Colorado Springs, Colorado#History

{{main|History of Colorado Springs, Colorado}}

{{For timeline}}

The Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples were the first recorded inhabiting the area which would become Colorado Springs.{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs History and Heritage |url=http://www.visitcos.com/colorado-springs/travel/history-heritage |access-date=May 24, 2013 |publisher=Visit Colorado Springs |archive-date=May 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510004958/http://www.visitcos.com/colorado-springs/travel/history-heritage |url-status=live }} Part of the territory included in the United States' 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the current city area was designated part of the 1854 Kansas Territory. In 1859, after the first local settlement was established, it became part of the Jefferson Territory on October 24 and of El Paso County on November 28. Colorado City at the Front Range confluence of Fountain and Camp creeks was "formally organized on August{{nbsp}}13, 1859"{{cite web |title=El Paso County |url=http://www.historycolorado.org/oahp/el-paso-county |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204025254/http://www.historycolorado.org/oahp/el-paso-county |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |publisher=History Colorado |quote=Platted by his Colorado Springs Company in {{sic|1876}} Manitou Springs retains its winding roads, spa, and many of its grand hotels and residences. Of the approximately 1001 buildings, 752 are considered to be contributing... Miramont Castle...housed a sanitarium operated by the Sisters of Mercy.|url-status=bot: unknown}} (in 1916, the Sisters of Mercy operated the Montcalm Sanitarium). during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. It served as the capital of the Colorado Territory from November 5, 1861, until August 14, 1862, when the capital was moved to Golden, before it was finally moved to Denver in 1867.{{Cite book |last=Smiley |first=Jerome Constant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahY1AQAAMAAJ&q=colorado+springs |title=Semi-centennial History of the State of Colorado |date=1913 |publisher=Brookhaven Press |isbn=978-1-4035-0045-8 |pages=367–369 |language=en |access-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802195343/https://books.google.com/books?id=ahY1AQAAMAAJ&q=colorado+springs |url-status=live }} So many immigrants from England had settled in Colorado Springs by the early 1870s that Colorado Springs was locally referred to as "Little London".The Rocky Mountain Region edited by Rick Newby pg. 108 In 1871 the Colorado Springs Company laid out the towns of La Font (later called Manitou Springs) and Fountain Colony, upstream and downstream respectively, of Colorado City.{{Cite book |last=Harrison |first=Deborah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DR8L92tCic0C&pg=PR9 |title=Manitou Springs |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2012 |isbn=9780738595962 |access-date=February 27, 2014 |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802195343/https://books.google.com/books?id=DR8L92tCic0C&pg=PR9 |url-status=live }} Within a year, Fountain Colony was renamed Colorado Springs and officially incorporated.{{cite web |title=Downtown Historic Survey |url=http://www.springsgov.com/plan/historic3/walkingtour.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203090612/http://www.springsgov.com/plan/historic3/walkingtour.asp |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=February 27, 2014 |publisher=City of Colorado Springs}} The El Paso County seat shifted from Colorado City in 1873 to the Town of Colorado Springs.{{r|Capace}} On December 1, 1880, Colorado Springs expanded northward with two annexations.{{r|AnnexXLS1990}}{{r|Directory1898}}

The second period of annexations was during 1889{{ndash}}90, and included Seavey's Addition, West Colorado Springs, East End, and another North End addition.{{r|AnnexXLS1990}} In 1891 the Broadmoor Land Company built the Broadmoor suburb, which included the Broadmoor Casino, and by December 12, 1895, the city had "four Mining Exchanges and 275 mining brokers."{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1895 |title=Colorado's Mining Craze. |work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1895/12/02/103376021.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427223358/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1895/12/02/103376021.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=November 12, 2013}} By 1898, the city was designated into quadrants by the north-south Cascade Avenue and the east-west Washington/Pikes Peak avenues.{{r|Directory1898}}{{rp|10}}

File:Nikola Tesla, with his equipment Wellcome M0014782 - restoration2.jpg sitting in the Colorado Springs Experimental Station with his "magnifying transmitter" generating millions of volts]]

From 1899 to 1901 Tesla Experimental Station operated on Knob Hill,Report of the Commission on the Colorado Springs Union Depot (available at PPLD Special Collections and the Colorado College Tutt Library) and aircraft flights to the Broadmoor's neighboring fields began in 1919.{{r|NRHPairport}} Alexander Airport north of the city opened in 1925, and in 1927 the original Colorado Springs Municipal Airport land was purchased east of the city.{{r|NRHPairport}}

The city's military presence began during World War II, beginning with Camp Carson (now the 135,000-acre Fort Carson base) that was established in 1941.{{Cite news |last=Roeder |first=Tom |date=October 18, 2021 |title=Colorado Springs at 150 years {{!}} The military's impact on growth and development |language=en |work=The Gazette |url=https://gazette.com/cos-150/colorado-springs-at-150-years-the-military-s-impact-on-growth-and-development/article_836fa78e-e419-11eb-af54-3f2b62f30c51.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401175710/https://gazette.com/cos-150/colorado-springs-at-150-years-the-military-s-impact-on-growth-and-development/article_836fa78e-e419-11eb-af54-3f2b62f30c51.html |url-status=live }} During the war, the United States Army Air Forces leased land adjacent to the municipal airfield, naming it Peterson Field in December 1942.{{Citation |last=Prinzo |title=[description of sites used by 2nd Photo Grp] |date=c. 1945 |type=document with quotation}}{{r|Directory1916}}

In November 1950, Ent Air Force Base was selected as the Cold War headquarters for Air Defense Command (ADC). The former WWII Army Air Base, Peterson Field, which had been inactivated at the end of the war, was re-opened in 1951 as a U.S. Air Force base.{{Cite journal |last=Mueller |first=Robert |year=1989 |title=Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 |journal=Air Force Bases (Report) |publisher=Office of Air Force History |volume=I |isbn=0-912799-53-6}}  North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was established as a hardened command and control center within the Cheyenne Mountain Complex during the Cold War.{{Cite web |title=North American Aerospace Defense Command > About NORAD > Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station |url=https://www.norad.mil/About-NORAD/Cheyenne-Mountain-Air-Force-Station/ |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=North American Aerospace Defense Command |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323232607/https://www.norad.mil/About-NORAD/Cheyenne-Mountain-Air-Force-Station/ |url-status=live }}

Between 1965 and 1968, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak State College and Colorado Technical University were established in or near the city.{{Cite book |last=Hellmann |first=Paul T |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQ-R4O2L3nEC&pg=PA129 |title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States |date=November 1, 2004 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-203-99700-0 |page=129 |format=Google books |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802195343/https://books.google.com/books?id=EQ-R4O2L3nEC&pg=PA129 |url-status=live }}{{Cite report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cucoAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Alamo+Garage%22+%22colorado+springs%22&pg=PA510 |title=Annual Report to Congress of the Federal Board for Vocational Education |access-date=November 29, 2013 |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802195343/https://books.google.com/books?id=cucoAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Alamo+Garage%22+%22colorado+springs%22&pg=PA510 |url-status=live }} In 1977 most of the former Ent AFB became a US Olympic training center. The Libertarian Party was founded within the city in the 1970s.{{cite web |last=Sydney Herdle – The Daily Collegian |title=A guide to the major platforms of the Libertarian Party |url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/state_national_international/article_0ee1beaa-7f8f-11e6-8433-df021ddbbe6a.html |website=psu.edu |date=September 21, 2016 |access-date=September 23, 2016 |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921141629/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/state_national_international/article_0ee1beaa-7f8f-11e6-8433-df021ddbbe6a.html |url-status=live }}

On October 1, 1981, the Broadmoor Addition,{{r|AnnexXLS1990}} Cheyenne Canon, Ivywild, Skyway, and Stratton Meadows were annexed after the Colorado Supreme Court "overturned a district court decision that voided the annexation". Further annexations expanding the city include the Nielson Addition and Vineyard Commerce Park Annexation in September 2008.{{r|AnnexXLS1990}}

On June 23, 2012, the Waldo Canyon fire began {{convert|4|mi|km}} northwest of the city.{{Cite web |last=Beckman · |first=Abigail |date=2022-06-23 |title=Remembering the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs ten years later |url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/06/23/remembering-the-waldo-canyon-fire-in-colorado-springs-ten-years-later/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Colorado Public Radio |language=en}} The fire ended up destroying 347 homes and killing two people in the city. In total, over 32,000 residents had to be evacuated.{{Cite web |title=Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires - CSPM |url=https://www.cspm.org/cos-150-story/waldo-canyon-and-black-forest-fires/ |access-date=May 2, 2024 |website=www.cspm.org}} At the time the fire was the most destructive in state history until it was surpassed by the Black Forest Fire the following year.{{Cite web |last=Beckman · |first=Abigail |date=2022-06-23 |title=Remembering the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs ten years later |url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/06/23/remembering-the-waldo-canyon-fire-in-colorado-springs-ten-years-later/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Colorado Public Radio |language=en}}

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File:Colorado Springs CO.jpg from the eastern plains]]

The city lies in a semi-arid Steppe region,{{cite web|url=https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/KCOS|title=Colorado Springs – SKYbrary Aviation Safety|access-date=January 25, 2021|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131150120/https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/KCOS|url-status=live}}with the Southern Rocky Mountains to the west, the Palmer Divide to the north, high plains further east, and high desert lands to the south when leaving Fountain and approaching Pueblo. Colorado Springs is {{convert|69|mile|km|sigfig=3}} or at best one hour and five minutes south of Denver by car using I-25.{{cite web |title=Distance between Denver, CO and Colorado Springs, CO |url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-denver-co-to-colorado-springs-co |access-date=February 1, 2020 |website=www.distance-cities.com |archive-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202020515/https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-denver-co-to-colorado-springs-co |url-status=live }}

Colorado Springs has the greatest total area of any municipality in Colorado. At the 2020 United States census, the city had a total area of {{convert|507.019|km2|mi2|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.937|km2|mi2|order=flip}} of water.

File:ISS067-E-170859 Colorado Springs through the clouds.jpg

Colorado Springs has a cooler, dry-winter monsoon influenced continental climate (Köppen Dwa/Cwa), and its location just east of the Rocky Mountains affords it the rapid warming influence from chinook winds during winter but also subjects it to drastic day-to-day variability in weather conditions.{{cite web |title=Colorado Climate Center – Climate of Colorado |url=http://climate.colostate.edu/climateofcolorado.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703034302/http://climate.colostate.edu/climateofcolorado.php |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |access-date=July 13, 2012 |publisher=Climate.colostate.edu}} The city has abundant sunshine year-round, averaging 243 sunny days per year,{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs, Colorado Climate |url=http://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/colorado/colorado_springs |access-date=October 28, 2015 |publisher=BestPlaces |archive-date=October 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024044702/http://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/colorado/colorado_springs |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=January 3, 2012 |title=Colorado sunshine is more myth than science |url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/weather/2012/01/03/colorado-sunshine-not-all-its-hyped-up-to-be/110/ |access-date=October 28, 2015 |website=The Denver Post |archive-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031082018/http://blogs.denverpost.com/weather/2012/01/03/colorado-sunshine-not-all-its-hyped-up-to-be/110/ |url-status=dead }} and receives approximately {{convert|16.5|in|mm|0}} of annual precipitation. Due to unusually low precipitation for several years after flooding in 1999, Colorado Springs enacted lawn water restrictions in 2002. These were lifted in 2005{{cite web |date=November 3, 2010 |title=City of Colorado Springs – Drought |url=http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1188 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201073818/http://springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1188 |archive-date=December 1, 2010 |access-date=November 3, 2010}} but permanently reinstated in December 2019.{{cite web|date=January 22, 2020|title=New "water-wise" rules now in effect|url=https://coloradosprings.gov/city-council/article/news/new-water-wise-rules-now-effect|access-date=July 13, 2021|website=Colorado Springs|language=en|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713013500/https://coloradosprings.gov/city-council/article/news/new-water-wise-rules-now-effect|url-status=dead}}

Colorado Springs is one of the most active lightning strike areas in the United States. This natural phenomenon led Nikola Tesla to select Colorado Springs as the preferred location to build his lab and study electricity.{{cite web |title=Tesla, Life and Legacy |url=https://www.pbs.org/tesla/ll/ll_colspr.html |access-date=April 10, 2014 |publisher=pbs.org |archive-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707120257/http://www.pbs.org/tesla/ll/ll_colspr.html |url-status=live }}

December is typically the coldest month, averaging {{convert|30.8|°F|1}}. Historically, January had been the coldest month, but, in recent years, December has had both lower daily maxima and minima.{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs |url=http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/united-states/colorado/colorado-springs/ |access-date=September 15, 2010 |publisher=Climate-zone.com |archive-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924215420/http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/united-states/colorado/colorado-springs/ |url-status=live }} Typically, there are 5.2 nights with sub-{{convert|0|°F|0}} lows and 23.6 days where the high does not rise above freezing.

