Colorado Springs, Colorado Totally Explained

Everything about Colorado Springs Colorado totally explained

The City of Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that's the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. At 372,437, it's the second most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 48th most populous city in the United States. This count differs significantly with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs' 2007 estimate of 402,417. In 2007 the Colorado Springs MSA had 609,096.
Colorado Springs is located just east of the geographic center of the state and south of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. At 6,035 feet (1839 meters) Colorado Springs sits over one mile above sea level, though some areas of the city are significantly higher. The city is situated near the base of one of the most famous American mountains, Pikes Peak, at the eastern edge of the southern Rocky Mountains. Colorado Springs was selected as the No. 1 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2006.

Overview

The United States Census Bureau estimates that in 2006 the population of the City of Colorado Springs was 372,437 (48th most populous U.S. city), and the population of the Front Range Urban Corridor was 4,166,855. This plan is similar in nature to Denver's T-Rex expansion plan. Several suggestions have been made to create a loop around the city though none have been implemented. The original plan to convert Powers Boulevard, a major eastside expressway, into a bypass for I-25 was abandoned, but is now being reconsidered by the city council amidst stringent opposition from a large developer responsible for the construction of a large commercial complex along the road. Easier access to the airport has also been suggested. Overall the new thoroughfares would include one (or two) loop freeways, a spur into the city connecting the main freeway and the loop, east-west expressway upgrades, and easier access to the Colorado Springs Airport.
   Two additional grade separated interchanges are currently under construction in order to alleviate congestion at some of the city's worst intersections. Both the intersection at Powers and Woodmen and the intersection at Austin Bluffs and Union are being converted into grade separated interchanges. The former, when completed, will be a partial cloverleaf, and the latter will be an urban diamond. A third interchange is being considered at the intersection of Woodmen Road and Academy Boulevard (SH83).
   In addition, there are plans to develop a "Front Range Toll Road", a privately-owned turnpike, which would begin south of Pueblo and end around Fort Collins. This toll road would allow rail and truck traffic to avoid the more highly travelled parts of I-25 along the Front Range. Initially, the project had support but has since been highly contested because of the need to condemn the land of many private citizens, through the use of eminent domain, to make room for the corridor
   Colorado Springs is served by the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport. In the state of Colorado, only Denver International has more passenger traffic. The airport has experienced a higher recovery rate in the post-9/11 era than the rest of the country and is in the process of expanding its maintenance facilities, taxiways, and runways to accommodate future growth. In 2005 it served approximately two million passengers. Colorado Springs is also one of the nation's leaders in lender available housing, nearing its top record set in the late 1980s (External Link

).
On January 17, 2007, Steve Fehl, an Analyst at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center (External Link

) announced that many of the better jobs being created in Colorado Springs are for service positions in upscale call centers for the insurance, support, and financial industries. These large businesses find the quality and quantity of available college educated workers an incentive to locate to the city. Mr. Fehl also believes Colorado Springs still remains a difficult market for job seekers outside the defense sector. With future growth in the defense sector expected when the approved funding is released to defense contractors, creating employment for those with active security clearances. This growth should offset some of the recent softening in information technology and complex electronic equipment manufacturing sectors.

Defense industry

The defense industry is a significant portion of Colorado Springs' economy with several of the largest employers coming from this sector. A large segment of this industry is dedicated to the development and operation of various projects of the missile defense agency. The aerospace industry also has had an influence on the Colorado Springs economy. The defense sector has planned several changes, moving in and out personnel, building and shutting down, over the next few years. Still, they're among the largest employers in the city and the overall trend is some growth.
Significant defense corporations in the city include:

ITT

Boeing

General Dynamics

High-tech industry

A large percentage of Colorado Springs' economy is still based on high tech and manufacturing complex electronic equipment. The high tech sector of Colorado Springs area has decreased its overall presence in the Springs' economy over the past six years (from around 21,000 down to around 8,000), notably in information technology and complex electronic equipment. Due to the slowdown in tourism, the high tech sector still remains second to the military in terms of total revenue generated and employment. (External Link

) It is projected by this trend that the high tech employment ratio will continue to decrease in the near future.(External Link

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Because of Colorado Springs’ central U.S. location, available reserve of highly educated workers, and business friendly climate; several companies have plans to either expand their current operations in Colorado Springs or have considered Colorado Springs as a competitive area for relocating or opening a business.
High tech corporations with connections to the city include:

Verizon Business – Software development - Formerly WorldCom and MCI, has a fairly large engineering presence. At its peak during the mid to late 1990s, with over 5,000 employees, MCI was the largest private employer in El Paso County (Fort Carson and the City of Colorado Springs were ranked #'s 1 and 2, with MCI coming in 3rd overall).

