Best places for a long life

Residents of these 25 counties enjoy some of the highest life expectancies in the U.S.

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11. Douglas County, CO
11. Douglas County, CO
Clock Tower in Highlands Ranch
Towns include: Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Parker
Life expectancy at birth: 80.31 years

Douglas County has a long ranching history but is now largely a bedroom community of Denver. The longevity of its citizens goes hand in hand with wealth: This is one of America's richest counties, with huge job and population growth and a vanishingly low poverty rate.

That's not the whole story, of course. This is the Rockies, and outdoor recreation is a big deal. The coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail passes right through Douglas, and the hugely popular Elephant Rock Ride welcomes cyclists of all ages for courses ranging from 8 to 100 miles.

NEXT: 12. San Mateo County, CA (tie)

Last updated September 22 2008: 11:08 AM ET
Source: Life expectancy stats from consultant Bert Sperling of BestPlaces.net, Centers for Disease Control.
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