Snowfall is usually moderate and remains on the ground briefly because of direct sun, with the city receiving {{convert|38|in|cm|0}} per season, although the mountains to the west often receive in excess of triple that amount; March is the snowiest month in the region, both by total accumulation and number of days with measurable snowfall. In addition, 8 of the top 10 heaviest 24-hour snowfalls have occurred from March to May. Summers are warm, with July, the warmest month, averaging {{convert|70.9|°F|1}}, and 18 days of {{convert|90|°F|0}}+ highs annually. Due to the high elevation and aridity, nights are usually relatively cool and rarely does the low remain above {{convert|70|°F|0}}. Dry weather generally prevails, but brief afternoon thunderstorms are common, especially in July and August when the city receives the majority of its annual rainfall, due to the North American monsoon.{{Cite news |title=Evolution of the North American Monsoon |work=DRI Desert Research Institute |url=https://www.dri.edu/monsoon |url-status=dead |access-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227232120/https://www.dri.edu/monsoon |archive-date=February 27, 2017}}

The first autumn freeze and the last freeze in the spring, on average, occur on October 2 and May 6, respectively; the average window for measurable snowfall (≥{{convert|0.1|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=or}}) is October 21 through April 25. Extreme temperatures range from {{convert|101|°F|0}} on June 26, 2012 and most recently on June 21, 2016, down to {{convert|-27|°F|0}} on February 1, 1951, and December 9, 1919.{{cite web |last=climateSpy.com |title=Colorado Springs, CO climate in February |url=https://www.climatespy.com/climate/summary/united-states/colorado/city-of-colorado-springs-muni/february |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227232106/http://www.climatespy.com/climate/summary/united-states/colorado/city-of-colorado-springs-muni/february |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |access-date=February 27, 2017 |website=climatespy.com}}

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{{Weather box

|location = Colorado Springs, Colorado (Colorado Springs Municipal Airport), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1894–present

|width=auto

|single line = Y

|collapsed = yes

|Jan high F = 45.0

|Feb high F = 46.5

|Mar high F = 54.9

|Apr high F = 61.0

|May high F = 70.7

|Jun high F = 81.6

|Jul high F = 86.5

|Aug high F = 83.6

|Sep high F = 77.1

|Oct high F = 64.7

|Nov high F = 52.9

|Dec high F = 44.6

|year high F= 64.1

|Jan mean F = 31.8

|Feb mean F = 33.4

|Mar mean F = 41.1

|Apr mean F = 47.5

|May mean F = 57.5

|Jun mean F = 67.2

|Jul mean F = 72.4

|Aug mean F = 70.1

|Sep mean F = 63.0

|Oct mean F = 50.7

|Nov mean F = 39.5

|Dec mean F = 31.7

|year mean F= 50.5

|Jan low F = 18.5

|Feb low F = 20.2

|Mar low F = 27.3

|Apr low F = 34.0

|May low F = 43.5

|Jun low F = 52.8

|Jul low F = 58.2

|Aug low F = 56.6

|Sep low F = 48.9

|Oct low F = 36.6

|Nov low F = 26.0

|Dec low F = 18.7

|year low F= 36.8

|Jan avg record high F = 64.5

|Feb avg record high F = 66.2

|Mar avg record high F = 72.8

|Apr avg record high F = 79.0

|May avg record high F = 85.8

|Jun avg record high F = 93.8

|Jul avg record high F = 95.2

|Aug avg record high F = 92.7

|Sep avg record high F = 88.9

|Oct avg record high F = 81.8

|Nov avg record high F = 71.6

|Dec avg record high F = 64.1

|year avg record high F= 96.7

|Jan avg record low F = −1.4

|Feb avg record low F = 1.4

|Mar avg record low F = 9.6

|Apr avg record low F = 19.3

|May avg record low F = 30.1

|Jun avg record low F = 42.5

|Jul avg record low F = 50.9

|Aug avg record low F = 48.5

|Sep avg record low F = 35.6

|Oct avg record low F = 19.6

|Nov avg record low F = 7.4

|Dec avg record low F = −1.6

|year avg record low F= -7.1

|Jan record high F = 73

|Feb record high F = 77

|Mar record high F = 81

|Apr record high F = 87

|May record high F = 94

|Jun record high F = 101

|Jul record high F = 100

|Aug record high F = 99

|Sep record high F = 98

|Oct record high F = 87

|Nov record high F = 78

|Dec record high F = 77

|Jan record low F = −26

|Feb record low F = −27

|Mar record low F = −16

|Apr record low F = −3

|May record low F = 15

|Jun record low F = 27

|Jul record low F = 37

|Aug record low F = 34

|Sep record low F = 20

|Oct record low F = −6

|Nov record low F = −12

|Dec record low F = −27

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.29

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.32

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.79

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.45

|May precipitation inch = 1.99

|Jun precipitation inch = 2.27

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.12

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.96

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.35

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.77

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.37

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.23

|year precipitation inch=15.91

|Jan snow inch = 4.9

|Feb snow inch = 4.6

|Mar snow inch = 5.7

|Apr snow inch = 5.5

|May snow inch = 0.6

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.2

|Oct snow inch = 2.5

|Nov snow inch = 4.4

|Dec snow inch = 4.1

|year snow inch=32.5

| snow depth colour =

| Jan snow depth inch = 2

| Feb snow depth inch = 3

| Mar snow depth inch = 3

| Apr snow depth inch = 3

| May snow depth inch = 1

| Jun snow depth inch = 0

| Jul snow depth inch = 0

| Aug snow depth inch = 0

| Sep snow depth inch = 0

| Oct snow depth inch = 2

| Nov snow depth inch = 2

| Dec snow depth inch = 2

| year snow depth inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan precipitation days = 3.6

|Feb precipitation days = 4.6

|Mar precipitation days = 6.7

|Apr precipitation days = 8.2

|May precipitation days =10.3

|Jun precipitation days = 9.8

|Jul precipitation days =12.1

|Aug precipitation days =12.4

|Sep precipitation days = 6.6

|Oct precipitation days = 4.8

|Nov precipitation days = 4.5

|Dec precipitation days = 3.7

|year precipitation days=87.3

|Jan snow days = 3.9

|Feb snow days = 4.4

|Mar snow days = 4.9

|Apr snow days = 3.6

|May snow days = 0.6

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.3

|Oct snow days = 1.7

|Nov snow days = 3.7

|Dec snow days = 4.0

|year snow days=27.1

|Jan sun = 217

|Feb sun = 224

|Mar sun = 279

|Apr sun = 300

|May sun = 310

|Jun sun = 330

|Jul sun = 341

|Aug sun = 310

|Sep sun = 270

|Oct sun = 248

|Nov sun = 210

|Dec sun = 217

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pub |access-date=September 3, 2019 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725034422/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pub |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Station Name: CO COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP |url=ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00093037.normals.txt |access-date=March 13, 2019 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |archive-date=March 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313145750/ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00093037.normals.txt |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00093037&format=pdf |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |access-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221225458/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00093037&format=pdf |url-status=live }}

|source 2 = Weather-US{{cite web |title=Monthly weather forecast and climate Colorado Springs, CO |url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/colorado-usa/colorado-springs-climate#daylight_sunshine |access-date=July 9, 2020 |publisher=Weather Atlas |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711163757/https://www.weather-us.com/en/colorado-usa/colorado-springs-climate#daylight_sunshine |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Station Name: CO COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP |url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/colorado-usa/colorado-springs-climate#daylight_sunshine |access-date=July 9, 2020 |publisher=Weather Atlas |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711163757/https://www.weather-us.com/en/colorado-usa/colorado-springs-climate#daylight_sunshine |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Candelaria |first=Esteban |date=June 17, 2021 |title=Colorado Springs hits 100 degrees, marking milestone |language=en |url=https://gazette.com/weather/colorado-springs-hits-100-degrees-marking-milestone/article_26f3a872-cee1-11eb-bfc5-1fdcc41fe127.html |access-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915082646/https://gazette.com/weather/colorado-springs-hits-100-degrees-marking-milestone/article_26f3a872-cee1-11eb-bfc5-1fdcc41fe127.html |url-status=live }}

}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 4226

|1890= 11140

|1900= 21085

|1910= 29078

|1920= 30105

|1930= 33237

|1940= 36789

|1950= 45472

|1960= 70194

|1970= 135517

|1980= 215105

|1990= 281140

|2000= 360890

|2010= 416427

|2020= 478961

|estyear= 2024

|estimate= 493554

|estref= {{cite web | url= https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html#v2024| title=US Census Bureau City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024|website=census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census

}}

File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Colorado Springs (5560451638).png

As of the 2020 United States census, the population of the city of Colorado Springs was 478,961 (40th most populous U.S. city), the population of the Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area was 755,105 (79th most populous MSA), and the population of the Front Range Urban Corridor was 5,055,344.

As of the 2010 United States census,{{cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=American FactFinder – Results |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212833/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |website=factfinder2.census.gov |access-date=April 5, 2020 }} 78.8% of the population of the city was White (non-Hispanic Whites were 70.7% of the population,{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs (city), Colorado |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08/0816000.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531104937/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08/0816000.html |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |website=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}} compared with 86.6% in 1970{{cite web |title=Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}), 16.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race (compared with 7.4% in 1970), 6.3% Black or African American, 3.0% Asian, 1.0% descended from indigenous peoples of the Americas, 0.3% descended from indigenous Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders, 5.5% of some other race, and 5.1% of two or more races. Mexican Americans made up 14.6% of the city's population, compared with 9.1% in 1990. The median age in the city was 35 years.{{cite web |title=Detailed tables |url=https://www.census.gov/ |access-date=September 15, 2010 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}{{efn|As of the census{{cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov/ |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }} of 2000 (limited only to the city limits and not including the very diverse Fort Carson area which many view as being a part of the Colorado Springs metropolitan area), there were 360,890 people, 141,516 households, and 93,117 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1942.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 148,690 housing units at an average density of {{convert|800.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.7% White, 6.6% African American, 0.9% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. 12.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 141,516 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males. (Note: City statistics do not include the demographic influence of five local military bases).

