Editing Castle Rock, Colorado (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Castle Rock butte in Castle Rock Colorado.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The town of Castle Rock is named after this prominent castle tower-shaped butte.]]
Castle Rock is located at {{Coord|39|22|20|N|104|51|22|W|type:city}} (39.372212, −104.856090) at an elevation of 6,224 feet (1,897 m).<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212191832/http://geonames.usgs.gov/|archive-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref> Castle Rock is in central Colorado at the junction of [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|Interstate 25]] and [[State Highway 86 (Colorado)|State Highway 86]], {{convert|28|mi|abbr=on}} south of downtown Denver and {{convert|37|mi|abbr=on}} north of Colorado Springs.<ref name="City Distance Tool">{{cite web |title=City Distance Tool |publisher=[[Geobytes]] |url=http://www.geobytes.com/citydistancetool.htm |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005175701/http://geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2010}}</ref>

The town lies a few miles east of the [[Rampart Range]] of the [[Rocky Mountains]] on the western edge of the [[Great Plains]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Physiographic provinces of Colorado |publisher=Colorado Geological Survey |url=http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/Physiographic.aspx |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524151250/http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/Physiographic.aspx |archive-date=May 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Map of Major Topographic Features in Colorado |publisher=Colorado Geological Survey |url=http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/TopographicFeatures.aspx |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221737/http://geosurvey.state.co.us/geology/topography/Pages/TopographicFeatures.aspx |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> Castle Rock, the butte for which the town is named, is just north of the town center.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Castle Rock |publisher=Town of Castle Rock, Colorado |url=http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?nid=680 |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222332/http://www.crgov.com/index.aspx?nid=680 |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> Other prominent landforms visible from Castle Rock include [[Dawson Butte]], [[Devils Head (summit)|Devils Head]], [[Mount Blue Sky]], and [[Pikes Peak]].

East Plum Creek, a stream within the [[South Platte River]] watershed, flows generally north through Castle Rock. Hangman's Gulch, which runs northwest then west around the north side of the town center, drains into East Plum Creek, as do multiple unnamed gulches in the southern and western areas of town. McMurdo Gulch and Mitchell Gulch run north then northeast through eastern Castle Rock and drain into [[Cherry Creek (Colorado)|Cherry Creek]] east of town.<ref name=CDOT>{{cite web |title=Castle Rock (map) |publisher=[[Colorado Department of Transportation]] |date=September 11, 2012 |url=http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Castle%20Rock.pdf |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000419/http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Castle%20Rock.pdf |archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref>

Castle Rock is in the Colorado Foothills life zone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Interactive_Diagram_Elevation.html|title=Life Zones Interactive Diagram|website=shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us|access-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909094819/http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Interactive_Diagram_Elevation.html|archive-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref> The hillsides are covered with meadows of grass, small plants, scattered juniper trees, and open [[ponderosa pine]] woodlands. Other trees common in the area include [[Gambel oak]] (scrub oak or oak brush) and [[pinyon pine]]. Local wildlife includes the [[American badger]], [[American black bear]], [[bobcat]], [[coyote]], [[Colorado chipmunk]], [[crow]], [[garter snakes]], [[gray fox]], mountain [[cottontail rabbit]], [[mountain lion]], [[mule deer]], [[pocket gopher]], [[porcupine]], [[skunk]], and [[tadpoles]]. Birds found in the area include the [[golden eagle]], [[peregrine falcon]], [[sharp-shinned hawk]], [[black-billed magpie]], [[red-tailed hawk]], [[pinyon jay]], and [[western tanager]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Foothills.htm|title=Foothills Life Zones General Information|website=shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us|access-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917120615/http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Foothills.htm|archive-date=September 17, 2017}}</ref>

The town had a total area of {{convert|89.981|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all land in 2023.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

Lying within the [[Front Range urban corridor]], the town is part of the greater [[Denver–Aurora–Boulder Combined Statistical Area|Denver metropolitan area]].<ref>{{cite web|title=OMB Bulletin No. 13-01 |date=February 28, 2013 |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113057/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[Office of Management and Budget]] |archive-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> Castle Rock borders three communities, all to its north; from west to east, they are [[Castle Pines Village, Colorado|Castle Pines Village]], the city of [[Castle Pines, Colorado|Castle Pines]], and [[The Pinery, Colorado|The Pinery]].<ref name=CensusMap>{{cite web |title=Colorado: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |date=August 1, 2012 |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-7.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109081313/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-7.pdf |archive-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name=CountyMap>{{cite web |title=Douglas County [Map] |publisher=[[Colorado Department of Transportation]] |date=July 30, 2012 |url=http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CountyMaps/DOUGLAS.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927185122/http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CountyMaps/Douglas.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref> Other nearby communities include [[Franktown, Colorado|Franktown]] to the east, [[Larkspur, Colorado|Larkspur]] to the south, [[Perry Park, Colorado|Perry Park]] to the southwest, and [[Sedalia, Colorado|Sedalia]] to the northwest.<ref name=CensusMap />

===Climate===
Castle Rock has a [[semiarid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk'') with cold, dry, snowy winters, and hot, wetter summers. January is the coldest month, July the hottest, and August the month with the most precipitation.

