History and Development
– Colorado Springs was first inhabited by the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne peoples.
– It became part of the United States in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.
– In 1859, it became part of the Jefferson Territory and later El Paso County.
– Colorado City, located at the confluence of Fountain and Camp creeks, was organized during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush.
– Colorado Springs served as the capital of the Colorado Territory from 1861 to 1862.
– Colorado Springs experienced multiple annexations in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
– The Broadmoor suburb, including the Broadmoor Casino, was built in 1891.
– Quadrants were designated in the city in 1898.
– The Tesla Experimental Station operated on Knob Hill from 1899 to 1901.
– Alexander Airport and Colorado Springs Municipal Airport were established in the 1920s.
– The city experienced annexations in the 1980s and 2000s.
Military Presence
– Camp Carson, now Fort Carson, was established in 1941.
– Peterson Field, a U.S. Air Force base, was reopened in 1951.
– Ent Air Force Base became the Cold War headquarters for Air Defense Command in 1950.
– NORAD was established within the Cheyenne Mountain Complex during the Cold War.
– The city has a strong military presence and is home to various military installations.
Geography and Climate
– Colorado Springs is located in east-central Colorado on Fountain Creek.
– It is situated at an elevation of 6,035 feet (1,839m) above sea level.
– The city is near the base of Pikes Peak, which rises 14,115 feet (4,302.31m) above sea level.
– Colorado Springs has a semi-arid Steppe climate with the Southern Rocky Mountains to the west.
– The city experiences abundant sunshine and receives approximately 16.5 inches (419mm) of annual precipitation.
– December is typically the coldest month, averaging 30.8°F (-0.7°C).
– March is the snowiest month with 38 inches (97cm) of snowfall.
– Summers are warm with July averaging 70.9°F (21.6°C) and 18 days of 90°F (32°C)+ highs annually.
Population and Economy
– As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Colorado Springs was 478,961.
– The population of the Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area was 755,105.
– The population of the Front Range Urban Corridor was 5,055,344.
– 78.8% of the population of the city was White (non-Hispanic Whites were 70.7% of the population).
– Mexican Americans made up 14.6% of the city’s population.
– Colorado Springs’ economy is driven by the military, high-tech industry, and tourism.
– The unemployment rate was 3.3% before the COVID-19 pandemic.
– The state’s unemployment rate in June 2022 was 3.4%.
– The military and defense contractors supply more than 40% of the region’s economy.
– The city is experiencing growth in the service sectors.
Tourism and Cultural Events
– Colorado Springs is a popular tourism destination due to its location at the base of Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains.
– Tourism is the third largest employer in the Pikes Peak region, providing over 16,000 jobs.
– The area has more than 55 attractions and activities, including Garden of the Gods park, United States Air Force Academy, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
– The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Flying W Ranch Chuckwagon Dinner & Western Show, and Pikes Peak Summit Complex recently opened in Colorado Springs.
– Colorado Springs hosts various annual events, such as the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off, GalaxyFest, and PrideFest.
– The downtown Colorado Springs Visitor Information Center provides information to travelers.
– Colorado Springs is home to over 30 breweries and microbreweries.
– The brewery scene in Colorado Springs has become popular among locals and tourists.
– Colorado Springs is known as Olympic City USA, hosting the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and the headquarters of various national sports organizations.
– The city has a strong association with figure skating and also has professional baseball teams, the Rocky Mountain Vibes and the Colorado Springs Snow Sox. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Springs
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in and the county seat of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the most populous city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010. Colorado Springs is the second-most populous city and the most extensive city in the state of Colorado, and the 40th-most populous city in the United States. It is the principal city of the Colorado Springs metropolitan area and the second-most prominent city of the Front Range Urban Corridor. It is located in east-central Colorado on Fountain Creek, 70 miles (113 km) south of Denver.
Colorado Springs | |
|---|---|
 Colorado Springs skyline with the Front Range in the background | |
 Logo | |
| Nicknames: Olympic City USA, The Springs | |
 Location of the City of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado | |
  Colorado Springs Location of the City of Colorado Springs in the United States  Colorado Springs Colorado Springs (the United States)  Colorado Springs Colorado Springs (North America) | |
| Coordinates: 38°50′02″N 104°49′31″W / 38.83389°N 104.82528°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | El Paso County |
| Incorporated | June 19, 1886 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home rule municipality |
| • Mayor | Yemi Mobolade (I)[citation needed] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 195.761 sq mi (507.019 km2) |
| • Land | 195.399 sq mi (506.082 km2) |
| • Water | 0.362 sq mi (0.937 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,035 ft (1,839 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 478,961  |
| • Rank | 2nd in Colorado 40th in the United States |
| • Density | 2,400/sq mi (900/km2) |
| • Urban | 632,494 (US: 66th) |
| • Urban density | 3,156.7/sq mi (1,218.8/km2) |
| • Metro | 755,105 (US: 79th) |
| • Front Range | 5,055,344 |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes | 80901–80951, 80960, 80962, 80970, 80977, 80995, 80997 |
| Area code | 719 |
| FIPS code | 08-16000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410198 |
| Website | coloradosprings |
At 6,035 feet (1,839 m) the city stands over 1 mile (1.6 km) above sea level. Colorado Springs is near the base of Pikes Peak, which rises 14,115 feet (4,302.31 m) above sea level on the eastern edge of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The city is the largest city north of Mexico above 6000 feet in elevation.