The median income for a household in the city was $45,081, and the median income for a family was $53,478. Males had a median income of $36,786 versus $26,427 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,496. About 6.1% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.}}

Colorado Springs's economy is driven primarily by the military, the high-tech industry, and tourism, in that order. The city is experiencing growth in the service sectors. In June 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate was 3.3%.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2022 |title=Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject – Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area |url=https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT081782000000003?data_tool=XGtable |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905154108/https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT081782000000003?data_tool=XGtable |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |access-date=September 5, 2022 |website=Bureau of Labor Statistics Data}} The state's unemployment rate in June 2022 was 3.4%{{Cite web |title=Press Release: Colorado Employment Situation – June 2022 {{!}} Department of Labor & Employment |url=https://cdle.colorado.gov/press-releases/press-release-colorado-employment-situation-june-2022#:~:text=Since%20May%202020,%20Colorado%27s%20private,in%20March%20and%20April%202020. |access-date=September 5, 2022 |website=cdle.colorado.gov |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905155207/https://cdle.colorado.gov/press-releases/press-release-colorado-employment-situation-june-2022#:~:text=Since%20May%202020,%20Colorado%27s%20private,in%20March%20and%20April%202020. |url-status=live }} compared to 3.6% for the nation.{{cite web |last=geosolinc.com |date=September 5, 2022 |title=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |url=https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000 |access-date=September 5, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Gov |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508124429/https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/lns14000000 |url-status=live }}

File:PetersonAFB.jpg{{snds}}Peterson Space Force Base Building{{nbsp}}1]]

{{As of|2021}}, there are nearly 45,000 active-duty troops in the Colorado Springs area. There are more than 100,000 veterans and thousands of reservists. The military and defense contractors supply more than 40% of the Pikes Peak region's economy.

Colorado Springs is home to the Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, U.S. Space Command, and Space Operations Command— the largest contingent of space service military installations. They are responsible for intelligence gathering, space operations, and cyber missions.{{Cite news |last=Bitton |first=David |date=August 27, 2021 |title=New missions equal new names for Peterson, Schriever and Cheyenne Mountain military installations |language=en |work=The Gazette |url=https://gazette.com/military/new-missions-equal-new-names-for-peterson-schriever-and-cheyenne-mountain-military-installations/article_574a0ea2-ea49-11eb-a10f-4f8d59a4313b.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125114624/https://gazette.com/military/new-missions-equal-new-names-for-peterson-schriever-and-cheyenne-mountain-military-installations/article_574a0ea2-ea49-11eb-a10f-4f8d59a4313b.html |url-status=live }}

Peterson Space Force Base is responsible for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) headquarters, Space Operations Command, and Space Deltas 2, 3, and 7. Located at Peterson is the 302nd Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit, that transports passengers and cargo and fights wildfires.

Schriever Space Force Base is responsible for Joint Task Force-Space Defense and Space Deltas 6, 8, and 9. The NORAD and USNORTHCOM Alternate Command Center is located at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. Within the mountain complex, the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station has been operated by Space Operations Command. On January 13, 2021, the Air Force announced a new permanent home for Space Command, moving it from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama in 2026, but the decision could be reversed by Congress.{{cite web|url = https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/01/13/us-space-command-site-to-be-located-in-huntsville-alabama/|title = US Space Command site to be located in Huntsville, Alabama|date = January 13, 2021|access-date = January 25, 2021|archive-date = August 2, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230802195357/https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/01/13/us-space-command-site-to-be-located-in-huntsville-alabama/|url-status = live}}{{efn|Political leaders in Colorado plan to ask President Biden's administration to review the merits of the decision.{{cite web|url = https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2021/01/22/chamber-of-commerce-and-state-officials-fight-to-keep-u-s-space-command-in-colorado-springs/|title = Chamber of Commerce and state officials fight to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs|date = January 22, 2021|access-date = January 25, 2021|archive-date = January 25, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210125213209/https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2021/01/22/chamber-of-commerce-and-state-officials-fight-to-keep-u-s-space-command-in-colorado-springs/|url-status = live}} Huntsville also has to pass an environmental review before the decision is final.{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/956633450/u-s-space-command-headquarters-may-land-in-alabama | title=U.S. Space Command Headquarters May Land in Alabama | website=NPR | date=January 13, 2021 | last1=Jones | first1=Dustin | access-date=January 25, 2021 | archive-date=January 25, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125183449/https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/956633450/u-s-space-command-headquarters-may-land-in-alabama | url-status=live }} Air Force documents show Alabama ranked higher than Colorado in 11 of 21 comparisons used by the government in seeking the best site for the new U.S. Space Command's permanent headquarters. In the Space Command headquarters comparison, Alabama ranks in top third in nine of the 21 categories. Colorado ranks in the top third in five categories. Alabama ranks in bottom third in three of the 21 categories and Colorado ranks in bottom third in 10 of the 21 categories.{{cite web|url = https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2021/04/opposition-grows-to-putting-space-command-hq-in-alabama.html|title = Opposition grows to putting Space Command HQ in Alabama|date = April 2, 2021|access-date = April 21, 2021|archive-date = April 21, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421233457/https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2021/04/opposition-grows-to-putting-space-command-hq-in-alabama.html|url-status = live}}}}

File:President Richard Nixon Gives a Commencement Ceremony Speech at Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (cropped).jpg gives a commencement ceremony speech at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, June 4, 1969.]]

Army divisions are trained and stationed at Fort Carson. The United States Air Force Academy was established after World War II, on land donated by the City of Colorado Springs.

{{Further|History of Colorado Springs, Colorado#Military installations}}

The defense industry forms a significant part of the Colorado Springs economy, with some of the city's largest employers being defense contractors.{{cite web| url = http://www2.gazette.com/display.php?id=1321945&secid=4| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080108061549/http://www2.gazette.com/display.php?id=1321945&secid=4| url-status = dead| archive-date = January 8, 2008| title = Colorado Springs Gazette}} Some defense corporations have left or downsized city campuses, but slight growth has been recorded. Significant defense corporations in the city include Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, L3Harris Technologies, SAIC, ITT, Lockheed Martin, and Bluestaq.{{cite web |title=Bluestaq-an-overnight-success-in-military-contracting |date=November 12, 2019 |url=https://gazette.com/business/bluestaq-an-overnight-success-in-military-contracting/article_2a653448-056c-11ea-8241-d33f058fd904.html |access-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324225249/https://gazette.com/business/bluestaq-an-overnight-success-in-military-contracting/article_2a653448-056c-11ea-8241-d33f058fd904.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Gazette |first=Colorado Springs |title=Boeing adds jobs in Colorado Springs – The Denver Post |date=February 14, 2009 |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2009/02/14/boeing-adds-jobs-in-colorado-springs/ |access-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227231934/http://www.denverpost.com/2009/02/14/boeing-adds-jobs-in-colorado-springs/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=General Dynamics subsidiary shutters 60-person office in Colorado Springs |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |url=http://gazette.com/general-dynamics-subsidiary-shutters-60-person-office-in-colorado-springs/article/1585624 |access-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-date=February 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228075147/http://gazette.com/general-dynamics-subsidiary-shutters-60-person-office-in-colorado-springs/article/1585624 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Harris Corp. helping small Colorado Springs defense contractor grow into bigger role |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |url=http://gazette.com/harris-corp.-helping-small-colorado-springs-defense-contractor-grow-into-bigger-role/article/1597083 |access-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227232052/http://gazette.com/harris-corp.-helping-small-colorado-springs-defense-contractor-grow-into-bigger-role/article/1597083 |url-status=live }} The Space Foundation is based in Colorado Springs.{{cite web|title=Moon Rock has Landed at Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs|date=June 15, 2013|url=https://spacefoundation.org/2013/06/15/moon-rock-has-landed-at-space-foundation-discovery-center-in-colorado-springs/|access-date=July 11, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921194045/https://spacefoundation.org/2013/06/15/moon-rock-has-landed-at-space-foundation-discovery-center-in-colorado-springs/|url-status=live}}

A large percentage of Colorado Springs's economy is still based on manufacturing high-tech and complex electronic equipment. The high-tech sector in the Colorado Springs area has decreased its overall presence from 2000 to 2006 (from around 21,000 to around 8,000), with notable reductions in information technology and complex electronic equipment.{{cite web |title=2006–2007 Southern Colorado Economic Forum Publication |url=http://web.uccs.edu/scef/data/scef/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514213139/http://web.uccs.edu/scef/data/scef/ |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=September 15, 2010 |page=18}} Current trends project the high-tech employment ratio will continue to decrease.[http://web.uccs.edu/scef/data/scef/ SCEF – Southern Colorado Economic Forum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514213139/http://web.uccs.edu/scef/data/scef/ |date=May 14, 2008 }}{{cite web |title=A barren Garden of the Gods |url=http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=GSV0A5KE3CCGUQSNDLPCKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=196902115 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095544/http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=GSV0A5KE3CCGUQSNDLPCKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=196902115 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |publisher=EETimes.com}}{{cite web |last=Heilman |first=Wayne |date=July 18, 2008 |title=Colorado jobless rate at its highest since 2005 {{pipe}} percent, rate, colorado |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/percent_38360___article.html/rate_colorado.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007065514/http://www.gazette.com/articles/percent_38360___article.html/rate_colorado.html |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette }}{{cite web |last=Heilman |first=Wayne |date=August 30, 2008 |title=Manufacturing, tech jobs slipping away from Springs {{pipe}} manufacturing, springs, technology |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/manufacturing_40004___article.html/springs_technology.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907184247/http://www.gazette.com/articles/manufacturing_40004___article.html/springs_technology.html |archive-date=September 7, 2008 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette }}{{update inline|reason=Projections are from 2007 and 2008|date=November 2021}}

High-tech corporations offering fibre-optics to the premises connections within the city include: Lumen Technologies, Comcast and other providers as of 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.govtech.com/network/colorado-springs-colo-stands-to-gain-isp-choices-soon |url-access= |title=Colorado Springs, Colo., Stands to Gain ISP Choices Soon |last=Snouwaert |first=Jessica |date=September 15, 2022 |department=GovTech Today |website=govtech.com |publisher=Tribune Content Agency, LLC. |agency=The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=September 2, 2023 |quote= }} Hewlett-Packard still has some sales, support, and SAN storage engineering center for the computer industry.{{cite web |last=Laden |first=Rich |date=June 20, 2008 |title=HP plans to open centers in Arkansas, New Mexico{{pipe}} springs, colorado, new |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/springs_37486___article.html/colorado_new.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217150653/http://www.gazette.com/articles/springs_37486___article.html/colorado_new.html |archive-date=February 17, 2009 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette}}{{cite web |last=Heilman |first=Wayne |date=June 25, 2008 |title=HP to 800 Springs workers: Move to New Mexico or lose jobs {{pipe}} center, springs, employees |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/center_37622___article.html/springs_employees.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011225251/http://www.gazette.com/articles/center_37622___article.html/springs_employees.html |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette }}{{cite web |last=Heilman |first=Wayne |date=June 27, 2008 |title=HP to IT workers: Move to Fort Collins or lose job {{pipe}} move, workers, employees |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/move_37716___article.html/workers_employees.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120606140802/http://www.gazette.com/articles/move_37716___article.html/workers_employees.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette}} Storage Networking Industry Association is the home of the SNIA Technology Center.{{cite web |title=SNIA {{!}} Advancing Storage and Information Technology |url=https://www.snia.org/ |website=www.snia.org |access-date=March 8, 2017 |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530233741/https://www.snia.org/ |url-status=live }} Keysight Technologies, spun off in 2014 from Agilent,{{cite web |last1=Drake |first1=Michele |title=Agilent Technologies Spins Off Its Electronic Measurement Business, Keysight Technologies |url=https://www.investor.agilent.com/news-and-events/news/news-details/2014/Agilent-Technologies-Spins-Off-Its-Electronic-Measurement-Business-Keysight-Technologies/default.aspx |website=Agilent Technologies, Inc. |access-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412002527/https://www.investor.agilent.com/news-and-events/news/news-details/2014/Agilent-Technologies-Spins-Off-Its-Electronic-Measurement-Business-Keysight-Technologies/default.aspx |url-status=live }} which was itself spun off from HP in 1999 as an independent, publicly traded company,{{Cite magazine |date=November 18, 1999 |title=Agilents shares soar on first day |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/11/18/companies/agilent/ |magazine=Money |access-date=February 1, 2020}} has its oscilloscope research and development division based in Colorado Springs. Intel had 250 employees in 2009.{{cite web |last=Heilman |first=Wayne |date=July 28, 2008 |title=1,000 Intel workers will get job-hunting help {{pipe}} intel, help, workers |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/intel_38707___article.html/help_workers.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809151505/http://www.gazette.com/articles/intel_38707___article.html/help_workers.html |archive-date=August 9, 2008 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette}} The Intel facility is now used for the centralized unemployment offices, social services, El Paso county offices, and a bitcoin mining facility.{{cite web |url=https://admin.elpasoco.com/wp-content/uploads/CAFR/2010-Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427213203/https://admin.elpasoco.com/wp-content/uploads/CAFR/2010-Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Report.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the year ended December 31, 2010 |publisher=Budget Administration, Finance Division El Paso County, Colorado |date=2011 |access-date=November 30, 2021 }} Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel), is a chip fabrication organization.{{cite web |last=Wayne Heilman |date=December 15, 2008 |title=Atmel lays off 245 employees in Springs {{pipe}} atmel, employees, company |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/atmel_44889___article.html/employees_company.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120606140830/http://www.gazette.com/articles/atmel_44889___article.html/employees_company.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette}} The Apple Inc. facility was sold to Sanmina-SCI in 1996.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18160963.html] {{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