{{Weather box
|location = Castle Rock, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F = 73
|Feb record high F = 75
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 102
|Aug record high F = 99
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 88
|Nov record high F = 85
|Dec record high F = 82

|Jan avg record high F = 64.5
|Feb avg record high F = 64.6
|Mar avg record high F = 72.8
|Apr avg record high F = 77.7
|May avg record high F = 84.9
|Jun avg record high F = 92.7
|Jul avg record high F = 95.3
|Aug avg record high F = 92.8
|Sep avg record high F = 89.6
|Oct avg record high F = 82.1
|Nov avg record high F = 72.8
|Dec avg record high F = 65.3
|year avg record high F = 96.1

|Jan high F = 45.6
|Feb high F = 46.7
|Mar high F = 53.8
|Apr high F = 59.1
|May high F = 68.4
|Jun high F = 80.2
|Jul high F = 85.7
|Aug high F = 83.6
|Sep high F = 76.7
|Oct high F = 64.8
|Nov high F = 53.9
|Dec high F = 45.7
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 31.8
|Feb mean F = 33.3
|Mar mean F = 40.2
|Apr mean F = 45.8
|May mean F = 55.0
|Jun mean F = 65.3
|Jul mean F = 71.1
|Aug mean F = 69.1
|Sep mean F = 61.7
|Oct mean F = 49.7
|Nov mean F = 39.8
|Dec mean F = 31.8
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 18.0
|Feb low F = 19.9
|Mar low F = 26.5
|Apr low F = 32.5
|May low F = 41.6
|Jun low F = 50.5
|Jul low F = 56.4
|Aug low F = 54.7
|Sep low F = 46.6
|Oct low F = 34.6
|Nov low F = 25.7
|Dec low F = 18.0
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -4.0
|Feb avg record low F = -3.4
|Mar avg record low F = 6.6
|Apr avg record low F = 15.7
|May avg record low F = 27.2
|Jun avg record low F = 38.5
|Jul avg record low F = 48.2
|Aug avg record low F = 45.6
|Sep avg record low F = 32.1
|Oct avg record low F = 16.7
|Nov avg record low F = 3.6
|Dec avg record low F = -3.0
|year avg record low F = -9.5

|Jan record low F = -37
|Feb record low F = -32
|Mar record low F = -20
|Apr record low F = -8
|May record low F = 7
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 30
|Aug record low F = 34
|Sep record low F = 11
|Oct record low F = -5
|Nov record low F = -18
|Dec record low F = -29

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.55
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.70
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.54
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.08
|May precipitation inch = 1.97
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.20
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.32
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.52
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.39
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.85
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.79
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.69
|year precipitation inch = 17.60

|Jan snow inch = 8.0
|Feb snow inch = 10.7
|Mar snow inch = 10.7
|Apr snow inch = 8.3
|May snow inch = 1.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.4
|Oct snow inch = 2.7
|Nov snow inch = 6.7
|Dec snow inch = 8.9
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 4.1
|Feb precipitation days = 4.9
|Mar precipitation days = 5.0
|Apr precipitation days = 6.4
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 7.7
|Jul precipitation days = 8.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.1
|Sep precipitation days = 5.8
|Oct precipitation days = 4.4
|Nov precipitation days = 4.1
|Dec precipitation days = 4.6

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.6
|Feb snow days = 4.1
|Mar snow days = 3.3
|Apr snow days = 3.1
|May snow days = 0.6
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.3
|Oct snow days = 1.0
|Nov snow days = 2.7
|Dec snow days = 4.3
|year snow days = 23.0

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00051401&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = August 8, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bou
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = August 8, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

Statewide, Colorado has experienced an average temperature increase of about {{convert|2.5|F-change}} over the past half-century.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lukas |first1=Jeff |title=Climate Change in Colorado: A Synthesis to Support Water Resources Management and Adaptation (2d ed., 2014) |url=https://wwa.colorado.edu/climate/co2014report/Climate_Change_CO_Report_2014_FINAL.pdf |website=wwa.colorado.edu |publisher=University of Colorado Boulder |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> Given its location in the center of the state, Castle Rock is expected to experience continuing warming and higher average temperatures through the 21st century, as the effects of climate change continue to be felt. Daily minimum temperatures are also expected to continue rising, as they have for the past 30 years.

===Neighborhoods===
Castle Rock's ZIP codes include many neighborhoods:

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
'''North of Downtown / West of I-25'''
* [[The Meadows, Castle Rock, Colorado|The Meadows]]
* [[Castle Pines Village]]
{{col-break}}
{{col-end}}

Castle Rock encompasses about {{convert|35|sqmi|km2}}, with a population of more than 73,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crgov.com|title=Castle Rock, CO - Official Website|work=crgov.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202040334/http://www.crgov.com/|archive-date=February 2, 2016}}</ref>