Hewlett-Packard – Computing – large sales, support, and SAN storage engineering center. The location was built by Digital Equipment Corporation, renamed Compaq in the 1998 acquisition of Digital, and finally renamed Hewlett-Packard after the 2002 merger.

SNIA – Computing - home of the SNIA Technology Center

Agilent – Test and Measurement Manufacturing - In 1999, Agilent was spun off from HP as an independent, publicly-traded company.

Intel – Chip fabrication, built in 2000. Intel has put this facility up for sale, and plans to leave Colorado Springs. Local economist believes a loss up to 4,154 jobs possible if facility isn't sold and shut down. (External Link

). As of December 15, 2007, Intel has ceased operations at this facility.

Atmel – Chip fabrication. Formerly Honeywell

Cypress Semiconductor Colorado Design Center – Chip fabrication R&D site

Sanmina-SCI Closing facility around December 2007 to January 2008 (800 jobs).

Military

The United States Military plays a very important role in the city. Colorado Springs is home to both Army and Air Force bases and their numerous support bases around the county.

Fort Carson

Fort Carson is the city's largest military base, and until mid-2006 was home to the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, which relocated to Fort Hood, Texas. By 2009, Fort Carson will be the home station of the 4th Infantry Division, which will nearly double the base's population. Fort Carson is host to various training grounds for infantry, armor, and aviation units (specifically the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior). Fort Carson is also the headquarters of the second and third battalions of the 10th Special Forces Group.

Peterson Air Force Base

The Air Force has critical aspects of their service based at Colorado Springs which carry on missile defense operations and development. The Air Force bases a large section of the national missile defense operations here, with Peterson Air Force Base set to operate large sections of the program. Peterson AFB is currently the headquarters of the majority of Air Force Space Command and the operations half of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT).
Peterson is also headquarters for the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), one of the Unified Combatant Commands. USNORTHCOM 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 USNORTHCOM for any required military assistance. Service members from every branch of US Military are stationed at the command.

Schriever Air Force Base (formerly Falcon AFB)

Schriever AFB is home to the 50th Space Wing that controls warning, navigational, and communications satellites. It is the location of the global positioning system (GPS) master control station and GPS Operations Center

and the US Naval Observatory Alternate Master Clock

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 nations military.

NORAD and Cheyenne Mountain Air Station

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a component of America's missile defense system, is located in Cheyenne Mountain Air Station. When it was built at the height of the Cold War it caused much anxiety for the residents of Colorado Springs. Although NORAD still operates, today it's primarily tasked with the tracking of ICBMs, but the military has recently decided to place Cheyenne Mountain's NORAD/NORTHCOM operations on standby and move operations to nearby Peterson Air Force Base. (External Link

)

United States Air Force Academy

The north end of the city is home to the vast United States Air Force Academy grounds, where cadets train to become officers in the Air Force. The campus is famous for its unique chapel and draws visitors year round. The Air Force sports programs belong to the Mountain West Conference and they consistently compete for championships in football (including the Commander in Chief's trophy) and basketball.

Religious institutions

In recent years, Colorado Springs has attracted a large influx of Evangelical Christians and Christian Organizations. At one time Colorado Springs was counted to be the national headquarters for 81 different religious organizations, earning the city the tongue-in-cheek nickname "the Evangelical Vatican". According to the 2006 DEX phone book, there are 84 separate categories under "churches" with hundreds of individual churches listed.
The city and surrounding areas also host hundreds of churches and synagogues of many faiths and denominations, including a mosque.
Religious groups with headquarters at Colorado Springs include:

Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs

Compassion International

Focus on the Family

International Bible Society

Association of Christian Schools International

The Navigators

Young Life

Christian and Missionary Alliance

WAY-FM Network

Education

Universities, colleges and special schools include:

Colorado College, founded in 1874

The Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, also founded in 1874

The United States Air Force Academy, established on its present site in 1958

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), established on its present Cragmor grounds in 1965

Pikes Peak Community College

Nazarene Bible College

Remington College, vocational training.

