The evolution of Highlands Ranch

Pre-1500: The area is prime hunting ground for the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians.

1540-1700: The land changes ownership between Spain and France several times.

1803: The region joins the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

1859: Rufus H. "Dad" Clark creates a 160-acre homestead on the site of today's Highlands Ranch Golf Club, where he became known as the "Potato King of Colorado." Clark later donates the land and money to the Methodist college that became the University of Denver.

1879-1940: Johanne Welte builds and operates Big Dry Creek Cheese Ranch, famous for brick and Limburger cheeses.

1890s: John W. Springer acquires 11,000 acres of homesteads in the area. He calls his property the John W. Springer Cross Country Horse and Cattle Ranch.

1891-1904: Springer builds the original phase of Highlands Ranch Mansion, which he names Castle Isabel.

1898-1901: Springer acquires additional land, bringing the future Highlands Ranch to 23,000 acres.

1913: Col. William Hughes acquires the property from Springer, his son-in-law.

1920: Waite Phillips of Phillips Petroleum buys the property.

1926: Frank E. Kistler of Wolhurst Stock Farms buys the property and creates the Diamond K Ranch to raise dairy and Angus cattle, sheep, hogs and chickens.

1937: Lawrence C. Phipps Jr., son of U.S. Sen. Lawrence C. Phipps of Colorado, buys the property for cattle ranching and names it Highlands Ranch.

1970: The government acquires a portion of the property for Chatfield Lake.

1976: Phipps dies at Highlands Ranch.

1978: Mission Viejo Co. options the property for development.

1980: Construction of the first phase of Highlands Ranch begins.

1981: First residents move in.

1982:

	Benjamin Jiang picks a high point in Redstone Park as his mother, Jennifer, watches. The subdivision has 21 parks and most residents are within a quarter mile of a park or public path. (Post / Glenn Asakawa)

Northridge Park, Northridge Recreation Center and Northridge Elementary open. The community's first businesses open.

1987: Highlands Ranch Junior/Senior High School opens.

1988: The first fire station opens.

1991: The development celebrates its 10th anniversary with a population of nearly 17,000.

1994: It is recognized as the best-selling master-planned community in the United States by Arthur Andersen Real Estate Advisory Services. The first grocery store opens.

1996: The library levy passes, permitting the construction of a regional branch library. An agreement to convey a county regional park within the Wildcat Mountain Reserve is signed. Red Rocks Federal Credit Union moves its headquarters to Highlands Ranch.

1997: Shea Homes acquires Mission Viejo Co. and Highlands Ranch, which has a population of about 39,000.

1997: Construction begins on Highlands Ranch Boulevard (later renamed Lucent Boulevard), the fourth interchange that provides access from Highlands Ranch to C-470. Construction begins on the community's second golf course, Highlands Ranch Golf Club. AMC Highlands Ranch 24 Theatres opens.

1999: Shea Homes/Shea Properties launches the Highlands Ranch Business Park with the construction of the Shea Center. Lucent Technologies announces it will move its company headquarters to the business park.

2000: The Highlands Ranch Library opens. The Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch is founded. The 55-acre Redstone Park, the community's largest, opens.

2001: The development celebrates its 20th anniversary with a population of about 70,000.

2004: The first businesses open in the Highlands Ranch Town Center.

2005: Civic Green Park opens at the Town Center.

2006: As the 25th anniversary approaches, the population tops 86,000.

2012: A light-rail station is scheduled to open at Lucent Boulevard and C-470.

2014: The projected date for the project to reach residential buildout.