Elizabeth Colorado is a hidden gem just outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. It is located about 15 miles east of Castle Rock and Parker. And about 45 miles from downtown Denver. Elizabeth was established in 1855 as a sawmill camp. Many fled to Elizabeth in 1858 when gold was discovered in the creek, there was never a large quantity of gold found though, so this never really led to a gold rush in the town. The town was located on a transportation route to Denver and had an economy based on logging, farming, cattle ranching and dairy farming. (History of Elizabeth | Elizabeth Colorado (townofelizabeth.org)).
Elizabeth is growing in popularity and many people want to move to Elizabeth to escape the noise of the city. There is a beautiful mixture of wide-open space, rolling hills and densely forested areas. It still has a small-town vibe. When you drive down the side streets, strangers will wave to say high. There is a wide variety of property types available, whether you desire a large amount of acreage for horses and cattle or prefer suburban living. In its growing popularity many developers have bought land and are creating city like suburbs. Even though there are these new homes being built, this little town has not lost its small-town charm. Mainstreet is still mostly original buildings and mom and pop shops. Many Say it's Denver's best kept secret! If you hang around too long everyone will know by first name. You will begin to know the shop and restaurant owners. And you will get the feel of community that many of us crave.
There is also mainstream business' like Walmart, Safeway, McDonald's, and Dairy Queen to name a few. It gives the town a blend of quiet country living with suburban amenities. I like to refer to it as "baby Parker" because it is beginning to grow more quickly as Parker did in the 1990's and early 2000's. The nice part of Elizabeth though in this comparison is that there are a lot of already established neighborhoods where everyone has 2 acres or more so it would be difficult for the area to ever be quite as congested as Parker is.
If you haven't been out to Elizabeth to check it out, then escape the craziness of the city and come enjoy some rural bliss.