Colorado Technical University, established in 1965

Colorado State University - Pueblo, Citadel Campus

DeVry University, established in 1931

Regis University, Jesuit University The city's public schools are divided into several districts:

Widefield School District 3 On the south end

Academy School District 20 On the north end

Colorado Springs School District 11 In the center of the city

Falcon School District 49 On the east side

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 On the far south end

Harrison School District 2 In the south central area

James Irwin Charter Schools In the east central area

Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 In the southwest corner

Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind Private schools:

Colorado Springs Christian Schools

Evangelical Christian Academy

Fountain Valley School of Colorado

Hilltop Baptist School

Saint Mary's High School

Colorado Springs School

Divine Redeemer Catholic School

Pikes Peak Christian School

Colorado Springs city government

The city is a Council-Manager government, with a City Council and Mayor that meet regularly to approve budgets and projects, while the city manager deals with the day-to-day aspects of running the city. Organizational Chart of Colorado Springs City Government

Area Medical Facilities

There are two main hospital systems in the City of Colorado Springs. They are Memorial Health System and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. Memorial is owned by the City of Colorado Springs and has two locations: Memorial Hospital Central which is located downtown and Memorial Hospital North which is located off Briargate Parkway. Penrose-St. Francis Health Services has two Hospitals, Penrose Community on Academy Boulevard and Penrose Main off I-25. They are in the process of building St. Francis Medical Center on Powers and Woodmen Road on the city's northeast side. This will open in August 2008 and will be the only full-service acute care facility in the northern part of the city.

Notable residents

Actor Michael Boatman

Artist Charles Ragland Bunnell (1897-1968)

Silent film star Lon Chaney was born in Colorado Springs on April 1 1883. The Lon Chaney Theatre is named for him.

Nine time MLB All-Star pitcher Goose Gossage was born in Colorado Springs on July 5, 1951, and graduated from Wasson High School. Retired from baseball, he currently lives in Colorado Springs.

Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton was born in Colorado Springs.

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson

Chris Elrod, Christian comedian and writer lived in Colorado Springs during his high school years.(External Link

)

WWE Superstar wrestler Bobby Lashley is billed from Colorado Springs.

Keith Lockhart, former conductor of the Pikes Peak Symphony, current conductor of the Boston Pops

Actress Chase Masterson

Cassandra Peterson (also known as Elvira, Mistress of the Night) attended General William J. Palmer High School in downtown Colorado Springs. She graduated in the class of 1969.

Professional kickboxer, wrestler and actor Bob "The Beast" Sapp was born in Colorado Springs and attended Mitchell High School.

Serbian-born American physicist Nikola Tesla built a laboratory in Colorado Springs in 1899 for his experiments in the wireless transmission of electrical power. The site of the lab, the present intersection of Foote and Kiowa streets, is now a residential area.

Model Leeann Tweeden worked briefly as a waitress at a local Hooters in the 1991-1992 timeframe.

Automobile racer Bobby Unser was born in Colorado Springs on February 20 1934.

Former British ice dancer Christopher Dean

Former American figure skater Jill Trenary, who is married to Dean.

NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson of the San Diego Chargers and graduated from Widefield High School

NFL defensive end Aaron Smith (American football) of the Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL cornerback Roc Alexander

Miss Colorado 2002, Miss Colorado Teen USA 1999, and former Denver Broncos cheerleader, Morgan O'Murray

NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry

nerdcore artist YTCracker

ESPN College GameDay (football) host Chris Fowler

MLB starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy of the Texas Rangers (baseball)

Duane Chapman from Dog the Bounty Hunter

Former BBC's "Tomorrow's World" presenter, currently resides in Colorado Springs. Howard Stableford

Comedian Lewis Black lived briefly in Colorado Springs with college friends as part-owner of a small theater there.

Thomas Eugene Foulks lived in Colorado Springs from the early 1960s through 2003. He was local news anchor and politician.

Actress Juli Ashton

OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder, who also co-wrote Bleeding Love for Leona Lewis, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008.