File:PikesPeakFromUCCS.jpg, the easternmost "fourteener" in the United States]]

Almost immediately following the arrival of railroads beginning in 1871, the city's location at the base of Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains made it a popular tourism destination. Tourism is the third largest employer in the Pikes Peak region, accounting for more than 16,000 jobs.{{cite web |title=DOLA Planning and Management Region 4 Socioeconomic Profile |url=http://www2.cde.state.co.us/artemis/locserials/loc615017internet/2012/loc615017region04internet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020801/http://www2.cde.state.co.us/artemis/locserials/loc615017internet/2012/loc615017region04internet.pdf |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |url-status=live |publisher=State Demography Office}} In 2018, 23 million day and overnight visitors came to the area, contributing $2.4 billion in revenue.{{Cite news |last=Longwoods Staff |date=June 1, 2019 |title=Longwoods Travel Research – Pikes Peak Region}}

File:Garden of the Gods 03.jpg]]

Colorado Springs has more than 55 attractions and activities in the area, including Garden of the Gods park, United States Air Force Academy, the ANA Money Museum, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Old Colorado City, The National Museum of World War II Aviation, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.{{Citation |last=Leslie Weddell |title=There's more to Colorado Springs than just that beautiful mountain |date=May 21, 2000 |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Colorado Springs}} In 2020, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum opened;{{Cite news |last=Rich |first=Laden |title=Olympic Museum now slated for 2020 opening |newspaper=The Gazette |url=https://gazette.com/business/olympic-museum-now-slated-for-opening-as-projects-take-shape/article_af795b88-c282-11e8-988a-9391be3ae5ab.html |access-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427221517/https://gazette.com/business/olympic-museum-now-slated-for-opening-as-projects-take-shape/article_af795b88-c282-11e8-988a-9391be3ae5ab.html |url-status=live }} the Flying W Ranch Chuckwagon Dinner & Western Show reopened in 2020.{{Cite news |last=Stanton |first=Billie |date=June 29, 2019 |title=Flying W Ranch to soar once more in Colorado Springs |newspaper=The Gazette |url=https://gazette.com/news/flying-w-ranch-to-soar-once-more-in-colorado-springs/article_9f0b2030-8229-11e9-84ab-735f12455901.html |access-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221050625/https://gazette.com/news/flying-w-ranch-to-soar-once-more-in-colorado-springs/article_9f0b2030-8229-11e9-84ab-735f12455901.html |url-status=live }} A new Pikes Peak Summit Complex opened at the {{convert|14115|ft|m|adj=on}} summit in 2021.{{cite web |title={{convert|2.2|mi|km|adj=on}} Break Ground on New Pikes Peak Summit Complex |url=https://gejohnson.com/news/officials-break-ground-on-new-pikes-peak-summit-complex/ |access-date=January 18, 2020 |website=GE Johnson Construction Company |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919154703/https://gejohnson.com/news/officials-break-ground-on-new-pikes-peak-summit-complex/ |url-status=live }} The Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway also reopened in 2021.{{Cite news |author=Evan Ochsner |date=July 2, 2021 |title=Updated Cog Railway and new summit house officially open at Pikes Peak |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Colorado Springs |url=https://gazette.com/news/updated-cog-railway-and-new-summit-house-officially-open-at-pikes-peak/article_0181037c-d9e1-11eb-b25b-4bad66989331.html |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710214255/https://gazette.com/news/updated-cog-railway-and-new-summit-house-officially-open-at-pikes-peak/article_0181037c-d9e1-11eb-b25b-4bad66989331.html |url-status=live }}

The downtown Colorado Springs Visitor Information Center offers free area information to leisure and business travelers.{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs Vacation & Tourism Information – Colorado Springs Colorado |url=http://www.visitcos.com/ |access-date=August 31, 2012 |website=Visitcos.com |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428000157/http://www.visitcos.com/ |url-status=live }} The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR), also downtown, supports and advocates for the arts throughout the Pikes Peak Region. It operates the PeakRadar website to communicate city events.Culture Office of the Pikes Peak Region [http://coppercolo.org/ Overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831130744/http://www.coppercolo.org/ |date=August 31, 2011 }}. Retrieved July 12, 2011.

File:Colorado Springs Hot Air Balloon Competition.jpg

Colorado Springs is home to the annual Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off, a hot air balloon festival that takes place over Labor Day weekend at the city's Memorial Park.{{cite web|title=The Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau|url=https://www.visitcos.com/events-calendar/colorado-springs-labor-day-lift-off/|access-date=February 17, 2021|website=Visit Colorado Springs|language=en|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921164759/https://www.visitcos.com/events-calendar/colorado-springs-labor-day-lift-off/|url-status=live}}

Other annual events include: a comic book convention and science fiction convention called GalaxyFest in February,{{cite web |title=GalaxyFest |url=https://galaxyfest.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216035704/https://galaxyfest.org/ |archive-date=February 16, 2019 |access-date=February 15, 2019 |publisher=GalaxyFest}} a pride parade called PrideFest in July,{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs PrideFest |url=https://www.cospridefest.com/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |publisher=Colorado Springs PrideFest |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209161416/https://www.cospridefest.com/ |url-status=live }} the Greek Festival, the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon, and the Steers & Beers Whiskey and Beer Festival in August,{{Citation |title=Greek Festival |url=https://www.amgoc.org/greek_festival/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124009/https://www.amgoc.org/greek_festival/ |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon |url=https://pikespeakmarathon.org/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173216/https://pikespeakmarathon.org/ |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=Steers and Beers Whiskey and Beer Festival |url=http://www.steersandbeersbrewfest.com/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180043/http://www.steersandbeersbrewfest.com/ |url-status=dead }} and the Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival in nearby Manitou Springs and Arts Month in October.{{Citation |title=Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival |url=http://www.emmacrawfordfestival.com/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209063434/http://www.emmacrawfordfestival.com/ |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=Arts Month |url=https://www.peakradar.com/categories/artsmonth/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208141129/https://www.peakradar.com/categories/artsmonth/ |url-status=live }}

The Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Parade is held the first Saturday in December.{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs Festival of Lights |url=https://www.coloradospringsfestivaloflights.com/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |publisher=The Colorado Springs Festival of Lights |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124352/https://www.coloradospringsfestivaloflights.com/ |url-status=live }} The parade is held on Tejon Street in Downtown Colorado Springs.{{cite web |last=Hancock |first=A. |date=December 6, 2019 |title=Festival of Lights Parade to be bigger than ever; 50,000 expected in downtown Colorado Springs |work=The Gazette |url=https://gazette.com/arts-entertainment/festival-of-lights-parade-to-be-bigger-than-ever-50-000-expected-in-downtown-colorado/article_6776044a-15eb-11ea-bbd0-8b741e664662.html |access-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011185743/https://gazette.com/arts-entertainment/festival-of-lights-parade-to-be-bigger-than-ever-50-000-expected-in-downtown-colorado/article_6776044a-15eb-11ea-bbd0-8b741e664662.html |url-status=live }}

In 2017, Colorado had the third-most craft breweries at 348.{{Citation |title=Mapped & Ranked: The States with the Most Craft Breweries in 2017 |date=October 10, 2018 |url=https://vinepair.com/articles/map-states-most-craft-breweries-2018/ |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020205625/https://vinepair.com/articles/map-states-most-craft-breweries-2018/ |url-status=live }} Breweries and microbreweries have become popular in Colorado Springs, which hosts over 30 of them.{{Citation |title=A map of Colorado Springs area breweries, distilleries, wineries and cider products |url=https://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/a-map-of-colorado-springs-area-breweries-distilleries-wineries-and-cider-producers/Content?oid=11454323/ |publisher=Colorado Springs Independent |access-date=February 7, 2019}} {{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Citation |title=Colorado Springs Breweries |url=https://www.coloradobrewerylist.com/brewery_city/colorado-springs/ |publisher=Colorado Brewery List |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301201606/https://www.coloradobrewerylist.com/brewery_city/colorado-springs/ |url-status=live }}

File:Saint Mary's Catholic Church.JPG is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs.]]

Although houses of worship of almost every major world religion are within the city, Colorado Springs has in particular attracted a large influx of Evangelical Christians and Christian organizations in recent years. At one time Colorado Springs was the national headquarters for 81 different religious organizations, earning the city the tongue-in-cheek nicknames "the Evangelical Vatican"{{Cite news |last=Ridgeway |first=James |date=January 15, 2010 |title=Day eight Sunday morning in the 'evangelical Vatican' |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/uselectionroadtrip/2008/oct/20/uselections2008 |access-date=April 30, 2010 |archive-date=September 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903101859/http://www.theguardian.com/world/uselectionroadtrip/2008/oct/20/uselections2008 |url-status=live }} and "The Christian Mecca".

Religious groups with regional or international headquarters in Colorado Springs include:

