Parker, Colorado

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Town of Parker, Colorado
—  Town  —
Location in Douglas County and the state of Colorado
Coordinates: 39°31′10″N 104°45′57″W / 39.51944°N 104.76583°W / 39.51944; -104.76583Coordinates: 39°31′10″N 104°45′57″W / 39.51944°N 104.76583°W / 39.51944; -104.76583
Country United States
State Colorado
County Douglas
[1]
Incorporated May 1981[2]
Government
 • Type Home Rule Municipality[1]
 • Mayor David Casiano
Area
 • Total 14.6 sq mi (37.8 km2)
 • Land 14.6 sq mi (37.8 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation[3] 5,869 ft (1,789 m)
Population (2010)[4]
 • Total 45,297
 • Density 3,102.5/sq mi (1,198.3/km2)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes[5] 80134, 80138
Area code(s) Both 303 and 720
FIPS code 08-57630
GNIS feature ID 0185051
Website www.parkeronline.org
The second most populous Colorado town

The Town of Parker is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. As a self-declared "Town" under the Home Rule Statutes, Parker is the second most populous town in the county; Castle Rock is the most populous.[6] In recent years, Parker has become a commuter town at the southeasternmost corner of the Denver Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 45,297, over 145 times the population of 285 when Parker incorporated in 1981.[7] Parker is now the 19th most populous municipality in the State of Colorado.[8]


Contents

Demographics [edit]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1980 290
—
1990 5,450 1,779.3%
2000 23,558 332.3%
2010 45,297 92.3%
Est. 2011 46,363 2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
2011 estimate

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 23,558 people, 7,929 households, and 6,525 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,615.2 people per square mile (623.4/km²). There were 8,352 housing units at an average density of 572.6 per square mile (221.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.60% White, 1.71% Asian, 1.01% Black, 0.45% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.88% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.80% of the population.

There were 7,929 households out of which 52.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the town the population was spread out with 34.0% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 43.4% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 2.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $74,116, and the median income for a family was $77,384 (these figures had risen to $80,679 and $89,154 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[10]). Males had a median income of $52,070 versus $35,700 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,479. About 1.7% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Local media [edit]

Parker currently has one local magazine and one local paper. Search Parker Magazine is the community magazine for Parker. The Parker Chronicle is the local paper. Parker also receives the county-wide channel, Douglas County 8, which broadcasts school sports events and assorted programs run by residents.[11]

Education [edit]

Parker is served by Douglas County School District RE-1. Douglas County School District has among the highest level of students in Colorado. Students have scored, on average, 12 to 19 percent above the state average.[12] The district was rated 9th in the state in 2009.[13] The Pine Lane Elementary School had the largest student enrollment in Parker until Mammoth Heights Elementary opened in January 2007 and took the overload. The two principal high schools in the area, Ponderosa and Chaparral, have a cross-town rivalry and compete annually for The Pride of Parker trophy. Legend High School opened in 2008, as Douglas County's ninth High School. Private schools in Parker include:

For other Parker and Douglas County school information:

Parker Secondary Schools

Parker also has three public charter schools:

College Classes

Recreation [edit]

The Cherry Creek Trail runs along Cherry Creek, north and south through Parker. Bicycling, hiking, nature walks, and cross-country skiing are all popular uses.

The Rueter-Hess Reservoir is located southwest of town, and is not yet open for recreational use, which are planned to include fishing, hiking, and non-motorized boating. Significant filling is forecast to begin in 2012, and may take many years. No natural streams flow into the reservoir, instead water rights owned by the Parker Water and Sanitation District provide water delivered via Cherry Creek and a local canals. If filled to capacity, surface size would be 1,140 acres.

Notable People from Parker [edit]

Geography [edit]

Parker is located at 39°31′10″N 104°45′57″W / 39.51944°N 104.76583°W / 39.51944; -104.76583 (39.519488, −104.765833).[14] The town is roughly 19 miles southeast of Denver.[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.6 square miles (38 km2). 14.6 square miles (38 km2) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 sq mi or 0.14%) of it is water. Cherry Creek flows through Parker on its way north toward Denver.[16]

Climate [edit]

This climate type is usually found in the outskirts of true deserts in low-latitude, semiarid regions. It has a cooler, wetter winter resulting from the higher latitude and mid-latitude frontal cyclone activity. Annual precipitation totals are greater than in tropical and subtropical desert climates. Yearly variations in amount are not as extreme as in the true deserts but are nevertheless large. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "BSk". (Tropical and Subtropical Steppe Climate).

Climate data for Parker, Colorado
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 6
(43)		 8
(46)		 11
(51)		 16
(60)		 21
(69)		 27
(80)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 25
(77)		 19
(66)		 11
(52)		 7
(45)		 17.5
(63.3)
Average low °C (°F) −9
(15)		 −8
(18)		 −5
(23)		 −1
(31)		 4
(40)		 9
(49)		 13
(55)		 12
(54)		 8
(46)		 2
(35)		 −5
(23)		 −8
(17)		 1
(33.8)
Precipitation mm (inches) 8
(0.3)		 8
(0.3)		 23
(0.9)		 33
(1.3)		 64
(2.5)		 48
(1.9)		 56
(2.2)		 48
(1.9)		 28
(1.1)		 20
(0.8)		 18
(0.7)		 8
(0.3)		 362
(14.2)
Source: Weatherbase [17]


Additional resources [edit]

  • A Folk History of Parker and Hilltop, by Sandy Whelchel, Parker Distributing\Paintbrush Press
  • Parker, Colorado: An historical narrative, by Ruth Miller, Parker Area Historical Society
  • "The Cherokee Trail" by Lee Whitele
  • "A Guide Book to Historic Sites in the Parker Area" by F.B.Mclaughlin

See also [edit]

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References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
  2. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02. 
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008. 
  4. ^ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 4 August 2012. 
  5. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. Retrieved December 2, 2007. 
  6. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov
  7. ^ Parker History from the town's official website
  8. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2009-04-08.csv Retrieved 2011-1-29
  9. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008. 
  10. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US0816110&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US08%7C16000US0816110&_street=&_county=parker&_cityTown=parker&_state=04000US08&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
  11. ^ http://www.douglas.co.us/networkdc/ Retrieved 2011-1-29
  12. ^ http://www.dcsdk12.org/portal/page/portal/DCSD/Communications/Published_Materials/quick_facts_0910_01.pdf Retrieved 2011-1-29
  13. ^ http://www.schooldigger.com/go/CO/districtrank.aspx Retrieved 2011-1-29
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011. 
  15. ^ http://www.travelmath.com/flight-distance/from/Denver,+CO/to/Parker,+CO Retrieved 2011-1-29
  16. ^ http://www.denvermall.net/cherry-creek.html Retrieved 2011-1-29
  17. ^ "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013.  Retrieved on May 5, 2013.

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