Ken Caryl, commonly known as Ken Caryl Ranch, 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–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Ken Caryl CDP was 33,811 at the 2020 census.

Ken Caryl Ranch/Valley also has prominent geologic features, with the oldest rocks, along the bottom of the hillside rising into the foothills west of the Manor House, dating to around 600 million years ago. Following this further west, one can see the biggest mountain in the immediate foothills west of the Manor House, Tincup Mountain (Beacon Hill can also be seen- the shoulder on the south side of Tincup). The hogback (the ridge/rift running along the east side of the valley, opposite of the Foothills, that helps form the valley) is an interesting geologic phenomenon as well, formed from sedimentary layers being pushed upwards around 70 million years ago.

Geography

The Ken Caryl CDP has an area of , including of water.

There were 13,428 households in Ken Caryl, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.6% were married-couple households, 15.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 27,997 || 82.8%

|-

| Black or African American || 294 || 0.9%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 205 || 0.6%

|-

| Asian || 901 || 2.7%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 32 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 923 || 2.7%

|-

| Two or more races || 3,459 || 10.2%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 4,010 || 11.9%

|}

Business

Lockheed Martin and its predecessor, Martin Marietta, operate a facility located in the southern part of Ken Caryl Valley.

Government

The United States Postal Service operates the Columbine Hills Post Office in Ken Caryl CDP.

Education

Ken Caryl is served by the Jefferson County Public Schools. Zoned schools for the CDP include:

  • Elementary schools: Bradford K8, Colorow, Coronado, Mortenson, Shaffer, Stony Creek, and Ute Meadows
  • Middle schools: Deer Creek, Falcon Bluffs, and Summit Ridge
  • Chatfield High School and Dakota Ridge High School

In the South Park episode Trapped in the Closet, a reference is made to FunPlex, an amusement center in Ken Caryl, though it has been renamed multiple times since then; first Fat City, then Mr. Biggs, and finally the current name, Fun City. Fun City closed in the summer of 2015, and the building was subsequently demolished.

See also

  • Outline of Colorado
  • Index of Colorado-related articles
  • State of Colorado
  • Colorado cities and towns
  • Colorado census designated places
  • Colorado counties
  • Jefferson County, Colorado
  • List of statistical areas in Colorado
  • Front Range Urban Corridor
  • North Central Colorado Urban Area
  • Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area
  • Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area

References

  • Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District
  • Ken-Caryl Ranch Water District
  • Jefferson County website
  • Jeffco Public Schools