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Association of Christian Schools International[http://www.acsiglobal.org/about-acsi/contact-acsi-2 Contact ASCI] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827125535/http://www.acsiglobal.org/about-acsi/contact-acsi-2 |date=August 27, 2013 }}
• Biblica{{cite web |date=May 13, 2016 |title=Biblica – The International Bible Society |url=http://www.biblica.com/ |website=biblica.com |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509232630/http://www.biblica.com/ |url-status=dead }}
• Children's HopeChest{{cite web |title=Contact us – Children's Hopechest |url=http://www.hopechest.org/contact-us/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901222736/http://www.hopechest.org/contact-us/ |archive-date=September 1, 2013 |access-date=August 23, 2013 |website=hopechest.org}}
• Community Bible Study{{cite web| url = http://www.communitybiblestudy.org/| title = Community Bible Study| access-date = August 24, 2013| archive-date = August 25, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130825200041/http://www.communitybiblestudy.org/| url-status = live}}
• Compassion International{{cite web |title=Contact Compassion International |url=http://www.compassion.com/contact/default.htm |website=compassion.com |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=August 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825073341/http://www.compassion.com/contact/default.htm |url-status=live }}
• David C. Cook/Integrity Music{{cite web |title=About David C. Cook |url=http://www.davidccook.com/About/about/index.cfm?N=7,167,2,1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907083311/http://www.davidccook.com/About/about/index.cfm?N=7,167,2,1 |archive-date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2013}}
• Development Associates International{{cite web |title=Development Associates International – Promoting Servant Leadership |url=http://www.daintl.org/ |website=DAI |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=December 12, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981212024213/http://www.daintl.org/ |url-status=live }}
• Engineering Ministries International{{cite web |title=eMi – Contact Us |url=http://www.emiusa.org/contactus.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907062258/http://emiusa.org/contactus.php |archive-date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=August 23, 2013 |website=emiusa.org}}
• Family Talk{{cite web |title=Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk |url=http://www.drjamesdobson.org/ |website=drjamesdobson.org |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=August 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810160919/http://www.drjamesdobson.org/ |url-status=live }}
• Focus on the Family{{cite web |title=How do I contact Focus on the Family? |url=http://family.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14190/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209154545/http://family.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14190 |archive-date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |website=custhelp.com}}
• Global Action{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.globalaction.com/ |website=Global Action |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=June 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604035012/http://globalaction.com/ |url-status=live }}
• HCJB{{cite web |title=Reach Beyond |url=http://www.hcjb.org/about/contact.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727215916/http://www.hcjb.org/about/contact.html |archive-date=July 27, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |website=hcjb.org}}
• Hope & Home{{cite web |title=Hope & Home – Foster Care Colorado Springs |url=http://www.hopeandhome.org/ |website=Hope & Home – Foster Care Colorado Springs |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=August 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826235352/http://www.hopeandhome.org/ |url-status=live }}
• The Navigators{{cite web |date=January 25, 2016 |title=Making Disciples: Using Everything I Have – The Navigators |url=http://www.navigators.org/us/ |website=navigators.org |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=August 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822014913/http://www.navigators.org/us/ |url-status=live }}
• One Child Matters{{cite web |title=One Child Matters |url=http://www.onechildmatters.org/page.aspx?pid=247 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130824000102/http://www.onechildmatters.org/page.aspx?pid=247 |archive-date=August 24, 2013 |access-date=August 23, 2013 |website=onechildmatters.org }}
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs{{cite web |title=Home – Diocese of Colorado Springs |url=http://www.diocs.org/ |website=diocs.org |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227150358/https://www.diocs.org/ |url-status=live }}
• VisionTrust{{cite web |title=Products Archive – VisionTrust |url=http://www.visiontrust.org/aboutus/keycontacts.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829232215/http://www.visiontrust.org/aboutus/keycontacts.aspx |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2013 |website=VisionTrust}}
• WayFM Network{{cite web |title=WAY Media Network Services |url=http://network.wayfm.com/ |website=WAY Media Network Services |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905102856/http://network.wayfm.com/ |url-status=live }}
• Young Life[http://www.younglife.org/ContactYoungLife/ Contact Young Life] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820143146/http://www.younglife.org/ContactYoungLife |date=August 20, 2013 }}

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{{main|Colorado Amendment 64#Local option}}

Although Colorado voters approved Colorado Amendment 64, a constitutional amendment in 2012 legalizing retail sales of marijuana for recreational purposes, the Colorado Springs city council voted not to permit retail shops in the city, as was allowed in the amendment.{{cite news |last=Martinez |first=Michael |title=10 things to know about Colorado's recreational marijuana shops – CNN |date=December 28, 2013 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/28/us/10-things-colorado-recreational-marijuana/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329182124/http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/28/us/10-things-colorado-recreational-marijuana/ |url-status=live }} Medical marijuana outlets continue to operate in Colorado Springs.[http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article25866490.html "Pot may be legal in Colorado, but it can't be purchased in most large cities"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410150956/http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article25866490.html |date=April 10, 2016 }}, Tacoma News Tribune, March 16, 2016. In 2015, there were 91 medical marijuana clinics in the city, which reported sales of $59.6 million in 2014, up 11 percent from the previous year but without recreational marijuana shops.{{Cite news |department=Op/Ed |newspaper=The Gazette |title=Medical marijuana industry still growing in Colorado Business comparison El Paso County Medical Society policy statement on marijuana use |url=http://gazette.com/medical-marijuana-industry-still-growing-in-colorado/article/1548439 |access-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407124217/http://gazette.com/medical-marijuana-industry-still-growing-in-colorado/article/1548439 |url-status=live }} On April 26, 2016, Colorado Springs city council decided to extend the current six-month moratorium to eighteen months with no new licenses to be granted until May 2017. A scholarly paper suggested the city would give up $25.4 million in tax revenue and fees if the city continued to thwart the industry from opening within the city limits.{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2017 |title=Inside a wild week in weed for Colorado Springs |work=The Cannabist |url=https://www.thecannabist.co/2017/07/27/colorado-springs-marijuana-head-shops-gateway-drug/84717/ |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428070007/https://www.thecannabist.co/2017/07/27/colorado-springs-marijuana-head-shops-gateway-drug/84717/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |title=The Economic Impact of Allowing Retail Marijuana Establishments in Colorado Springs |url=https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3902201/Colorado-Springs-Economic-Study-on-Allowing.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428101857/https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3902201/Colorado-Springs-Economic-Study-on-Allowing.pdf |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |url-status=live |journal=Daniels School of Business, University of Denver |volume=Miller Chair of Applied Economics |via=documentcloud.org}} As of March 1, 2018, there were 131 medical marijuana centers and no recreational cannabis stores.{{cite web |title=MED Licensed Medical Marijuana Centers as of March 1, 2018 |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Centers%2003012018.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172421/https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Centers%2003012018.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |access-date=March 4, 2018}} As of 2019 Colorado Springs is still one of seven towns that have only allowed for medical marijuana.{{cite web |last=Fuego |first=Herbert |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Ask a Stoner: How Many Towns in Colorado Still Ban Weed Sales? |url=https://www.westword.com/marijuana/most-of-colorado-still-bans-dispensaries-11199015 |access-date=November 18, 2019 |website=Westword |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804031532/https://www.westword.com/marijuana/most-of-colorado-still-bans-dispensaries-11199015 |url-status=live }}

Colorado Springs has been the subject of or setting for many books, films and television shows, and is a frequent backdrop for political thrillers and military-themed stories because of its many military installations and vital importance to the United States' continental defense. Notable television series using the city as a setting include Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Homicide Hunter and the Stargate series Stargate SG-1, as well as the films WarGames, The Prestige, and BlacKkKlansman.{{cite web |title=26 Things People From Colorado Springs Have To Explain To Out-Of-Towners |url=http://www.movoto.com/guide/colorado-springs-co/things-people-from-colorado-springs-have-to-explain/ |access-date=October 14, 2016 |website=Movoto}}

In a North Korean propaganda video released in April 2013, Colorado Springs was singled out as one of four targets for a missile strike. The video failed to pinpoint Colorado Springs on the map, instead showing a spot somewhere in Louisiana.{{cite news |date=April 12, 2013 |title=Video: North Korea threatens to strike Colorado Springs but doesn't know where it is |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/04/12/video-north-korea-threatens-to-strike-colorado-springs-but-doesnt-know-where-it-is/ |access-date=May 8, 2013 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=May 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504174159/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/04/12/video-north-korea-threatens-to-strike-colorado-springs-but-doesnt-know-where-it-is/ |url-status=live }}

File:US Olympic Committee Headquarters by David Shankbone.jpg headquarters and training facility]]

Colorado Springs, dubbed Olympic City USA, is home to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and the headquarters of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the United States Anti-Doping Agency.{{cite web |title=Olympic City USA {{!}} Colorado Springs |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/ocusa |access-date=October 14, 2016 |website=coloradosprings.gov |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031027/https://coloradosprings.gov/ocusa |url-status=dead }}

Further, over 50 national sports organizations (non-Olympic) headquarter in Colorado Springs. These include the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Sports Incubator, a various non-Olympic Sports (such as USA Ultimate), and more.{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs Sports Industry Competitive Advantages |url=http://www.coloradospringsbusinessalliance.com/library/Industry_Brochures/Business_Alliance_Sports_Brochure.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912113056/http://www.coloradospringsbusinessalliance.com/library/Industry_Brochures/Business_Alliance_Sports_Brochure.pdf |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=September 6, 2016 |url-status=usurped |website=Colorado Springs Business Alliance}}

Colorado Springs and Denver hosted the 1962 World Ice Hockey Championships.

The city has a long association with the sport of figure skating, having hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships six times and the World Figure Skating Championships five times. It is home to the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame and the Broadmoor Skating Club, a notable training center for the sport. In recent years, the Broadmoor World Arena has hosted skating events such as Skate America and the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.{{cite web |title=Team USA |url=https://www.teamusa.com |access-date=February 23, 2016 |website=Team USA Home |archive-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223062743/http://www.teamusa.org/ |url-status=live }}

Colorado Springs is home to a professional baseball team, the Rocky Mountain Vibes, who are a member of the Pioneer League, an MLB Partner League.

{{see also|Pikes Peak International Hill Climb}}

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual invitational automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak, every year on the last Sunday of June.{{cite web |title=What is the PPIHC? |url=http://ppihc.org/about-fans/ |access-date=November 27, 2019 |website=Pikes Peak International Hill Climb |archive-date=November 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127200213/http://ppihc.org/about-fans/ |url-status=live }} The highway wasn't completely paved until 2011.{{cite web |date=September 30, 2011 |title=Paving completed on Pike's Peak road, 13 years after Sierra Club suit |url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_19016252 |website=The Denver Post |access-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307032242/http://www.denverpost.com/ci_19016252 |url-status=live }}

The local colleges feature many sports teams. Notable among them are several nationally competitive NCAA Division I teams: United States Air Force Academy (Falcons) Football, Basketball and Hockey{{cite web |title=goairforcefalcons.com |url=http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/afa-m-footbl-body.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012175415/http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/afa-m-footbl-body.html |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |access-date=October 14, 2016 |website=goairforcefalcons.com |publisher=Air Force Academy Athletics Official Athletic Site – Football}} and Colorado College (Tigers) Hockey, and Women's Soccer.{{cite web |title=Varsity Athletics • Colorado College |url=https://www.coloradocollege.edu/lifeatcc/recreation/varsityathletics/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018200744/https://www.coloradocollege.edu/lifeatcc/recreation/varsityathletics/ |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |access-date=October 14, 2016 |website=coloradocollege.edu}}

Colorado Springs was the original headquarters of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) from its founding in 1992 until 2005, when the organization was moved to Pueblo.{{cite web |title=Professional Bull Riders – PBR National Headquarters move to Pueblo, Colorado |url=https://www.pbr.com/en/news/features/other-features/2005/8/pbr-national-headquarters-move-to-pueblo,-colorado.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174547/https://www.pbr.com/en/news/features/other-features/2005/8/pbr-national-headquarters-move-to-pueblo,-colorado.aspx |archive-date=January 19, 2019 |access-date=April 27, 2018 |website=Professional Bull Riders}}

{{main|Parks in Colorado Springs, Colorado|List of parks in Colorado Springs, Colorado}}

The city's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services manage 136 neighborhood parks, eight community parks, seven regional parks, and five sports complexes, totaling {{convert|9000|acre}}. They also manage {{convert|500|acre}} of trails, of which {{convert|160|mile}} are park trails and {{convert|105|miles}} are urban. There are {{convert|5000|acre}} of open space in 48 open-space areas.{{cite web |title=Parks, Trails and Open Spaces |url=http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1214 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725125551/http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1214 |archive-date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=May 23, 2013 |publisher=City of Colorado Springs}}

Image:Ackerman Overlook, Colo Spgs., CO IMG 5631.JPG off Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs, is named for Jasper D. Ackerman (1896–1988), a banker and rancher.Colorado historical marker, Interstate 25, Colorado Springs, Colorado]]

File:Pulpit Rock, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1).jpg

Garden of the Gods is on Colorado Springs's western edge. It is a National Natural Landmark, with {{convert|300|foot}} red/orange sandstone rock formations often viewed against a backdrop of the snow-capped Pikes Peak. This park is free to the public and offers many recreational opportunities, such as hiking, rock climbing, cycling, horseback riding and tours.{{cite web |title=Garden of the Gods Park |url=https://gardenofgods.com/ |access-date=January 18, 2020 |publisher=City of Colorado Springs |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117130955/https://gardenofgods.com/ |url-status=live }} It offers a variety of annual events, one of the most popular of which is the Starlight Spectacular, a recreational bike ride held every summer to benefit the Trails and Open Space Coalition of Colorado Springs.{{cite web |date=May 18, 2017 |title=Starlight Spectacular |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/parks-recreation-and-cultural-services-special-events/article/calendar-event/starlight-spectacular |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120543/https://coloradosprings.gov/parks-recreation-and-cultural-services-special-events/article/calendar-event/starlight-spectacular |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |access-date=December 22, 2018 |website=coloradosprings.gov}}

