El Paso County, Colorado

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. This discovery precipitated the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Many residents of the mining region felt disconnected from the remote territorial governments of Kansas and Nebraska, so they voted to form their own Territory of Jefferson on October 24, 1859. The following month, the Jefferson Territorial Legislature organized 12 counties for the new territory including El Paso County. El Paso County was named for the Spanish language name for Ute Pass north of Pikes Peak. Colorado City served as the county seat of El Paso County.

The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, but on February 28, 1861, U.S. President James Buchanan signed an act organizing the Territory of Colorado.{{cite web|url=http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/territory.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025191401/http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/territory.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2004 |url-status=live|title=An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado|publisher=Thirty-sixth United States Congress|date=February 28, 1861|access-date=November 26, 2007}} El Paso County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Colorado legislature on November 1, 1861. Part of its western territory was broken off to create Teller County in 1899. Originally based in Old Colorado City (now part of Colorado Springs, not today's Colorado City between Pueblo and Walsenburg), El Paso County's county seat was moved to Colorado Springs in 1873.

File:El Paso County Fairground.jpg]]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2130|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2127|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|2.7|sqmi}} (0.1%) are covered by water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

• Douglas County - north
• Elbert County - northeast
• Lincoln County - east
• Crowley County - southeast
• Pueblo County - south
• Fremont County - southwest
• Teller County - west

• 20px Interstate 25
• {{jct|state=CO|BL|25|dab1=Colorado Springs}} (Nevada Avenue)
• 20px U.S. Highway 24
• 20px U.S. Highway 85
• 20px State Highway 16 (Mesa Ridge Parkway)
• 20px State Highway 21 (Powers Boulevard)
• 20px State Highway 83 (In El Paso County, CO SH-83 begins with the intersection of CO SH-21)
• 20px State Highway 94
• 20px State Highway 105
• 20px State Highway 115

File:Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs by David Shankbone.jpg dominates the county's skyline.]]

• Pike National Forest

• Cheyenne Mountain State Park

• Pikes Peak National Historic Landmark
• USAFA Cadet Area National Historic District
• Old Colorado City (National Register of Historic Districts)
• Manitou Springs (National Register of Historic Districts)

{{div col}}

• American Discovery Trail
• Barr National Recreation Trail
• Bear Creek Cañon Park
• Bear Creek Regional Park and Nature Center
• Calhan Paint Mines
• Fountain Creek Nature Center
• The Incline
• New Santa Fe Trail
• Pikes Peak Greenway
• White House Ranch National Recreation Trail

{{div col end}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 987

|1880= 7949

|1890= 21239

|1900= 31602

|1910= 43321

|1920= 44027

|1930= 49570

|1940= 54025

|1950= 74523

|1960= 143742

|1970= 235972

|1980= 309424

|1990= 397014

|2000= 516929

|2010= 622263

|2020= 730395

|estyear=2024

|estimate=752772

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 27, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 7, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/co190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 7, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

The 2020 census showed 730,395 people residing in the County, distributed in 272,683 households and 185,830 families.{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=El%20Paso%20County,%20Colorado%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 20, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|343.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 287,459 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 82.6% White, 6.9% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, and 5.4% from two or more races. About 18.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The population pyramid for El Paso County shows a slight surplus of males aged between birth and 45 years, with a slight surplus of females over age 45, as is typical of most American populations. The greater than normal surplus of males between 18 and 35 is chiefly attributable to the presence of five military installations in the county.{{Cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_Paso_County_Colorado_Population_Pyramid.png|title = English: El Paso County Colorado Population Pyramid|date = July 5, 2019}}

File:El Paso County Colorado Population Pyramid.png

El Paso County is home to 17 public school districts, in addition to several private schools. In the 2023–2024 school year, Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 in Colorado Springs was ranked the #1 public school district in Colorado. Academy School District 20 (Colorado Springs) and Lewis-Palmer School District 38 (Monument) were ranked #8 and #10, respectively.{{cite news|url=https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-school-districts/s/colorado/ |title=2024 Best School Districts in Colorado |newspaper=Niche}}

El Paso County is home to several colleges and universities. The United States Air Force Academy is located immediately north of Colorado Springs, serving as both a university and a functional U.S. Air Force base. Also in the county are the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs, Colorado College, Pikes Peak State College, Colorado Technical University, and IntelliTec College, all located in Colorado Springs.

