Dakota Ridge is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Dakota Ridge CDP was 33,892 at the United States Census 2020. In 1988, voters turned down a proposal to incorporate Dakota Ridge. The community lies in ZIP codes 80127 and 80465.

Dakota Ridge is bordered to the east by Denver, to the north by Lakewood, and to the south by unincorporated Ken Caryl. It is bordered to the west by the Dakota Hogback, a sharp hogback ridge that to the north near Morrison is also known as Dinosaur Ridge.

Colorado State Highway 470, part of the beltway around the Denver metropolitan area, runs through the western part of the community, leading north to Golden and southeast to Highlands Ranch. Downtown Denver is 17 miles (27 km) to the northeast.

The Dakota Ridge CDP has an area of 6,199 acres (25.085 km), including 191 acres (0.774 km) of water.

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Dakota Ridge CDP for the United States Census 2010.

Dakota Ridge CDP, Colorado

Year	Pop.	±%
2010	32,005	—
2020	33,892	+5.9%
Source: United States Census Bureau

Dakota Ridge is served by the Jefferson County Public Schools.

• Outline of Colorado
  • Index of Colorado-related articles
• State of Colorado
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• Jefferson County website
• Jeffco Public Schools
  • Dakota Ridge High School