Get an ADT-Monitored Home Security System in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Highlands Ranch is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a allowance of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Highlands Ranch CDP was 105,631 at the United States Census 2020, making it the most populous unincorporated community in the State of Colorado. The Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District provides services to the community, which lies in ZIP Codes 80126, 80129, 80130, and 80163 (for post office boxes).

Like many parts of the Colorado Front Range, the first residents of the Place were Native Americans. The Place was populated by a number of nomadic tribes, including the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Because it was part of the Mississippi River Drainage Area, it was claimed by France by French entrepreneur René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and it was named as portion of “Louisiana” in 1682. The Spanish gained Louisiana in 1763, and returned it to France in 1801. This Place of what is now Northern Douglas County, was in the Louisiana Purchase next it was sold to the United States in 1803.

The Stephen H. Long’s Expedition of 1820 entered the area at the beginning of July 1820. That was the first documented exploration of the area by European or United States explorers.