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Columbine, Colorado
Location of the Columbine CDP in Jefferson and Arapahoe counties, Colorado.
Location of the Columbine CDP in Jefferson and Arapahoe counties, Colorado.
Columbine, Colorado is located in the United States
Columbine, Colorado
Columbine, Colorado
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Colorado
Counties Jefferson & Arapahoe
Government
 • Type unincorporated community
Area
 • Total 6.753 sq mi (17.491 km2)
 • Land 6.631 sq mi (17.173 km2)
 • Water 0.123 sq mi (0.318 km2)
Elevation
5,545 ft (1,690 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 25,229
 • Density 3,735.80/sq mi (1,442.40/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP Code
80123
Area codes 303 & 720

Columbine is a census-designated place (CDP) in and governed by Jefferson and Arapahoe counties in Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver metropolitan area. Located primarily in Jefferson County, Columbine lies immediately south of Denver. The population of the Columbine CDP was 25,229 at the 2020 census. The community lies in ZIP code 80123.

History

Columbine High School sign
Columbine High School sign, August 2008

Columbine grew rapidly during the Space Race years from 1958 to 1968 with the construction of the Martin Company missile facility in Waterton Canyon. Its population exceeded 20,000 for the first time in 1980.

Columbine was the site of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 perpetrated by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

Geography

Columbine is located on the eastern edge of Jefferson County with a small portion extending east into Arapahoe County. Columbine is bordered to the east by Littleton and Columbine Valley, and to the west by Ken Caryl. The Denver city limits are 0.3 miles (0.48 km) north of the northern border of Columbine, and to the south the community extends as far as the Chatfield Reservoir dam.

The Columbine CDP has an area of 4,322 acres (17.491 km2), including 79 acres (0.318 km2) of water.

Demographics

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Columbine CDP for the 1980 United States Census.

Columbine CDP, Colorado
Year Pop. ±%
1980 23,523 —    
1990 23,969 +1.9%
2000 24,095 +0.5%
2010 24,280 +0.8%
2020 25,229 +3.9%
Source: United States Census Bureau

Education

The portion of Columbine in Jefferson County is served by the Jefferson County Public Schools.

  • Zoned elementary schools: Columbine Hills, Dutch Creek, Leawood, and Normandy
  • Middle school: Ken Caryl Middle School
  • High school: Columbine High School

The portion of Columbine in Arapahoe County is served by the Littleton Public Schools. This section is zoned to:

  • Wilder Elementary School (in Columbine CDP)
  • Goddard Middle School
  • Heritage High School

Jefferson County Public Library operates the Columbine Library. It opened in 1989, and an expansion and renovation were completed in 2017.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Columbine (Colorado) para niños

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