Nestled just south of Colorado's capital city, Castle Rock is a thriving, world-class community. With about 85,000 residents, Castle Rock values its small-town character, with a traditional downtown core and cherished community events. Castle Rock is a full-service municipality. It employs about 600 full-time employees to provide residents police, fire, emergency medical, parks, recreation, water and transportation services. The Town also serves as the Douglas County seat and is home to the headquarters for Douglas County School District, Douglas County, Douglas County Sheriff's Office and a local Colorado State Patrol troop. As the community continues growing, the Town will continue to provide high-quality services while preserving the history and heritage of Castle Rock. At the same time, the Town will remain physically freestanding from the rest of the metro area. The Town's identity stems not only from the namesake rock, but also from the scenic natural landscape that surrounds it. There are more than 110 miles of trails, 55 well-planned parks and more than 6,700 acres of open space for residents and visitors to enjoy, making Castle Rock a regular on Money magazine's top places to live list. (See other ways the Town has been recognized at CRgov.com/Recognition.) In order to preserve their rich traditions and quality of life, Castle Rock residents effectively manage change. The community works to enhance the Town's self-sufficiency and foster a strong local economy, making Castle Rock an attractive place to work and own or start a business.