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• Location
• History
• Climate
• Transportation
• Attraction
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Colorado Springs is located on the eastern boundary of the Rocky Mountains, about one hour south of the Denver metropolitan area. To the east are rolling plains, ideal for a growing community's expansion and development. To the west rises the majestic 14,110 foot Pikes Peak, one of the many high, scenic peaks of the Rockies. To the south is the Arkansas River Valley with its agricultural lands and the towns of Pueblo and Cañon City. |
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Colorado Springs began as one man's dream. When General William Jackson Palmer first saw the scenic attraction of the Pikes Peak region, he immediately knew it was a location which could attract his wealthy European and East Coast friends. The city's first stake was driven in 1871. Colorado Springs became especially popular with the British and acquired the nickname Little London. Riding the rails, visitors came to see the area's beauty and were inspired to stay by a mild climate and the region's growing resort accommodations.
In the 1890s, Colorado Springs found it was surrounded by more than scenic wealth. Gold was discovered in nearby Cripple Creek in 1891, and Colorado Springs found itself a thriving financial center. The golden years lasted until 1917, when the U.S. went to silver for its coinage and the local economy once again emphasized tourism.
Looking to expand its economic base, the city offered land to the military in 1942. With the start of World War II,
Fort Carson was established on 137,000 acres to the south of Colorado Springs. The military's presence grew in the 1950s with the opening of the
U.S. Air Force
Academy. Over the next 30 years, Peterson Air Force
Base, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base helped create Colorado Springs' reputation as the nation's military space capital, housing the
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and other Space Command centers.
Manufacturing expanded tremendously when the area's quality of life and cost advantages were recognized in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, computers, electronic equipment, semiconductors, precision parts, plastics, heavy equipment and countless other high-quality products are manufactured in the Pikes Peak region and shipped to national and international markets.
The amateur sports segment is one of several service industries expanding in the region. Colorado Springs is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Olympic Committee and
Olympic Training
Center, the world's finest multi-sport training facility. Many other national nonprofit organizations have moved their headquarters to the Pikes Peak region.
Colorado Springs is the largest municipality in
El Paso County with an estimated population of 320,000. The city accounts for nearly three-quarters of the county's population of approximately 450,000. The county contains 2,127 square miles, much of it rural agricultural and grazing land to the east of Colorado Springs. Other population centers in the county include Monument and Palmer Lake to the north; Security, Widefield and Fountain to the south; and Manitou Springs, Cascade and Green Mountain Falls to the west. |
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Colorado Springs' pleasant climate is a key element in the area's high quality of life. Weather in the Pikes Peak region is surprisingly mild; uncomfortable extremes are rare. Despite a moderately high-altitude location near the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs on average gets less snow than Denver, Salt Lake City or Minneapolis. The mountains capture most of the precipitation from east-moving systems, giving the Pikes Peak region dry and sunny weather during most of the year.
At an elevation of 6,035 feet, residents enjoy a number of climatic advantages. During the summer months the days may be seasonally warm but when the sun sets, the evening and nights are refreshingly cool. Few homes need central air conditioning. Long and lingering Indian Autumns are common, while spring is a mild precursor to summer.
Colorado Springs meteorological classification is an alpine desert with about 250 days of sunshine and only 15 to 16 inches of precipitation per year. Humidity remains comfortably low.
While snow is not uncommon, snowfalls do not remain on the ground long. Sunny days are abundant during the winter and the sun's intensity at this elevation quickly melts snow from streets and sidewalks. Warm Chinook winds also help moderate the winter climate. These northwesterly winds can cause rapid increases in temperatures, reminding residents that the Indian meaning of Chinook is
snow-eater. Mild, sunny weather in the middle of the winter is typical, allowing residents to golf, bike, hike, play tennis and enjoy all types of outdoor activities in the sunshine.
An additional advantage of Colorado Springs' climate is the relief it offers persons who suffer from allergies and asthma. In decades past, the area was promoted as a health resort where people could go for relief of respiratory ailments.
|
Month |
Avg.
High |
Avg.
Low |
Mean |
Avg.
Precip. |
Record
High |
Record
Low |
| Jan |
42°F |
14°F |
28°F |
0.28
in. |
73°F
(1997) |
-26°F
(1951) |
| Feb |
45°F |
18°F |
32°F |
0.35
in. |
76°F
(1963) |
-27°F
(1951) |
| Mar |
52°F |
24°F |
38°F |
1.06
in. |
81°F
(1971) |
-11°F
(1956) |
| Apr |
59°F |
31°F |
45°F |
1.62
in. |
87°F
(1992) |
-3°F
(1959) |
| May |
68°F |
41°F |
55°F |
2.39
in. |
93°F
(1984) |
21°F
(1954) |
| Jun |
79°F |
50°F |
64°F |
2.34
in. |
100°F
(1954) |
32°F
(1951) |
| Jul |
84°F |
55°F |
70°F |
2.85
in. |
100°F
(1954) |
42°F
(1952) |
| Aug |
82°F |
54°F |
68°F |
3.48
in. |
99°F
(1954) |
39°F
(1992) |
| Sep |
74°F |
45°F |
60°F |
1.23
in. |
94°F
(1995) |
22°F
(1985) |
| Oct |
63°F |
34°F |
49°F |
0.86
in. |
86°F
(1979) |
5°F
(1969) |
| Nov |
50°F |
23°F |
36°F |
0.52
in. |
78°F
(1981) |
-8°F
(1976) |
| Dec |
42°F |
16°F |
29°F |
0.42
in. |
77°F
(1955) |
-24°F
(1990) |
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Springs Transit is a public transportation system operated by City of Colorado Springs. Springs Transit commits to the best of its ability to provide customer friendly service, modern buses, reasonable fares while pushing to expand and provide service to outlying areas with transportation needs.
The nearest interstate highway,
I-25, runs North/South through the central West portion of Colorado Springs; adjacent to downtown. The nearest East/West interstate highway is I-70, which is located 50-65 miles North of Colorado Springs. The State Highway 83 is located in northern portion of city. State Highway 94 is located in eastern portion of city. State Highway 115 runs North/South and bisects city. The Federal Highway 24 runs East/West and bisects city. Highway 85/87 is located in southern portion of city.
The Colorado Springs Airport is the second largest airport in Colorado and is served by eleven major national and regional airlines. This new airport built in 1994 has approximately fifty arrivals and fifty departures each day with nonstop service to major hubs such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Cincinnati. Additionally, there are direct flights (one stop, same plane) to over thirty other cities daily. Colorado Springs Airport is a major western shipping center and cargo is transported by Federal Express and Airborne. The Airport is fortunate to have 4200 acres of land for development, 600 having direct runway access. |
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Local
and area attractions
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