Colorado Springs has several major city parks, such as Palmer Park, America the Beautiful Park in downtown, Memorial Park, which includes many sports fields, an indoor swimming pool and skating rink, a skateboard bowl and two half-pipes, and Monument Valley Park, which has walking and biking paths, an outdoor swimming pool and pickleball courts.{{cite web |title=Community Parks |url=http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1943 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428032808/http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1943 |archive-date=April 28, 2013 |access-date=May 22, 2013 |publisher=City of Colorado Springs}} Monument Valley Park also has Tahama Spring, the original spring in Colorado Springs.{{Cite news |date=December 26, 1904 |title=Used Spring 33 Years Ago |page=5 |work=Colorado Springs Gazette}}{{Cite news |date=May 16, 1926 |title=New Pavilion at Tahama Spring |work=Sunday Gazette and Telegraph |url=http://more.ppld.org:8080/SpecialCollections/Index/ArticleOrders/762613.pdf |access-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021024714/http://more.ppld.org:8080/SpecialCollections/Index/ArticleOrders/762613.pdf |url-status=live }} Austin Bluffs Park affords a place of recreation in eastern Colorado Springs. El Paso County Regional Parks include Bear Creek Regional Park, Bear Creek Dog Park, Fox Run Regional Park and Fountain Creek Regional Park and Nature Center.{{cite web |url=https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/parks-and-recreation/#1511291070425-93afb348-61b1 |title=Parks and Recreation – El Paso County Community Services |publisher=Communityservices.elpasoco.com |date= |accessdate=November 22, 2021 |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115175138/https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/parks-and-recreation/#1511291070425-93afb348-61b1 |url-status=live }} Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa),[http://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/trees_for_frontrange.pdf Recommended Trees for Colorado Front Range Communities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713045219/http://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/trees_for_frontrange.pdf |date=July 13, 2017 }}, p. 11, s.v. Ponderosa pineKaufmann, M. R.; Huckaby, L. S.; Gleason, P., (2000), Ponderosa pine in the Colorado Front Range: long historical fire and tree recruitment intervals and a case for landscape heterogeneity. In: Neuenschwander, Leon F.; Ryan, Kevin C., tech. eds. Proceedings from the Joint Fire Science Conference and Workshop: Crossing the Millennium: Integrating spatial technologies and ecological principles for a new age in fire management; Boise, Idaho, June 15–17, 1999. Moscow, Idaho: University of Idaho: 153–160. Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii),[http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/gambel-oak-management-6-311/ Colorado State University (Fact Sheet)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913184718/http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/gambel-oak-management-6-311/ |date=September 13, 2017 }}, Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii)[https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NativeGarden-Front-Range-4-11-2016.pdf Low-Water Native Plants for Colorado Gardens: Front Range and Foothills] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118193905/https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NativeGarden-Front-Range-4-11-2016.pdf |date=January 18, 2017 }}, p. 14 narrowleaf yucca (Yucca angustissima, syn. Yucca glauca)[https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=yuan2 USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714043544/https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=YUAN2 |date=July 14, 2017 }}, Yucca angustissima Engelm. ex Trel. and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia macrorhiza).[https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NativeGarden-Front-Range-4-11-2016.pdf Low-Water Native Plants for Colorado Gardens: Front Range and Foothills] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118193905/https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NativeGarden-Front-Range-4-11-2016.pdf |date=January 18, 2017 }}, p. 14

Three trails, the New Santa Fe Regional Trail, Pikes Peak Greenway and Fountain Creek Regional Trail, form a continuous path from Palmer Lake, through Colorado Springs, to Fountain, Colorado. The majority of the trail between Palmer Lake and Fountain is a soft surface breeze gravel trail. A major segment of the trail within the Colorado Springs city limits is paved. The trails, except Monument Valley Park trails, may be used for equestrian traffic. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trails. Many of the trails are interconnected, having main spine trails, like the Pikes Peak Greenway, that lead to secondary trails.{{cite web |title=Trails and hking in Colorado Springs |url=http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1881 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517055911/http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1881 |archive-date=May 17, 2013 |access-date=May 23, 2013 |publisher=City of Colorado Springs}}{{cite web |title=Pikes Peak Greenway Trail |url=http://www.springsgov.com/page.aspx?navid=2291 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822003814/http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=2291 |archive-date=August 22, 2013 |access-date=May 22, 2013 |publisher=City of Colorado Springs}}{{cite web |title=Pikes Peak Greenway Trail Map, and its submaps |url=http://www.springsgov.com/units/parksrec/maps/mppgrnwy13.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131082347/http://www.springsgov.com/units/parksrec/maps/mppgrnwy13.htm |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=May 22, 2013 |publisher=City of Colorado Springs }}

{{see also|List of mayors of Colorado Springs, Colorado}}

File:Colorado Springs, Colorado city hall.jpg]]

On November 2, 2010, Colorado Springs voters adopted a council-strong mayor form of government. The City of Colorado Springs transitioned to the new system of government in 2011. Under the council-strong mayor system of government, the mayor is the chief executive and the city council is the legislative branch. The mayor is a full-time elected position and not a member of the council. The council has nine members, six of whom represent one of six equally populated districts each. The remaining three members are elected at-large.{{cite web |title=Mayor-Council Form of Government |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/cat/government/city-council/city-council-information |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222101743/https://coloradosprings.gov/cat/government/city-council/city-council-information |archive-date=December 22, 2015}}

Colorado Springs City Hall was built from 1902 to 1904 on land donated by W. S. Stratton.{{cite web |date=December 5, 2009 |title=1904 – Colorado Springs City Hall – Colorado Springs, CO – Dated Buildings and Cornerstones on |url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7V3Y_1904_Colorado_Springs_City_Hall_Colorado_Springs_CO |access-date=May 8, 2013 |publisher=Waymarking.com |archive-date=June 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617182113/http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7V3Y_1904_Colorado_Springs_City_Hall_Colorado_Springs_CO |url-status=live }}{{clear left}}

The Colorado Springs City Council consists of nine elected officials, six of whom represent districts and three of whom represent the city at-large.{{cite web |title=City Council Members |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/city-council/page/2017-19-city-council-members |access-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118204303/https://coloradosprings.gov/city-council/page/2017-19-city-council-members |url-status=dead }}

• District 1 – Dave Donelson
• District 2 – Randy Helms – Council President
• District 3 – Michelle Talarico
• District 4 – Yolanda Avila
• District 5 – Nancy Henjum
• District 6 – Mike O'Malley
• At-large – Lynette Crow-Iverson – Council President Pro Tem
• At-large – David Leinweber
• At-large – Brian Risley

In 2017, Caleb Hannan wrote in Politico that Colorado Springs was "staunchly Republican", "a right-wing counterweight to liberal Boulder", and that a study ranked it "the fourth most conservative city in America".{{cite web |last=Hannan, Caleb |date=June 30, 2017 |title=The Short, Unhappy Life of a Libertarian Paradise |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/30/colorado-springs-libertarian-experiment-america-215313 |access-date=May 13, 2020 |website=Politico |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428182721/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/30/colorado-springs-libertarian-experiment-america-215313 |url-status=live }} In 2016, Hannan wrote that downtown Colorado Springs had a different political vibe from the overall area's and that there were "superficial signs of changing demographics". Since 2020, Colorado Springs has continued to shift towards the political center. In 2022, Governor Jared Polis won the city in his bid for reelection.{{Cite web |last=Woodruff |first=Chase |date=May 2, 2023 |title=How tectonic political shifts could spell an upset in Colorado Springs mayor's race |url=https://coloradonewsline.com/2023/05/02/how-tectonic-political-shifts-could-spell-an-upset-in-colorado-springs-mayors-race/ |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=Colorado Newsline |language=en-US |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610032349/https://coloradonewsline.com/2023/05/02/how-tectonic-political-shifts-could-spell-an-upset-in-colorado-springs-mayors-race/ |url-status=live }} In the 2023 mayoral election, independent candidate Yemi Mobolade handily won the race and became the first elected non-Republican mayor of the city.{{Cite web |last=Luning |first=Ernest |date=May 17, 2023 |title=Yemi Mobolade's victory marks seismic shift in Colorado Springs: Analysis |url=https://gazette.com/election-coverage/yemi-mobolades-victory-marks-seismic-shift-in-colorado-springs-analysis/article_d0afa790-f44a-11ed-a4f2-0bb80c573ff1.html |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette |language=en |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622223822/https://gazette.com/election-coverage/yemi-mobolades-victory-marks-seismic-shift-in-colorado-springs-analysis/article_d0afa790-f44a-11ed-a4f2-0bb80c573ff1.html |url-status=live }}

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Public schools

The public education in the city is divided into several school districts:

• Colorado Springs School District 11 (center of the city)
• Academy School District 20 (north end)
• Falcon School District 49 (east side)
• Widefield School District 3 (south end)
• Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 (far south end)
• Harrison School District 2 (south central area)
• James Irwin Charter High School (east central area)
• Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 (southwest corner)
• The Vanguard School, CIVA Charter High School and The Classical Academy are charter schools.

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Private schools

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs schools{{cite web |title=School Listing |url=https://ucsdcs.org/about-us/school-listing |website=Unified Catholic Schools – Diocese of Colorado Springs |access-date=June 18, 2022 |language=en-gb |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926145023/http://ucsdcs.org/about-us/school-listing |url-status=live }} including within the boundaries of the city
• Corpus Christi Catholic School – PreK-8
• Divine Redeemer Catholic School – PreK-8
• St. Gabriel Classical Academy – PreK-3
• St. Paul Catholic School – PreK-8
• St. Mary's High School – an independent Catholic high school{{cite web |title=St. Mary's High School |url=https://www.smpirates.org/ |website=www.smpirates.org |access-date=June 18, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627151816/https://www.smpirates.org/ |url-status=dead }}
• Fountain Valley School of Colorado – a residential high school established in 1930 with a current enrollment of about 240.{{cite web |title=Fountain Valley School of Colorado |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/fountain-valley-school-of-colorado-306484#students-and-teachers |website=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618173901/https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/fountain-valley-school-of-colorado-306484#students-and-teachers |url-status=live }}
• The Colorado Springs School – a preK-12 school established in 1962 with a current enrollment of about 300.{{cite web |title=The Colorado Springs School homepage |url=http://css.org/ |access-date=September 15, 2010 |archive-date=October 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027211033/http://www.css.org/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=The Colorado Springs School |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/the-colorado-springs-school-306496 |website=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618173901/https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/the-colorado-springs-school-306496 |url-status=live }}
• Colorado Springs Christian Schools – A PreK–12th grade Christian school with two campuses started in 1972 and with an enrollment of about 1,150 in 2021.{{Cite news| last = Rabey| first = Steve| title = Colorado Springs Christian Schools celebrates 50 years| work = Colorado Springs Gazette| accessdate = June 11, 2022| date = May 1, 2022| url = https://gazette.com/life/colorado-springs-christian-schools-celebrates-50-years/article_b19b2968-c0a9-11ec-8b01-b7a1a3632466.html| archive-date = May 28, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220528214641/https://gazette.com/life/colorado-springs-christian-schools-celebrates-50-years/article_b19b2968-c0a9-11ec-8b01-b7a1a3632466.html| url-status = live}}{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs Christian Schools |url=http://www.cscslions.org/ |website=www.cscslions.org |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624072130/http://cscslions.org/ |url-status=live }}
• Evangelical Christian Academy – a preK-12 school established in 1971 with a current enrollment of about 350.{{cite web |title=About ECA {{!}} Evangelical Christian Academy |url=https://www.ecaeagles.org/eca-at-a-glance/ |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517032558/https://www.ecaeagles.org/eca-at-a-glance/ |url-status=live }}
• Pikes Peak Christian School – a preK-12 Christian school with a current enrollment of about 210{{cite web |title=About – Pikes Peak Christian School |url=https://www.ppcseagles.org/about/ |website=www.ppcseagles.org |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331083253/https://www.ppcseagles.org/about/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Pikes Peak Christian School |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/pikes-peak-christian-school-322511 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618173923/https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/colorado/pikes-peak-christian-school-322511 |url-status=live }}

