RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Colorado >> Douglas County >> Highlands Ranch >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Highlands Ranch (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Highlands Ranch. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for Highlands Ranch ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Highlands Ranch: Highlands Rnch.
  • While the name of this community is Highlands Ranch, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Highlands Ranch may originally have been Highland's Ranch.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Highlands Ranch might be written as Highland Ranch.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Highlands Ranch is located in Douglas County.

To see how the shape of Colorado's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Douglas County: Arapahoe, El Paso, Elbert, Jefferson, Park & Teller.

Below are the counties that are near Highlands Ranch. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Highlands Ranch:

  • Douglas County     (The home county of Highlands Ranch)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Acres Green
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Carriage Club
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Carriage Club is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carriage Club
    • Gateway
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Gateway is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gateway
    • Heritage Hills
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Heritage Hills is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Hills
    • Lone Tree
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Meridian
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Meridian is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
    • Louviers
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Castle Pines North
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Castle Pines North is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Pines North
      • Estimated population in 2011: 10,602 people
    • Grand View Estates
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Grand View Estates is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Estates
    • Castle Pines
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cottonwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Cottonwood is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
    • Sedalia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Roxborough Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Roxborough Park is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxborough Park
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Hillcrest Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hillcrest Village is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest Village
    • Friendly Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Friendly Village is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendly Village
    • Berkley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Berkley is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
    • North Washington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • North Washington is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
    • Adams City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Adams City is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams City
    • Hidden Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Hidden Lake is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hidden Lake
    • Twin Lakes
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Twin Lakes is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
    • Derby
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Derby is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
    • Dupont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Sherrelwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Sherrelwood is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherrelwood
    • Welby
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Welby is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welby
    • Western Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Western Hills is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western Hills
    • Westminster
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Arapahoe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Cherry Knolls
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Cherry Knolls is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Knolls
    • Southglenn
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Southglenn is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southglenn
    • Castlewood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Castlewood is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castlewood
    • Columbine Valley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Columbine Valley is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbine Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,508 people
    • Littleton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Centennial
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Greenwood Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cherry Hills Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Englewood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sheridan
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Bow Mar
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bow Mar is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Mar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 947 people
    • Fort Logan ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Logan is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Logan
    • Algonquin Acres
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Algonquin Acres is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algonquin Acres
  • Boulder County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Superior
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Louisville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Eldorado Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Broomfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Broomfield Heights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Broomfield Heights is located in Broomfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broomfield Heights
    • Broomfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Clear Creek County
    • Brookvale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Brookvale is located in Clear Creek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale
  • Denver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Cherry Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Cherry Creek is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
    • Denver
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Denver is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 735,538 people
      • Former names for Denver:
      • Auraina
      • Denver City
      • Montana City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Denver <2>
    • West Denver
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • West Denver is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denver
    • Sandown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Sandown is located in Denver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandown
    • Montbello
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • El Paso County
    • Palmer Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Elbert County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Ponderosa Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Ponderosa Park is located in Elbert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponderosa Park
    • Elizabeth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Gilpin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Cottonwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cottonwood is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood
    • Smith Hill ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Smith Hill is located in Gilpin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Hill
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.
    • Columbine
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Columbine is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbine
    • Archer
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Archer is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
    • Ken Caryl
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lakewood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Green Mountain Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Morrison
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Twin Forks
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Twin Forks is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Forks
    • Edgewater
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Indian Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Indians Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Sky Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Sky Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sky Village
    • East Pleasant View
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • East Pleasant View is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Pleasant View
    • Dome Rock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dome Rock is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dome Rock
  • Park County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Highlands Ranch, see our County-by-County Page for Highlands Ranch.

Cemeteries Near Highlands Ranch ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Highlands Ranch.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Highlands Ranch - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Highlands Ranch covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>

While we didn't find Highlands Ranch in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Highlands Ranch.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Highlands Ranch, with the one closest to Highlands Ranch listed first.

  • Acequia
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Acequia is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acequia
  • Littleton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Archer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Archer is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
  • Fort Logan ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Fort Logan is located in Arapahoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Logan
  • Sedalia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Sullivan
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Sullivan is located in Arapahoe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
  • Parker
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • West Denver
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • West Denver is located in Denver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denver
  • Castle Rock
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Denver
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Denver is located in Denver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 735,538 people
    • Former names for Denver:
    • Auraina
    • Denver City
    • Montana City
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Denver <2>
  • Morrison
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • South Platte
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • South Platte is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Platte
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Aurora
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Aurora is located in Arapahoe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 387,377 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aurora <2>
    • Dome Rock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dome Rock is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dome Rock
    • Franktown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Highlands Ranch. See our List of 1890's Communities around Highlands Ranch.

Newspapers Published in Highlands Ranch ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 394 newspapers that have been published in the area around Highlands Ranch.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Highlands Ranch, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Highlands Ranch.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Highlands Ranch:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<4>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Highlands Ranch, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Highlands Ranch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.