a wonderful quality of life and many opportunities to maintain a healthy, sustainable life style. Highlands Ranch offers much to the outdoor enthusiast with more than 8,100 acres of open space, 22 verdant parks and top-of-the-line recreational facilities offering all outdoor sports.

There are almost 30,000 single-family homes in the area and more than 3,300 apartments. Highlands Ranch CO homes for sale start at about $70,000. The median price for homes for sale in Highlands Ranch Colorado is $309,000 with the average cost running about $366,000. Prices in the area can run even higher with some homes selling for $2,300,000 or more.

Originally settled centuries ago by the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian tribes, Europeans discovered the area in 1682 when French explorer, René-Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle claimed the land for his mother country. Due to the fact that it was an area included in the Missisippi River Drainage Area, Highlands Ranch, Colorado was originally considered part of Louisiana. In 1763, the area was ceded to Spain and in 1801, it was returned to France. As a result, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, was sold to the United States as part of the famous Louisiana Purchase.

The lack of water was a big deterrent to the settlement of Highlands Ranch which was not achieved until February 25, 1870, at which time Curtis H. Field became its first legal resident. The land he purchased from the United States government lay on the west side of Santa Fe Drive. In 1891, an eastern businessman with a vision for a dream house for his ailing wife began construction on the Highlands Ranch Mansion, which is also known as Castle Isabel. John

Springer would spend thirteen years on his home, which stood on 23,000 acres of ranch land. Springer as well as subsequent owners of the land, raised cattle until the 1970s.

Highlands Ranch became a suburb of Denver in 1978 when it was purchased by the Mission Viejo Company. Buying large parcels of land, private housing developers like Richmond Homes, created several neighborhoods all across Highlands Ranch. Some undeveloped land was also designated for public parks and bike paths. As of 2006, the population of Highlands Ranch reached 86,000, a figure that had multiplied many times since the first homes were constructed back in 1981. The new beltway (SH470) has greatly contributed to the rise in the population, and although local businesses thrive in this area, Highlands Ranch is still considered a “bedroom community” of Denver.

Young parents are attracted to this area because of the strong school district, attractive business climate and stable home prices. Municipal services and community resources are top-notch and deftly handled by the Metro District. Highlands Ranch CO is the American dream fulfilled, offering a wonderful quality of life, the great outdoors, a chance to grow and timeless, picturesque beauty.