According to itypetravel.com, Colorado Springs is a city located in El Paso County, Colorado and is the county seat. It lies at the base of the Rocky Mountains and is situated at an elevation of 6,035 feet above sea level. The city covers an area of 194 square miles and has a population of approximately 469,000 people.
The geography of Colorado Springs is characterized by its mountainous terrain. To the north and east lies Palmer Divide, while to the south lies Cheyenne Mountain. To the west lies Ute Pass and the Rampart Range, while to the northwest lie Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods Park.
The geography of Colorado Springs also includes several rivers that flow through or around it. These include Fountain Creek, Monument Creek, Camp Creek, Sand Creek, and Fountain Creek Reservoirs. The city also contains many small lakes such as Monument Lake, Prospect Lake, North Monument Lake, and Kettle Lake.
The climate in Colorado Springs is generally mild with temperatures ranging from lows in winter averaging around 19 degrees Fahrenheit to highs in summer averaging around 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The city experiences moderate amounts of precipitation throughout the year with snowfall occurring between October and April on average.
Overall, Colorado Springs’ geography provides a unique mix of natural beauty with its mountainous terrain combined with its numerous rivers and lakes providing ample opportunities for outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking and more. Its mild climate makes it an ideal destination for visitors looking to enjoy all that nature has to offer without having to worry about extreme temperature fluctuations or harsh weather conditions.
History of Colorado Springs, Colorado
According to countryvv, Colorado Springs is a city located in El Paso County, Colorado and is the county seat. It lies at the base of the Rocky Mountains and is situated at an elevation of 6,035 feet above sea level. The city covers an area of 194 square miles and has a population of approximately 469,000 people.
The history of Colorado Springs dates back to 1859 when General William J. Palmer founded it as a resort community. He named it “Colorado Springs” after the nearby springs that he found in the area. The city quickly grew in popularity due to its natural beauty, becoming a hotspot for tourists and those looking to escape from their everyday lives.
In 1871, Colorado Springs was incorporated as a town and began to rapidly expand thanks to the arrival of several railroads that connected it with other parts of Colorado and beyond. This period also saw the development of many iconic buildings such as the Antlers Hotel, which opened in 1889, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo which opened in 1926.
During World War II, Colorado Springs served as an important military training center due to its high altitude environment which simulated combat conditions more closely than other locations across the United States. After World War II ended, many military personnel stayed in Colorado Springs due to its proximity to many bases and installations throughout Colorado.
Today, Colorado Springs is home to several major employers such as Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Boeing Company, USAA Insurance Group and many more. It also serves as an important cultural center for Southern Colorado with many museums such as the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College and The Money Museum located downtown.
Economy of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is the second most populous city in Colorado and is home to a diverse economy. The city’s economy is largely driven by the aerospace, defense, technology, and tourism industries. In recent years, it has become a hub for start-ups and entrepreneurs due to its low cost of living and attractive lifestyle.
The aerospace industry is a major employer in Colorado Springs, with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Boeing Company and USAA Insurance Group all having large presences in the city. These companies employ thousands of people in engineering, manufacturing, research and development jobs.
The defense industry also plays a major role in Colorado Springs’ economy with five military installations located within 50 miles of the city. These include Fort Carson Army Base, Peterson Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base which are all located within the city limits. The defense industry provides thousands of jobs to local residents as well as providing an important source of revenue for businesses located near these bases.
Colorado Springs also has a thriving technology sector with many software development companies based in the area such as Coalfire Systems Inc., Peak 10 Inc., Oracle Corporation and Microsoft Corporation. These companies provide employment opportunities for software engineers as well as helping to drive innovation in the region.
Tourism is another important part of Colorado Springs’ economy with many visitors flocking to the city each year to take advantage of its natural beauty and attractions such as Garden of the Gods Park or Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The tourism industry employs many people in hospitality positions such as hotel staff or tour guides while also providing an important source of revenue for local businesses such as restaurants or souvenir shops.
Overall, Colorado Springs has a diverse economy that provides employment opportunities across a range of sectors including aerospace, defense, technology and tourism which helps keep unemployment low while also creating economic growth for the region.
Politics in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in Colorado and the state’s political center. Located in El Paso County, Colorado Springs is home to many notable politicians, including U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner, Governor John Hickenlooper, and former U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn. The city also serves as the headquarters for several conservative think tanks and organizations such as Focus on the Family and The Heritage Foundation.
The political climate in Colorado Springs is largely conservative with a strong presence of socially conservative Republican groups such as the Christian Coalition of America, American Family Association and Family Research Council. In recent years, however, there has been a shift towards more progressive ideals with several Democratic candidates gaining traction in local elections such as Sal Pace who was elected to represent House District 21 in 2012.
At the national level, Colorado Springs leans heavily towards Republicans with all five of its congressional districts represented by Republicans since 2011 when Doug Lamborn won his 5th term representing Colorado’s 5th Congressional District. This trend has continued into 2018 with Republican incumbents re-elected to each district including U.S Rep Ken Buck (CO-4), U.S Rep Lauren Boebert (CO-3) and U.S Rep Doug Lamborn (CO-5).
At the state level, Colorado Springs is represented by two State Senators (Senators Bob Gardner and Owen Hill) who both ran on Republican platforms while four State Representatives are split between Democrats (Reps Tony Exum Sr., Dave Williams) and Republicans (Reps Larry Liston and Terri Carver).
At the local level, El Paso County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners which consists of three members; two Democrats (Commissioners Darryl Glenn and Peggy Littleton) and one Republican (Commissioner Stan VanderWerf). The City Council for Colorado Springs consists of nine members who are all elected at large every four years; six Republicans currently serve on this council including Mayor John Suthers who was reelected in 2017 with nearly 70% of the vote.
Overall, politics in Colorado Springs can be characterized as generally conservative but with some progressive ideals making headway within recent elections especially at local levels where Democrats have seen success at gaining representation within El Paso County government bodies such as City Council or Board of County Commissioners.