{{col-end}}

In addition the state of Colorado runs the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, a residential school for people up to age 21 and established in 1874, in the city.{{cite web |title=The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind – CSPM |url=https://www.cspm.org/cos-150-story/the-colorado-school-for-the-deaf-and-the-blind/ |website=www.cspm.org |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213104441/https://www.cspm.org/cos-150-story/the-colorado-school-for-the-deaf-and-the-blind/ |url-status=live }}

File:Air Force Academy Doolittle Hall by David Shankbone.jpg]]

State institutions offering bachelors and graduate degree programs in Colorado Springs include the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) with more than 12,000 students{{cite web |title=Home {{!}} UCCS |url=https://www.uccs.edu/ |website=www.uccs.edu |access-date=September 16, 2022 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916005404/https://www.uccs.edu/ |url-status=live }} and Pikes Peak State College which offers mostly two-year degree associate degrees.{{cite web |title=About {{!}} Pikes Peak State College |url=https://www.pikespeak.edu/about/index.php |website=www.pikespeak.edu |access-date=September 17, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171303/https://www.pikespeak.edu/about/index.php |url-status=live }} The United States Air Force Academy is a federal institution offering bachelor's degrees for officer candidates.{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.usafa.edu/about/ |website=United States Air Force Academy |access-date=September 17, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171834/https://www.usafa.edu/about/ |url-status=live }}

Private non-profit institutions include Colorado College established in 1874 with about 2,000 undergraduates.{{cite web |title=Colorado College |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/colorado-college-1347 |website=US News & World Report |access-date=September 17, 2022 |archive-date=September 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917142121/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/colorado-college-1347 |url-status=live }} Colorado Christian University has its Colorado Springs Center in the city.{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs Center |url=https://www.ccu.edu/ccu/locations/coloradosprings/ |website=www.ccu.edu |access-date=September 17, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170841/https://www.ccu.edu/ccu/locations/coloradosprings/ |url-status=live }}

Private for-profit institutions include Colorado Technical University whose main campus is in Colorado Springs and IntelliTec College a technical training school.

I-25 runs north and south through Colorado, and traverses the city for nearly {{convert|18|mi|km}}, entering the city south of Circle Drive and exiting north of North Gate Boulevard. In El Paso County it is known as Ronald Reagan Highway.{{efn|To combat congestion the Colorado Department of Transportation widened the Interstate 25 corridor throughout the city from four lanes (two in each direction) to six lanes in a program called COSMIX. Ultimately, the plan is to make the interstate eight lanes through the city when funding becomes available.{{cite web |title=Litter Removal Program |url=http://www.cosmixproject.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114182606/http://cosmixproject.com/ |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |access-date=September 15, 2010 |publisher=Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT)}} Interstate 25 was expanded to 6 lanes between Woodmen Road (exit 149, the northern terminus for the COSMIX project) and Monument (exit 161).{{cite web |title=I-25 North Design Build (Colorado Springs) – CDOT |url=http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/I25NorthCOSDB |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126175510/http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/I25NorthCOSDB |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |publisher=Coloradodot.info}}{{cite web |last=Zubeck |first=Pam |date=December 29, 2012 |title=I-25 widening project coming soon {{pipe}} IndyBlog |url=http://www.csindy.com/IndyBlog/archives/2012/12/29/i-25-widening-project-coming-soon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103025928/http://www.csindy.com/IndyBlog/archives/2012/12/29/i-25-widening-project-coming-soon |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |publisher=Csindy.com}}}} An Interstate 25 bypass was approved in 2010.{{Cite news |last=Sealover |first=Ed |date=February 3, 2011 |title=For the love of a road; Colorado Springs Independent, The (Colorado Springs) |publisher=csindy.com |url=http://www.csindy.com/colorado/for-the-love-of-a-road/Content?oid=2033692 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708211953/http://www.csindy.com/colorado/for-the-love-of-a-road/Content?oid=2033692 |archive-date=July 8, 2011}}{{Cite news |last=Sealover |first=Ed |date=May 13, 2010 |title=Copper Ridge takes a step; Colorado Springs Independent, The (Colorado Springs) {{pipe}} Find Articles |publisher=csindy.com |url=http://www.csindy.com/colorado/noted/Content?oid=1706080 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212030/http://www.csindy.com/colorado/noted/Content?oid=1706080 |archive-date=July 8, 2011}}

A number of state and U.S. highways serve the city. State Highway 21 is a major east side semi-expressway from Black Forest to Fountain, known locally and co-signed as Powers Boulevard. State Highway 83 runs north–south from central Denver to northern Colorado Springs. State Highway 94 runs east–west from western Cheyenne County to eastern Colorado Springs where it terminates at US 24. US 24 is a major route through the city and county, providing access to Woodland Park via Ute Pass to the west and downtown, Nob Hill and numerous suburbs to the east. It is co-signed with Platte Ave after SH 21 and originally carried local traffic through town. The Martin Luther King Jr Bypass runs from I-25 near Circle Drive along Fountain Blvd to SH 21, then east again. State Highway 115 begins in Cañon City, traveling north along the western edge of Fort Carson; when it reaches the city limits it merges with Nevada Avenue, a signed Business Route of US 85. US 85 and SH 115 are concurrent between Lake Avenue and I-25. US 85 enters the city at Fountain and was signed at Venetucci Blvd, Lake Avenue, and Nevada Avenue{{efn|In addition, there were plans to develop a "Front Range Toll Road", a privately owned turnpike, which would begin south of Pueblo and end around Fort Collins. This toll road would allow rail and truck traffic to avoid the more highly traveled parts of I-25 along the Front Range. Initially, the project had support but has since been highly contested because of the need to condemn the land of many private citizens, through the use of eminent domain, to make room for the corridor.{{cite web |title=? |url=http://www.nosuperslab.org/crap/how_to.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303061620/http://www.nosuperslab.org/crap/how_to.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014}}}} at various points in history; however most of US 85 is concurrent with I-25 and is not signed.

In 2004, the voters of Colorado Springs and El Paso County established the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.{{cite web |date=September 28, 2009 |title=PPRTA Homepage |url=http://www.pprta.com/ |access-date=October 5, 2009 |publisher=Pprta.com |archive-date=August 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827005306/http://www.pprta.com/ |url-status=live }}

Colorado Springs Airport (COS; ICAO: KCOS) has been in operation since 1925. It is the second-largest commercial airport in the state, after Denver International Airport (DEN; ICAO: KDEN). It covers {{convert|7,200|acre}} of land at an elevation of approximately {{convert|6200|ft}}. COS is considered to be a joint-use civilian and military airport, as Peterson Space Force Base is a tenant of the airport.{{cite web |date=October 9, 2015 |title=About the Airport |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/flycos/about-airport |website=FLY COS |access-date=May 5, 2019 |archive-date=May 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505030523/https://coloradosprings.gov/flycos/about-airport |url-status=live }} It has three paved runways: 17L/35R is {{convert|13,501|by|150|ft}}, the runway 17R/35L is {{convert|11022|by|150|ft}} and the runway 13/31 is {{convert|8270|by|150|ft}}.{{cite web |title=AirportIQ 5010 |url=https://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=COS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203064413/https://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=COS |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |access-date=May 5, 2019 |website=AirportIQ 5010}} The airport handled 2,134,618 passengers in 2022,{{Cite web |title=Colorado Springs Airport sees highest enplanements in 22 Years {{!}} City of Colorado Springs |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/flycos/article/news/colorado-springs-airport-sees-highest-enplanements-22#:~:text=The%20Colorado%20Springs%20Airport%20(COS,the%20highest%20amount%20since%202000. |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=coloradosprings.gov}} and is served by American, Avelo, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country, and United.{{Cite web |title=Nonstop Route Map {{!}} City of Colorado Springs |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/nonstop-route-map |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=coloradosprings.gov}}

Freight service is provided by Union Pacific and BNSF.

Once an important hub, the city was once served by four Class 1 railroads, as well as a number of smaller operators, some of which were narrow gauge,Ormes, R.M. Tracking Ghost Railroads in Colorado, Century One Press 1975 and an extensive streetcar system, the Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway.

Currently there is no intercity passenger service; the last remaining services connecting the Front Range cities ceased with the formation of Amtrak in 1971.{{efn| The last scheduled passenger service to Colorado Springs was the Denver to Dallas Texas Zephyr, which was cancelled on September 11, 1967.}} Front Range Passenger Rail is a current proposal (as of 2023) to link the cities from Pueblo in the south, north to Fort Collins and possibly Cheyenne, Wyoming.{{cite news |last1=Heins |first1=Nicole |title=Amtrak hopes to reduce I-25 traffic by creating a passenger rail along the Front Range |url=https://www.kktv.com/2021/04/13/amtrak-hopes-to-reduce-i-25-traffic-by-creating-a-passenger-rail-along-the-front-range/ |access-date=January 1, 2022 |work=KKTV 11 News |date=April 13, 2021 |language=en}}

As of 2017, Colorado Springs has {{convert|121|mi|km}} of bike lanes and {{convert|82|mi|km}} of paved trails.{{cite web |title=State of Bicycling in Colorado Springs Report |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/document/cosbikesdraftappendixa.pdf |access-date=17 October 2024}} PikeRide is a local electric bike-share program that operates in urban core, Old Colorado City, and Manitou Springs.

In April 2018, the Colorado Springs City Council approved a Bike Master Plan.{{Citation |title=Bike Master Plan |date=July 27, 2016 |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/bikes/page/bike-master-plan |publisher=City of Colorado Springs |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111359/https://coloradosprings.gov/bikes/page/bike-master-plan |url-status=dead }} The vision of the city's Bike Master Plan is "a healthy and vibrant Colorado Springs where bicycling is one of many transportation options for a large portion of the population, and where a well-connected and well-maintained network of urban trails, single-track, and on-street infrastructure offers a bicycling experience for present and future generations that is safe, convenient, and fun for getting around, getting in shape, or getting away."

