Columbine, Colorado
Columbine is a census-designated place 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.
In 2007, Ralph W. Larkin, author of Comprehending Columbine, wrote that the area "is nothing more than a series of residential developments, strip malls, and shopping centers." Larkin concluded that it "has no collective identity."
History
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 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, including of water.
Demographics
The United States Census Bureau initially defined the for theEducation
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
- Wilder Elementary School
- Goddard Middle School
- Heritage High School