Colorado Springs began as one man's dream. When General William Jackson Palmer first saw the scenic attraction of the Pikes Peak region, he immediately knew it was a location which could attract his wealthy European and East Coast friends. The city's first stake was driven in 1871. Colorado Springs became especially popular with the British and acquired the nickname Little London. Riding the rails, visitors came to see the area's beauty and were inspired to stay by a mild climate and the region's growing resort accommodations.

In the 1890s, Colorado Springs found it was surrounded by more than scenic wealth. Gold was discovered in nearby Cripple Creek in 1891, and Colorado Springs found itself a thriving financial center. The golden years lasted until 1917, when the U.S. went to silver for its coinage and the local economy once again emphasized tourism.

Looking to expand its economic base, the city offered land to the military in 1942. With the start of World War II, Fort Carson was established on 137,000 acres to the south of Colorado Springs. The military's presence grew in the 1950s with the opening of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Over the next 30 years, Peterson Air Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base helped create Colorado Springs' reputation as the nation's military space capital, housing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and other Space Command centers.

Manufacturing expanded tremendously when the area's quality of life and cost advantages were recognized in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, computers, electronic equipment, semiconductors, precision parts, plastics, heavy equipment and countless other high-quality products are manufactured in the Pikes Peak region and shipped to national and international markets.

The amateur sports segment is one of several service industries expanding in the region. Colorado Springs is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Olympic Committee and Olympic Training Center, the world's finest multi-sport training facility. Many other national nonprofit organizations have moved their headquarters to the Pikes Peak region.

Colorado Springs is the largest municipality in El Paso County with an estimated population of 320,000. The city accounts for nearly three-quarters of the county's population of approximately 450,000. The county contains 2,127 square miles, much of it rural agricultural and grazing land to the east of Colorado Springs. Other population centers in the county include Monument and Palmer Lake to the north; Security, Widefield and Fountain to the south; and Manitou Springs, Cascade and Green Mountain Falls to the west.

City Government

The City of Colorado Springs uses a Council-Manager form of government. City Council consists of nine members, including the Mayor, who serve four-year terms. The mayor and four council members are elected at-large and four members are elected from geographic districts. The City Manager is employed by the council and is the chief administrative officer of the municipal government.

Climate

Colorado Springs' pleasant climate is a key element in the area's high quality of life. Weather in the Pikes Peak region is surprisingly mild; uncomfortable extremes are rare. Despite a moderately high-altitude location near the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs on average gets less snow than Denver, Salt Lake City or Minneapolis. The mountains capture most of the precipitation from east-moving systems, giving the Pikes Peak region dry and sunny weather during most of the year.

At an elevation of 6,035 feet, residents enjoy a number of climatic advantages. During the summer months the days may be seasonally warm but when the sun sets, the evening and nights are refreshingly cool. Few homes need central air conditioning. Long and lingering Indian Autumns are common, while spring is a mild precursor to summer.

Colorado Springs meteorological classification is an alpine desert with about 250 days of sunshine and only 15 to 16 inches of precipitation per year. Humidity remains comfortably low.

While snow is not uncommon, snowfalls do not remain on the ground long. Sunny days are abundant during the winter and the sun's intensity at this elevation quickly melts snow from streets and sidewalks. Warm Chinook winds also help moderate the winter climate. These northwesterly winds can cause rapid increases in temperatures, reminding residents that the Indian meaning of Chinook is snoweater. Mild, sunny weather in the middle of the winter is typical, allowing residents to golf, bike, hike, play tennis and enjoy all types of outdoor activities in the sunshine.

An additional advantage of Colorado Springs' climate is the relief it offers persons who suffer from allergies and asthma. In decades past, the area was promoted as a health resort where people could go for relief of respiratory ailments.