File:El Paso County Justice Center by David Shankbone.jpg

El Paso County is located in Colorado's 5th congressional district, except for the far eastern extremities, which are located in the 4th. The county is governed by a board of county commissioners. Its current members are Holly Williams in district 1, Carrie Geitner in district 2, Stan VanderWerf in district 3, Longinos Gonzales Jr in district 4, and Cami Bremer in district 5.

In 2004, the voters of Colorado Springs and El Paso County established the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority ([http://www.pprta.com PPRTA]) and adopted a 1% sales tax dedicated to improving the region's transportation infrastructure. Together with state funding for COSMIX (2007 completion) and the I-25 interchange with Highway 16 (2008 completion), significant progress has been made since 2003 in addressing the transportation needs of the area. In 2012, the county voted to legalize marijuana.{{cite web|url=http://www.westword.com/news/marijuana-amendment-64-passes-in-el-paso-county-by-fewer-than-a-dozen-votes-5837995|title=Marijuana: Amendment 64 passes in El Paso County by fewer than a dozen votes|first=William|last=Breathes|date=November 23, 2012|website=westword.com|access-date=March 16, 2018}} On March 12, 2019, the county commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to become a Second Amendment sanctuary.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/el-paso-county-declared-nd-amendment-preservation-county-as-legislature/article_d74dfdfe-44f9-11e9-bfef-3fe3114cc26e.html|title=El Paso County declared '2nd Amendment preservation county' as legislature weighs red flag gun bill|last=Riley |first=Rachel |date=March 12, 2019 |publisher=Colorado Politics|language=en|access-date=January 18, 2020}}

The Colorado Department of Corrections has its headquarters in an unincorporated area in the county."[http://exdoc.state.co.us/secure/comboweb/weblets/index.php/contacts/fulllist Contacts]".{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 7, 2009."[http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1197 Council District Map]"; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201084040/http://springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=1197 |date=December 1, 2010 }}. City of Colorado Springs. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.

El Paso County lies within the 4th Judicial District which is represented by District Attorney Michael Allen.{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.4thjudicialda.com/about.html |website=4th Judicial District Attorney |access-date=2024-12-29}}

According to the City's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,{{cite web|url=https://epc-assets.elpasoco.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ACFR/2022-Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report-1.pdf|title=County of El Paso 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report|page=186|date=March 20, 2024}} the largest employers in the county are:

{{PresHead|place=El Paso County, Colorado|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 26, 2017}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|203,933|166,597|10,456|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|202,828|161,941|14,082|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|179,228|108,010|31,730|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|170,952|111,819|7,404|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|160,318|108,899|3,958|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|161,361|77,648|2,779|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|128,294|61,799|10,664|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|102,403|55,822|15,216|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|86,044|45,827|35,298|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|96,965|39,995|1,506|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|88,377|28,185|1,210|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|66,199|27,463|10,328|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|50,929|32,911|2,290|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|53,892|21,234|2,859|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|32,066|21,232|6,357|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|23,822|27,844|141|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|31,625|17,018|61|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|27,282|18,879|505|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|25,272|11,203|303|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|15,705|12,291|423|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|16,392|11,679|115|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|16,766|13,320|229|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|10,965|15,652|920|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1932|Republican|12,017|11,353|980|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|16,243|5,069|266|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|10,215|4,140|3,989|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|9,535|5,073|581|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|7,159|8,381|897|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,816|5,559|6,671|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|8,022|5,995|1,048|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|9,589|5,281|579|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|7,755|6,230|439|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|6,248|17,672|340|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1892|Populist|2,657|0|2,950|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,164|1,281|127|Colorado}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|1,209|534|97|Colorado}}

{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|1,151|580|30|Colorado}}

El Paso is quite conservative for a large urban county, although it has become less so since the 2010s. Its conservative bent predates the influence of its large military and Evangelical Christian populations. Since its creation in 1871, El Paso County has typically voted for the Republican presidential candidate in presidential elections; the last Democratic nominee to win the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Even then, Barry Goldwater got nearly 46% of the county's vote. It has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1920, except for the Democratic landslides of 1936 and 1964.

