Colorado Springs, Colorado... its History and Demographics
The City of Colorado Springs is the second largest city in Colorado (and the 50th largest city in the United States). Colorado Springs was named the best big city to live in the United States in Money magazine in July 2006. Located at the base of Pike's Peak (on the east side of the Rocky Mountains), Colorado Springs real estate features parks, bike trails, business and commerce, theatres and other entertainment. Many religious organizations and churches have made Colorado Springs the location of their headquarters. Evangelical Christians are the most notable in this respect. There are also many military installations and national defense agencies that make Colorado Springs real estate their home. The United States Air Force Academy, only one of five military academies in the entire United States, is located here.
In 1871, General William Palmer founded Colorado Springs in an effort to find the perfect spot for a premium resort town. Due to the influx of English tourists that flocked there, Colorado Springs became known as "Little London". The Antlers Resort opened in 1873. Shortly after that, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was founded by General William Palmer. General Palmer was responsible for the sale and granting of land to the highest ranking civic organizations in the city, making he and his family the most prominent of Colorado Springs' residents. Both he and the general's wife were instrumental in making Colorado Springs real estate one of the most desired destinations for tourists across the country. In fact, America the Beautiful was written by Katharine Lee Bates in August 1893 while staying at the Antlers Hotel after visiting the top of Pikes Peak.
Colorado Springs stayed alcohol-free until the end of Prohibition in 1933. General Palmer made sure of this by purchasing most of the property on the east side of Colorado City because he so despised the many saloons there and loathed the lifestyle they brought to the area.
The city of Cripple Creek and the city of Victor were the sites of serious golf strikes in 1891, enabling one of Colorado Springs early benefactors, W.S. Stratton, to discover and develop the most productive and wealthiest gold mines in the area. Since he was a resident of Colorado Springs real estate, he gave generously to help house small kids as well as the old and infirm through the Myron Stratton House. He also donated property for the City Hall, the city's original courthouse (now housing the Pioneer Museum) the Colorado Springs Post Office and a park as well as expanding Colorado Springs' trolley car system and constructed the Mining Exchange.
Spenser Penrose was another early benefactor for Colorado Springs real estate. He made his money in the 1890s from gold mines in Cripple Creek. He financed the construction of a hotel, zoo, the shrine of the sun, Pikes Peak Highway and a hospital. He was also responsible for creating the El Pomar Foundation, a philanthropical corporation created to grant money to many different nonprofit organizations in the area.
In 1942, Colorado Springs was home to the area's first military installation, quickly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and America's introduction into World War II. This was when Camp Carson army base was established close to the southern border of Colorado Springs to house and train troops for WWII. Camp Carson was expanded, which created a boom to the Colorado Springs real estate. However, after WWII ended, the military continually activated and deactivated Peterson Field (the local military airfield), causing a decline in Camp Carson. Camp Carson enjoyed a revitalization after the Korean War began. When that war ended, Peterson Field became known as Peterson AFB. Camp Carson was renamed Fort Carson in 1954, becoming Colorado Spring's first army post. Cheyenne Mountain housed NORAD's main facilities in 1963, securing a permanent military presence amongst Colorado Springs real estate.
As of the 2000 census, the population of Colorado Springs real estate was 360,890. The population is made up of approximately 80.7% white, 6.6% African-American/Black, 12% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% Asian, 3.9% mixture of two races and the rest made up of American Indian, Native Hawaiian or other races. Approximately 22.1% of the population are high school graduates, 35.2% have some college or an associate's degree, 21.3% have a Bachelor's degree and 12.2% have a Master's, professional or doctorate degree.
The median price for a house in 2000 was $138,700, but the median value was $143,300. The monthly cost of a mortgage was $1,121. The median household income in 1999 was $45,081 (slightly higher than the rest of the United States at $41,994).
The average travel time to work is 21 minutes (slightly better than the 26 minute average for the rest of the United States). The Colorado Springs Transit System is the local transportation authority. Between 2001-2003, there were a total of 62 fatal motor vehicle accidents. This translates to a rate of 1.7 fatal crashes per 10,000 people population, lower than the national norm. There were 1730 violent crimes recorded in Colorado Springs in 2003, with 16 being murders and homicides. The weather ranges from a low of 14/42 degrees F in January to a high of 55/84 degrees F in July. August is the wettest month on average (3.48 inches).
