Indian Hills, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indian Hills, Colorado
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Indian Hills in 2014.
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Location of the Indian Hills CDP in Jefferson County, Colorado.
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 Indian Hills, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Jefferson County |
| Government | |
| • Type | unincorporated community |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.429 sq mi (14.060 km2) |
| • Land | 5.425 sq mi (14.051 km2) |
| • Water | 0.003 sq mi (0.009 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,211 ft (2,198 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,474 |
| • Density | 271.53/sq mi (104.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
80454
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| Area codes | 303 & 720 |
| GNIS feature | Indian Hills CDP |
Indian Hills is a small community in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. It's not an official city or town. Instead, it's called an "unincorporated town" or a "census-designated place (CDP)". This means it's a place the government counts for population, but it doesn't have its own local government. Indian Hills is part of the larger Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. About 1,474 people lived there in 2020.
Contents
History of Indian Hills
Early Settlers and Roads
A man named John D. Parmalee came to Colorado in 1860. He settled in a place called Mount Vernon. In 1866, he got permission to build a special road. This was a "toll road," meaning people had to pay to use it. The road connected Morrison and Bradford Junction (Conifer). It opened in 1870 and was called the Denver and Turkey Creek Toll Road. Parmalee also ran sawmills in the area. He later built another road from Turkey Creek to Bergen Park. This road is now known as Parmalee Gulch.
The Eden Park Era
In 1885, Parmalee sold his part of the toll road to Benjamin F. Eden. Eden had been in charge of collecting tolls there since 1877. In 1886, Eden sold the road to Jefferson County. Eden then bought land in the northern part of Parmalee Gulch. This area became known as Eden Park. Over time, he bought more than 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land. This large property caught the eye of people who wanted to build new homes there.
However, in 1893, there was a big economic problem called the Panic of 1893. Silver prices dropped, and the plans for development failed. Eden got his property back. He continued to farm the land, raising animals like cattle and horses. He also grew hay and potatoes.
Indian Hills Development
In 1918, George W. Olinger became interested in the area. His parents had started a funeral home business. In 1921, Olinger bought the Eden property. He planned to create a new community called "Indian Hills." He even built a golf course on some of Eden's land.
The official name "Indian Hills" was recorded in June 1923. Olinger named parts of the new development to honor Native American groups. These names included Arrowhead Park, Ute & Cherokee Village, and Shawnee Village. "Eden Park" became the fifth part of Olinger's plan in 1926. Small log cabins were built as models. These were sold to people from Denver who wanted summer homes in the mountains.
Geography of Indian Hills
Indian Hills is located along Parmalee Gulch Road and Myers Gulch Road. These roads connect State Highway 74 near Kittredge, Colorado to U.S. Highway 285 at Turkey Creek.
The Indian Hills CDP covers an area of about 5.43 square miles (14.060 km2). Most of this area is land, with only a very small part being water.
Population Information
How Many People Live Here?
The United States Census Bureau first counted Indian Hills as a CDP for the United States Census 2000. A CDP is a special area that the Census Bureau defines for statistical purposes. It helps them count people in places that aren't officially cities or towns.
Here's how the population of Indian Hills has changed:
| Indian Hills CDP, Colorado | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2000 | 1,197 | — |
| 2010 | 1,280 | +6.9% |
| 2020 | 1,474 | +15.2% |
| Source: United States Census Bureau | ||
Education in Indian Hills
Students in Indian Hills attend schools run by the Jefferson County Public Schools. The schools that serve this area include:
- Parmalee Elementary School
- West Jefferson Middle School
- Conifer High School
The Humorous Community Sign
The sign at the Indian Hills Community Center is famous for its funny messages. It often features clever wordplay and jokes. This sign is so popular that it even has its own Facebook page!
See also
In Spanish: Indian Hills (Colorado) para niños