After Johnson carried it in 1964, a Democrat would not win 40 percent of the county's vote again until Joe Biden in 2020. Kamala Harris also received above 40% of the county in 2024, with the county swinging to the left unlike the state and country. The county still remains a Republican stronghold, but much less than it used to be. The county also voted in favor of Amendment 79 in 2024.

Dick Lamm in 1982 remains the last Democrat to win the county in a gubernatorial election. Eight years later, the county was one of only four in the state to back governor Roy Romer's opponent John Andrews.{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1982&off=5&elect=0&fips=8&f=0|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=September 27, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1990&fips=8&off=5&elect=0&f=0|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=September 27, 2020}}

Jared Polis in 2022 came within 4% of winning the county. The last Democrat to win the county in a Senate election was Gary Hart in 1974.{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1974&off=3&class=undefined&elect=0&fips=8&f=0|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=September 27, 2020}}

The Pikes Peak Library District provides library services through its 15 branches and bookmobiles to the residents of El Paso County, with the exception of Widefield School District 3. The mission of the District is "Providing resources and opportunities that impact individual lives and build community. Seek. Engage. Transform."{{Cite web|url=https://ppld.org/about-ppld|title=About PPLD {{!}} PPLD.org|website=ppld.org|access-date=November 20, 2019}}

{{More citations needed section|date=June 2014}}

El Paso County is home to Army, Air Force and Space Force bases. These military installations border Colorado Springs to the north, south, and east, aside from Schriever Space Force Base, which is located about 10 miles east of Peterson Space Force Base.Schriever Air Force Base{{Circular reference|date=October 2017}}

{{Main|Fort Carson}}

Fort Carson, "The Mountain Post", is located just south of Colorado Springs at the base of the Rocky Mountains. It was established in 1942, following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The city of Colorado Springs purchased land south of the city and donated it to the War Department. Construction began immediately and the first building, the camp headquarters, was completed January 31, 1942. Camp Carson was named in honor of the legendary Army scout Gen. Christopher "Kit" Carson, who explored much of the West in the 1800s. Camp Carson became Fort Carson in 1954. An additional training area was purchased in September 1983 and is called Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS).

Currently, Fort Carson is the home of 4th Infantry Division and several other units, including 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the Colorado National Guard Regional Training Institute and PCMS, which is a maneuver training site for Fort Carson located near Trinidad, Colorado. The installation totals about 137,000 acres and PCMS is roughly 236,000 acres. Fort Carson has around 3,000 family housing units and 66 soldier barracks with 8,132 rooms. Services on the installation include four elementary schools, one middle school, a commissary, an exchange, and Evans Army Community Hospital, as well as Army Community Service facilities to include child development centers and youth centers and family morale, welfare, and recreation facilities to include a bowling alley, golf course, and numerous parks.

Fort Carson's economic impact on Colorado Springs and the surrounding communities was approximately $2.3 billion during fiscal year 2014. Fort Carson has about 24,300 soldiers on the installation, with 44,700 family members. The installation also has around 8,000 veterans and 3,300 civilians.{{Cite web|url=http://www.carson.army.mil/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970720070904/http://www.carson.army.mil/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 20, 1997 |title=Fort Carson |website=Fort Carson |access-date=February 23, 2016}}

{{Main|Peterson Space Force Base}}

File:PetersonAFB.jpg

The Space Force has critical aspects of their service based at Colorado Springs, which carry on missile defense operations and development. The Space Force bases a large section of its national missile defense operations here, with Peterson Space Force Base set to operate large sections of the program. The base is also home to Space Force's Space Operations Command, and to NORAD headquarters. Peterson SFB is currently the headquarters of the operations-half of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

Peterson is also headquarters for the United States Northern Command, one of the Unified Combatant Commands, which directs all branches of the U.S. military operations in their area of responsibility, which includes the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. In the event of national emergencies, the President or Secretary of Defense can call upon the command for any required military assistance. Service members from every branch of the US military are stationed at the command.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

Peterson SFB is the current, possibly temporary home for US Space Command, another Unified Combatant Command, whose area of operations is global operations occurring 50 miles or greater above the Earth.

