Dakota Ridge, Colorado

Dakota Ridge, Colorado
Dakota Ridge trail access
Location of the Dakota Ridge CDP in Jefferson County, Colorado.
Dakota Ridge
Location of the Dakota Ridge CDP, Colorado.
Dakota Ridge
Dakota Ridge (Colorado)
Coordinates: 39°37′09″N 105°08′03″W / 39.6192°N 105.1343°W / 39.6192; -105.1343 (Dakota Ridge, Colorado)[2]
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyJefferson[1]
Government
 • Typeunincorporated community
 • BodyJefferson County[1]
Area
 • Total
9.685 sq mi (25.085 km2)
 • Land9.387 sq mi (24.311 km2)
 • Water0.299 sq mi (0.774 km2)
Elevation5,768 ft (1,758 m)
Population
 • Total
33,892
 • Density3,610.7/sq mi (1,394.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP codes[5]
Littleton 80127
Morrison 80465
Area codes303/720/983
GNIS CDP ID2583230
FIPS code08-19150

Dakota Ridge is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Dakota Ridge CDP was 33,892 at the United States Census 2020.[4] In 1988, voters turned down a proposal to incorporate Dakota Ridge.[6] The community lies in ZIP codes 80127 and 80465.[5]

Geography

Dakota Ridge is bordered to the east by Denver, to the north by Lakewood, and to the south by unincorporated Ken Caryl. It is bordered to the west by the Dakota Hogback, a sharp hogback ridge that to the north near Morrison is also known as Dinosaur Ridge.

Colorado State Highway 470, part of the beltway around the Denver metropolitan area, runs through the western part of the community, leading north to Golden and southeast to Highlands Ranch. Downtown Denver is 17 miles (27 km) to the northeast.

The Dakota Ridge CDP has an area of 6,199 acres (25.085 km2), including 191 acres (0.774 km2) of water.[3]

Demographics

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Dakota Ridge CDP for the United States Census 2010.

Dakota Ridge CDP, Colorado
YearPop.±%
201032,005—    
202033,892+5.9%
Source: United States Census Bureau

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Dakota Ridge had a population of 33,892. The median age was 40.2 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.4 males age 18 and over.[7][8]

99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.[9]

There were 12,877 households in Dakota Ridge, of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.2% were married-couple households, 15.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[7]

There were 13,182 housing units, of which 2.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%.[7]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[8]
Race Number Percent
White 27,618 81.5%
Black or African American 312 0.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native 252 0.7%
Asian 1,149 3.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 31 0.1%
Some other race 989 2.9%
Two or more races 3,541 10.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 4,446 13.1%

Education

Dakota Ridge is served by the Jefferson County Public Schools.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Colorado Counties". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Dakota Ridge, Colorado". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "State of Colorado Census Designated Places - BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2020". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  4. ^ a b United States Census Bureau. "Dakota Ridge CDP, Colorado". Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "Western History Subject Index". digital.denverlibrary.org. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  8. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  9. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2026.