OneRepublic lead guitarist Zach Filkins

Sister cities

Sister cities of Colorado Springs include:

Fujiyoshida, Japan (1962)

Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1983)

Smolensk, Russia (1993)

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (1994)

Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico (1996)

(1999) Colorado Springs' sister city organization began when Colorado Springs became partners with Fujiyoshida. The torii gate erected to commemorate the relationship stands at the corner of Bijou Street and Nevada Avenue, and is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The torii gate, crisscrossed bridge and shrine, located in the median between Platte and Bijou Streets in downtown Colorado Springs, were a gift to Colorado Springs, erected in 1966 as a token of friendship between the two communities. A plaque near the torii gate states that "the purpose of the sister city relationship is to promote understanding between the people of our two countries and cities". The Fujiyoshida Student exchange program has become an annual event.
   To strengthen relations between the two cities, the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony regularly invites the Taiko drummers from the city to participate in a joint concert in the Pikes Peak Center. The orchestra played in Bankstown, Australia, in 2002 and again in June 2006 as part of their tours to Australia and New Zealand.
   Also, in 2006, the Bankstown TAP (Talent Advancement Program), performed with the Youth Symphony, and the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale, as a part of the annual In Harmony program.
   A notable similarity between Colorado Springs and its sister cities are their geographic positions, three of the six cities being located near the base of a major mountain or range.(External Link

)

In popular culture

Clive Cussler sets a chapter of his thriller "Cyclops" in Colorado Springs, featuring an action scene between the President's personal investigator and a man supposedly involved in a top secret colony on the moon.

Robert A. Heinlein, noted sci-fi writer during the genre's Golden Age, lived in Colorado Springs during part of his career. His novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress featured at one point the rebel moon government raining rock-filled grain canisters down on NORAD's headquarters inside Cheyenne Mountain, incidentally destroying Colorado Springs because of the great amount of kinetic energy released on impact.

Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz lived briefly in Colorado Springs in 1951, on North Franklin Street. Linus and Lucy Van Pelt were neighbors of his, for whom he named characters. He painted a wall of his home with some Peanuts characters. The wall was removed from the home in 2001 and donated to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California.

Several scenes of Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit (1987) were filmed at the Broadmoor Hotel. Several courtroom scenes in the Perry Mason movie series were filmed in the courtroom exhibit at the Pioneer's Museum (formerly the El Paso County Courthouse).

The Incident (1990) was filmed in the courtroom exhibit at the Pioneer's Museum (formerly the El Paso County Courthouse).

Strangeland (1998) was filmed in Colorado Springs.

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, an Emmy Award-winning dramatic television series starring Jane Seymour, was set in this town. Though there was some historical accuracy, the character was based on a woman from nearby Cripple Creek and the majority of the events and settings were fictional, and actual filming was done at the Paramount Ranch near Agoura Hills, California.

The TV series Stargate SG-1 has several episodes which at least partially take place in Colorado Springs; additionally SGC is based out of nearby Cheyenne Mountain, and most of the team members are shown to reside in Colorado Springs. The new Julie Penrose Fountain

and two Egyptian style obelisks (in background) located in the America the Beautiful park in Colorado Springs bears a remarkable resemblance to a Stargate.

The movie Miracle shows Herb Brooks interviewing for the head coaching job for USA Hockey in Colorado Springs.

In the movie The Sum Of All Fears the Russian president asks a military adviser how many people live in Colorado Springs, as he weighs the ramifications of the use of nuclear weapons against the city. This highlights the strategic importance of the military-centered city.

By including Colorado Springs as the home of inventor Nikola Tesla, played by David Bowie, the film The Prestige dates itself to the years 1899 or 1900, when Tesla used the city for a series of electricity experiments. The Cliff House at Pikes Peak in nearby Manitou Springs is the basis for the hotel used in the film.

Under the fictional name of Cody, Colorado, the 2006 movie "Fast Food Nation" features a fictional meat packing plant set to a number of panoramic shots of Colorado Springs, including Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Mountain, the Front Range, as well as the McDonald's located on Academy Boulevard and San Miguel Street.

In the second Allied mission of, the player is required to recapture the United States Air Force Academy from Soviet forces. It is within Colorado Springs' range.

The titular characters' home in the Adult Swim cartoon The Venture Bros. is located in Colorado Springs.Further Information

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