 |
|
|
|
| Overview » Overview » High Points » Comparisons | Almanac » Zip Codes » Climate/Weather | People » Population » Ancestry » Political Giving | Local » Map & Nearby » Hospitals » Libraries » Starbucks » Walmarts | Schools » High Schools |
Colorado Springs, located in the Rocky Mountains just east of Pikes Peak and 66 miles south of Denver, is the second-largest city in Colorado. Begun as a resort community in 1871, Colorado Springs saw its population rise with the discovery of gold in nearby Cripple Creek in the 1890s. A view of the surrounding area from atop Pikes Peak in 1893 inspired Katharine Lee Bates to compose the lyrics of America the Beautiful. During and after World War II, the US Army built Fort Carson and the US Air Force set up the Air Force Academy and several bases in Colorado Springs. The city remains a popular tourist destination and a military center, but the arrival of Hewlett-Packard in 1962 established Colorado Springs as a high-tech mecca. The city's beauty and strong economy attract many high-tech firms and young professionals to the area. With a population of 370,000, Colorado Springs is one of the country's fastest-growing cities.
Outdoor sports so connected with the area dominate the themes of the city's top museums. Colorado Springs is home to the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame, as well as the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy. The arts are also well represented. The Fine Arts Center has a first-class art museum, a performing arts theatre, and school of art. Theaterworks, at the University of Colorado, offers a Shakespeare Festival each summer. The city also hosts a Jazz Festival in July and a Wine and Music Festival in September.
In minor league baseball, the Colorado Springs SkySox are the AAA-affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Pikes Peak International Raceway, just 15 miles south, hosts NASCAR events. For major league sports, Denver is an hour drive north, with baseball's Colorado Rockies, the NFL's Denver Broncos, the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.
Spectator sports are an option, but for the outdoor enthusiast, the real draw is the magnificent outdoor paradise of the Rocky Mountains. Rafting, horseback riding and ballooning are all spectacular. Dozens of hiking trails are available within the city. The New Santa Fe Regional Trail, Pikes Peak Greenway and the Fountain Creek Regional Trail form a 35-mile pathway popular among hikers, runners and bicyclists. But nothing beats the area's skiing. Within a 2-hour drive is Vail, the most visited ski resort in the United States. For year-round skiing, a permanent snowfield at 11,000-foot-high St Mary's Glacier is just a few hours away. Also within that distance is Aspen, the popular and celebrated ski getaway for the wealthy, filled with 14,000-foot peaks and a heavy dose of culture.
A large student population and a growing economy contribute to the city's hopping nightlife, with many bars and dance clubs clustered along North Academy Boulevard. With so much to see and do, Colorado Springs is one of America's up-and-coming places for young people.
Colorado Springs strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Colorado):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Racial Diversity (vs. State) | Top 5% |  |
| Affordability of Property Taxes (vs. Peers) | Top 10% | |
| Low Rate of Poverty (vs. Peers) | Top 13% | |
| People in Middle Class or Better (vs. Peers) | Top 14% | |
Comparing Colorado Springs to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Colorado (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Well-Paid Single Men |  |  |
| Well-Paid Single Women | | |
| Male Share of the Population | |  |
| Age of the Population | |  |
| Children Under 5 Years Old |  | |
| Female Share of the Population | | |
| Senior Citizens | | |
| Racial Diversity | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Average Household Size | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| People Above Poverty |  | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| College Educated Adults | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Working at Home | | |
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Public Transportation Use |  | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| People Living Alone | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals |  | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Violent Crime | | |
| Low Property Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Colorado Springs colleges • Colorado Springs travel • Colorado Springs mortgages and property.
 | Colorado Springs Careers Colorado Springs career and employment information. |
 | Colorado Springs Colleges Colorado Springs colleges and trade schools. |
 | Colorado Springs Hotels & Travel Colorado Springs hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Colorado Springs Mortgage Colorado Springs property, mortgage, and real estate. |
We've crunched the numbers to create PlaceMatch™, which compares thousands of cities and towns to find the places most similar to each.
Select a photo to view (Source):
Exchange National Bank Building between 1900 and 1910
Hotel Colorado c1901.
Hotel Colorada i.e. Colorado c1899.
Are you an official in the Colorado Springs government or quasi-government agency such as the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau or economic development council? If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you.
Webmasters & Bloggers: Please link to this page on Colorado Springs. Just copy the HTML below and paste it into your web page or blog.
Copyright © 2004-2008, Moving Traffic, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