{{Main|Schriever Space Force Base}}

Schriever Space Force Base is home to several Space Force mission Deltas, responsible for the operation and support of 175 Department of Defense satellites and installation support to 16 major tenant units, with a workforce of more than 7,700 personnel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3909 |title=Schriever Air Force Base 50th Space Wing |access-date=February 16, 2016 |website=Schriever Air Force Base |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021230726/http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3909 |archive-date=October 21, 2013 }} It is the location of the Global Positioning System (GPS) master control station and GPS Operations Center{{cite web |url=https://gwcc-ws.cce.af.mil/ |title=GPS Operations Center |publisher=Air Force Space Command |access-date=September 15, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823043303/http://gps.afspc.af.mil/ |archive-date=August 23, 2006 }} and the US Naval Observatory Alternate Master Clock,{{cite web|url=http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?storyID=123021871 |title=23:59:60...Atomic clock takes quantum leap |author=Staff Sgt. Don Branum |date=June 15, 2006 |publisher=Air Force Space Command |access-date=September 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930070013/http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?storyID=123021871 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 }} used to synchronize GPS satellite time. Schriever is also developing parts of national missile defense and runs parts of the annual wargames used by the nation's military.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} The base indirectly contributes an estimated $1 billion to the local Colorado Springs, CO area annually.{{Cite web|url=http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3908 |title=Schriever Air Force Base |access-date=February 16, 2016 |website=Schriever Air Force Base |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193529/http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3908 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}

{{Main|United States Air Force Academy}}

File:Air Force Academy Oath of Office.jpgs in front of the Academy Chapel]]

Bordering the northwestern side of the city are the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy, where cadets train to become officers in the Air Force and Space Force. The campus is famous for its unique chapel, and draws visitors year round. Most of the Air Force Academy's sports programs participate in the Mountain West Conference.themwc.com

{{Main|North American Aerospace Defense Command}}

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), headquartered on Peterson SFB, has a presence in Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station. When it was built at the height of the Cold War, NORAD caused some anxiety for the residents in and around Colorado Springs, who believed the installation would be a primary target during a nuclear attack. Although NORAD still operates today, it is primarily given the task of the tracking of ICBMs, and the military has recently decided to place Cheyenne Mountain's NORAD/NORTHCOM operations on warm standby and move operations to nearby Peterson Air Force Base.{{cite news|first=Bruce |last=Finley |url=http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_4103478 |title=Military to put Cheyenne Mountain on standby |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=July 27, 2006 |access-date=October 5, 2009}}

• Colorado Springs (county seat)
• Fountain
• Manitou Springs

• Calhan
• Green Mountain Falls
• Monument
• Palmer Lake
• Ramah

File:Peyton Colorado by David Shankbone.jpg.]]

{{div col}}

• Air Force Academy
• Black Forest
• Cascade-Chipita Park
• Cimarron Hills
• Ellicott
• Fort Carson
• Gleneagle
• Peyton
• Rock Creek Park
• Security-Widefield
• Stratmoor
• Woodmoor

{{div col end}}

• Crystola
• Eastonville
• Falcon
• La Foret
• Rush
• Truckton
• Yoder

{{Portal|Government|History|Mountains|United States|Colorado}}

• Bibliography of Colorado
• Geography of Colorado
• History of Colorado
• Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory
• El Paso County, Jefferson Territory
• National Register of Historic Places listings in El Paso County, Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado-related lists
• List of counties in Colorado
• List of statistical areas in Colorado
• Outline of Colorado
• Front Range Urban Corridor
• Kirk Hanna Park

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Sister project links|auto=yes}}

• [http://www.elpasoco.com El Paso County Government website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070205102713/http://www.stanwyck.com/cogenweb/cocounties.html Colorado County Evolution by Don Stanwyck]
• [http://www.coloradohistory.org/ Colorado Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = El Paso County, Colorado

|North = Douglas County and Elbert County

|Northeast =

|East = Elbert County and Lincoln County

|Southeast = Crowley County

|South = Pueblo County

|Southwest =

|West = Fremont County and Teller County

|Northwest =

}}

{{El Paso County, Colorado}}

{{Colorado}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1861 establishments in Colorado Territory

Category:Colorado counties

Category:Eastern Plains

Category:Populated places established in 1861