Bike lanes in Colorado Springs have not been deployed without controversy. According to The Gazette, their readers "have mixed feelings for new bike lanes."{{Citation |title=Bike Master Plan |date=September 20, 2018 |url=https://gazette.com/opinion/hate-it-or-love-it-gazette-readers-have-mixed-feelings/article_d656fa12-b823-11e8-a832-af86a882dc51.html |publisher=City of Colorado Springs |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042926/https://gazette.com/opinion/hate-it-or-love-it-gazette-readers-have-mixed-feelings/article_d656fa12-b823-11e8-a832-af86a882dc51.html |url-status=live }} In December 2016, the City removed a bike lane along Research Parkway due to overwhelming opposition; an online survey found that 80.5% of respondents opposed the bike lane.{{Citation |title=Colorado Springs terminating disputed bike lane project |url=https://gazette.com/news/colorado-springs-terminating-disputed-bike-lane-project/article_aaa70f21-b643-556c-b64d-62c80d270ef5.html |newspaper=The Gazette |date=December 22, 2016 |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043732/https://gazette.com/news/colorado-springs-terminating-disputed-bike-lane-project/article_aaa70f21-b643-556c-b64d-62c80d270ef5.html |url-status=live }} The Gazette has stated that since the Bike Master Plan was adopted by city council, "no issue has elicited more argument in The Gazette pages," and due to this immense public interest, on February 25, 2019, The Gazette hosted a town hall meeting called "Battle of the Bike Lanes".{{Citation |title=Battle of the Bike Lanes in Colorado Springs: A Community Conversation |url=https://gazette.com/conversations/battle-of-the-bike-lanes-in-colorado-springs-a-community/article_8d07a236-2e56-11e9-926d-bf596adbce66.html |newspaper=The Gazette |date=February 19, 2019 |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043359/https://gazette.com/conversations/battle-of-the-bike-lanes-in-colorado-springs-a-community/article_8d07a236-2e56-11e9-926d-bf596adbce66.html |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=WATCH: Battle of the bike lanes in Colorado Springs, a community conversation |date=February 15, 2019 |url=https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Battle-of-the-Bike-Lanes-in-Colorado-Springs-A-Community-Conversation-505909361.html |publisher=KKTV |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221115959/https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Battle-of-the-Bike-Lanes-in-Colorado-Springs-A-Community-Conversation-505909361.html |url-status=live }}

A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Colorado Springs 34th most walkable of fifty largest U.S. cities.{{cite web |year=2011 |title=2011 City and Neighborhood Rankings |url=http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/ |access-date=August 28, 2011 |publisher=Walk Score |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804175531/http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/ |url-status=live }}

File:MMT J1804 On Route 3.jpg

{{Main|Mountain Metropolitan Transit}}

Mountain Metropolitan Transit (commonly referred to as MMT) is the primary public transportation provider for the Colorado Springs metropolitan region. MMT operates thirty-four bus routes, providing service for Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and Security-Widefield. The Downtown Terminal is the system's main hub, with the Citadel Mall, PPSC, and Chapel Hills Mall acting as secondary transfer stations.

Mountain Metro Mobility is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) federally mandated complementary ADA paratransit service, which provides demand-response service for individuals with mobility needs that prevent them from using the fixed-route bus system.{{cite web |date=February 27, 2014 |title=Mountain Metro Mobility |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/mountain-metro/page/mountain-metro-mobility |access-date=May 25, 2020 |website=Colorado Springs |language=en |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527064305/https://coloradosprings.gov/mountain-metro/page/mountain-metro-mobility |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |date=October 29, 2019 |title=Colorado's Mountain Metropolitan Transit Wins Transit Agency Of The Year |url=https://patch.com/colorado/colorado-springs/colorados-mountain-metropolitan-transit-wins-transit-agency-year |access-date=May 25, 2020 |website=Colorado Springs, CO Patch |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105051733/https://patch.com/colorado/colorado-springs/colorados-mountain-metropolitan-transit-wins-transit-agency-year |url-status=live }}

Intercity bus service is available through the state-ran Bustang service and Greyhound. Bustang runs frequent trips to Denver, and daily trips to Lamar via Pueblo.

{{div col |colwidth=15em}}

• Anderosa Neighborhood
• Banning Lewis Ranch Neighborhood
• Black Forest Neighborhood
• Boulder Crescent Place Historic District
• Briargate Neighborhood
• Broadmoor Neighborhood
• Broadmoor Bluffs Neighborhood
• Broadmoor Hills Neighborhood
• Broadmoor Oaks Neighborhood
• Cheyenne Hills Neighborhood
• Cimarron Hills Neighborhood
• Clearview Estates Neighborhood
• Colorado Centre Neighborhood
• Columbine Estates Neighborhood
• Cragmor Neighborhood
• Deerfield Hills Neighborhood
• Discovery Neighborhood
• Divine Redeemer Neighborhood
• Downtown
• Eastborough Neighborhood
• Falcon Estates Neighborhood
• Fountain Valley Ranch Neighborhood
• Garden Ranch Neighborhood
• Gateway Park Neighborhood
• Gleneagle Neighborhood
• Historic Uptown Neighborhood
• Holland Park Neighborhood
• Indian Heights Neighborhood
• Interquest Neighborhood
• Ivywild Neighborhood
• Kettle Creek Neighborhood
• Kissing Camels Neighborhood
• Knob Hill Neighborhood
• Lowell Neighborhood
• Manitou Springs
• Mesa Neighborhood
• Middle Creek Neighborhood
• Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood
• Mountain Shadows Neighborhood
• Northgate Neighborhood
• Norwood Neighborhood
• Oak Hills Neighborhood
• Oak Valley Ranch Neighborhood
• Old Colorado City
• Old Farm Neighborhood
• Old North End Historic District
• Park Hill Neighborhood
• Patty Jewett Neighborhood
• Papeton/Venetian Village Neighborhood
• Peregrine Neighborhood
• Pheasant Run Ranch Neighborhood
• Pikes Peak Park Neighborhood
• Pikeview/Pinecliff Neighborhood
• Pine Creek Neighborhood
• Pinon Valley Neighborhood
• Pulpit Rock Neighborhood
• Ridgeview Neighborhood
• Rockrimmon Neighborhood
• Roswell Neighborhood
• Rustic Hills Neighborhood
• Security
• Shooks Run Neighborhood
• Southborough Neighborhood
• Stetson Hills Neighborhood
• Spring Creek Neighborhood
• Springs Ranch Neighborhood
• Stratmoor Hills Neighborhood
• Stratmoor Valley Neighborhood
• Stratton Meadows Neighborhood
• Sundown Neighborhood
• Trailridge Neighborhood
• Wagon Trails Neighborhood
• Weber-Wahsatch Historic District
• Widefield
• Wolf Ranch Neighborhood
• Venetian Village Neighborhood
• Villa Loma Neighborhood
• Village Seven Neighborhood

{{div col end}}

See also National Register of Historic Places in Colorado Springs, Colorado

{{Main|List of people from Colorado Springs, Colorado}}

{{See also|List of sister cities in Colorado}}

File:ArstanbekNogoev.jpg mayor Arstanbek Nogoev presents a gift for Colorado Springs mayor Lionel Rivera to a US airman at Manas Air Base, in a ceremony aimed at reviving ties between the two sister cities.{{Cite news |last=Nathaniel |first=Daniel |date=March 19, 2007 |title=Manas Airmen reunite sister cities Bishkek, Colorado Springs |work=Air Force Link |publisher=Department of Defense |location=United States |url=https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123045348/ |access-date=October 18, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011043026/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123045348 |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}]]

Colorado Springs' sister cities are:{{cite web |title=Colorado Springs Sister Cities International |url=https://coloradosprings.gov/sistercities |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=coloradosprings.gov |publisher=City of Colorado Springs |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918120916/https://coloradosprings.gov/sistercities |url-status=live }}

• {{flagicon|JPN}} Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan (1962)
• {{flagicon|TWN}} Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1983)
• {{flagicon|KGZ}} Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (1994)
• {{flagicon|MEX}} Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico (1996)
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Canterbury-Bankstown, Sydney, Australia (1999)
• {{flagicon|GRC}} Olympia, Peloponnese, Greece (2014)
• {{flagicon|SVN}} Kranj, Slovenia (2022)

;Suspended sistership

• {{flagicon|RUS}} Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast, Russia (1993–2022){{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-springs-ukraine-smolensk-sister-city|title=Colorado Springs Suspends Sister City Partnership With Russian City|website=CBS News |date=March 7, 2022 |access-date=July 13, 2023|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326025538/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-springs-ukraine-smolensk-sister-city/|url-status=live}}

Colorado Springs's sister city organization began when it became partners with Fujiyoshida. The torii gate erected to commemorate the relationship stands at the corner of Bijou Street and Nevada Avenue, and is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The torii gate, crisscrossed bridge and shrine, in the median between Platte and Bijou Streets downtown, were a gift to Colorado Springs, erected in 1966 by the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs to celebrate the friendship between the two communities. A plaque near the torii gate states that "the purpose of the sister city relationship is to promote understanding between the people of our two countries and cities". The Fujiyoshida Student exchange program has become an annual event.{{cite web |title=TOMODACHI NAJAS Grassroots Exchange ProgramーColorado Springs and Fujiyoshida |url=http://usjapantomodachi.org/programs-activities/2016-2017-tomodachi-colorado-springs-fujiyoshida-grassroots-exchange-program/ |access-date=April 19, 2020 |website=TOMODACHI |archive-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105164125/http://usjapantomodachi.org/programs-activities/2016-2017-tomodachi-colorado-springs-fujiyoshida-grassroots-exchange-program/ |url-status=live }}

In 2006 and 2010, the Bankstown TAP (Talent Advancement Program) performed with the Youth Symphony and the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale as part of the annual "In Harmony" program. A notable similarity between Colorado Springs and its sister cities is their geographic positions: three of the seven cities are near the foot of a major mountain or mountain range, as is Colorado Springs.{{cite web |date=July 6, 2007 |title=City of Colorado Springs – Topic Pages |url=http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=1923 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514161758/http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=1923 |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |publisher=Springsgov.com}}

{{Mining in Colorado Springs|right}}

{{portal|Colorado}}

• Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Media in Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Tuberculosis treatment in Colorado Springs

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{Cite book |last=Capace |first=Nancy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0FU9OUY2zAC&pg=PA173 |title=Encyclopedia of Colorado |date=March 1, 1999 |publisher=North American Book Dist LLC |isbn=978-0-403-09813-2 |page=173 |format=Google books |access-date=May 23, 2013}}

{{cite web |title=annexdata.xls |url=http://permits.springsgov.com/units/planning/maps/PDFS/annexdata.xls |access-date=October 27, 2013 |publisher=SpringsGov.com |format=XLS |type=spreadsheet |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112173702/http://permits.springsgov.com/units/planning/maps/PDFS/annexdata.xls |url-status=dead }}

{{Citation |title=Directory of Colorado Springs |url=http://more.ppld.org:8080/specialCollections/Index/ArticleOrders/ColoradoSpringsCityDirectories/1898CSCityDirectory.pdf |year=1898 |postscript=|type=almanac |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112170753/http://more.ppld.org:8080/specialCollections/Index/ArticleOrders/ColoradoSpringsCityDirectories/1898CSCityDirectory.pdf |publisher=The Out West Printing and Stationery Co. |quote=SANATARIUMS ... St. Francis Hospital—On Institute Heights, east end of Pike's Peak avenue, near Knob Hill street car line ... Pike's Peak Camp, No. 5 (Pacific jurisdiction)--Meets in K. of P. Hall every Tuesday evening |access-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

{{Cite book |title=Colorado Springs, Colorado City and Manitou City Directory |publisher=The R. L. Polk Directory Co |year=1916 |volume=XIII |quote=Pike's Peak Ocean-to-Occan Highway}}

{{Cite report |title=Original Colorado Springs Municipal Airport |last=Hartman |first=James Edward |date=June 28, 1996 |quote=Contributing 4...Non-contributing 1 ... Nichols Field and the Pine Valley Air Strip were located on north Nevada Avenue. ... In 1942 the hangar was purchased by the City of Colorado Springs. The Air Force began leasing the [Broadmoor] hangar as a storage area in 1958. ... 1951 • Facility usage is re-leased to the Military (383 acres) for the 4600 Air Base Group (Jan.). ... 1966...The City of Colorado Springs renegotiates with Air Force total of 992 acres (until June 30, 2066). |type=NRHP Inventory—Nomination Form}}}}

{{sister project links|auto=yes}}

{{Wikisource1911Enc|Colorado Springs}}

• {{oweb}}
• [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Colorado%20Springs.pdf CDOT map of the City of Colorado Springs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235547/http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/Colorado%20Springs.pdf |date=March 3, 2016 }}
• [https://www.visitcos.com/ Visit Colorado Springs official website]

{{Colorado Springs}}

{{El Paso County, Colorado}}

{{Colorado}}

{{USPopulousCities}}

{{Colorado county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Colorado

Category:County seats in Colorado

Category:Pikes Peak

Category:Populated places established in 1871

Category:Cities in El Paso County, Colorado

Category:Former colonial and territorial capitals in the United States

Category:1871 establishments in Colorado Territory