# Colorado Springs, Colorado
**Colorado Springs** is a city in [El Paso County, Colorado](https://www.edgepedia.org/el-paso-county-colorado), founded in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer as a resort community always in view of [Pikes Peak](https://www.edgepedia.org/pikes-peak). It is the second-largest city in Colorado after Denver and, at 195.40 square miles of land area, the state's largest city by area.[1](https://coloradosprings.gov/human-resources/page/about-city-colorado-springs) • [2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coloradospringscitycolorado/POP060210) • [3](https://coloradosprings.gov/system/files/2023-09/2024pbudget-00-04-glanceprofile.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, originally platted as "The Fountain Colony" and renamed Colorado Springs to market itself as a resort destination[1](https://coloradosprings.gov/human-resources/page/about-city-colorado-springs) • [4](https://coloradosprings.gov/page/historic-preservation-1) |
| Population | 494,743 (July 1, 2025 estimate); 478,961 at the April 1, 2020 Census[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coloradospringscitycolorado/POP060210) |
| Rank | Second-largest city in Colorado; 39th-largest city in the United States (2022)[5](https://coloradosprings.gov/Media) |
| Land area | 195.40 square miles (2020), the largest of any Colorado city[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coloradospringscitycolorado/POP060210) • [3](https://coloradosprings.gov/system/files/2023-09/2024pbudget-00-04-glanceprofile.pdf) |
| Climate | Cool, semi-arid, with cool dry winters and summers made wetter by the North American Monsoon; about 300 days of sunshine a year[6](https://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Portals/16/docs/environmental/fonsi/2026/Appendix%20F%20-%20Hazardous%20Toxic%20and%20Radioactive%20Waste.pdf?ver=0M-xEUdZY5Bf3KRBXHTJkA%3D%3D) • [1](https://coloradosprings.gov/human-resources/page/about-city-colorado-springs) |
| Government | Mayor/Council form adopted by voters in November 2010; Mayor Yemi Mobolade sworn in as the 42nd mayor on June 6, 2023[5](https://coloradosprings.gov/Media) |
| Economy | Tourism brought 25.5 million visitors to the Pikes Peak Region in 2024, who spent $3.1 billion[7](https://www.visitcos.com/about-us/steward-cos/locals-corner/) |
## Founding and early growth
General William Jackson Palmer, a Civil War officer from Pennsylvania, came to the region in 1869 searching for possible railroad routes, and a year later founded the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, purchasing land along its route for what became Colorado Springs.[8](https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/) The city was officially established in 1871 as "The Fountain Colony," and later took the name Colorado Springs to market itself as a resort destination.[4](https://coloradosprings.gov/page/historic-preservation-1) Palmer and his wife Queen developed many community staples, including North Cheyenne Cañon Park, the Colorado Springs Gazette, and the Antlers Hotel; the Broadmoor Hotel followed by 1918.[8](https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/) • [1](https://coloradosprings.gov/human-resources/page/about-city-colorado-springs)
The dry mountain air, natural mineral springs, and nearly 300 days of sunshine a year made the city a natural health destination for tuberculosis patients beginning in the late 1800s, and many who were cured stayed in the region with their families and businesses.[1](https://coloradosprings.gov/human-resources/page/about-city-colorado-springs) • [8](https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/) Gold strikes in the region brought booms of population and wealth in the 1850s-60s and again in the 1890s, earning the city the nickname "City of Millionaires"; at the turn of the century it was the wealthiest per capita city in the nation.[9](https://coloradosprings.gov/plancos/page/plancos-appendix-state-city-snapshots)
## Military, space, and tourism economy
The U.S. Army opened Camp Carson in the 1940s, beginning a strong military presence, and the Air Force broke ground for the [United States Air Force Academy](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-air-force-academy) in 1954. Today the city hosts [Fort Carson](https://www.edgepedia.org/fort-carson), Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base, the U.S. Space Command, NORAD, and the Air Force Academy.[8](https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/) In 2026 the Pentagon's Portfolio Acquisition Executives office overseeing Space Force infrastructure, with a $4 billion budget, announced a relocation from Los Angeles to [Peterson Space Force Base](https://www.edgepedia.org/peterson-space-force-base).[10](https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/08/20/colorado-springs-economic-development-pae-space-force)
Tourism remains central. Attractions include [Garden of the Gods](https://www.edgepedia.org/garden-of-the-gods), Pikes Peak, the U.S. Olympic [Headquarters](https://www.edgepedia.org/headquarters) and Training Center, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and the Air Force Academy.[1](https://coloradosprings.gov/human-resources/page/about-city-colorado-springs) The Pikes Peak Region welcomed 25.5 million visitors in 2024, who spent a total of $3.1 billion.[7](https://www.visitcos.com/about-us/steward-cos/locals-corner/) The Milken Institute ranked Colorado Springs the No. 5 best-performing large city in the United States for 2025, up from 15th in 2024, crediting its labor market, tourism, economic resilience, and broadband coverage.[11](https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/01/15/colorado-best-performing-cities-milken-institute)
## Population and housing
The city's population grew from 416,427 at the 2010 Census to 478,961 at the 2020 Census, a 3.1 percent increase from the 2020 base to the July 1, 2025 estimate of 494,743.[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coloradospringscitycolorado/POP060210) Between July 2024 and July 2025 the city added 2,288 residents, the largest one-year increase among Colorado cities.[12](https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/06/12/colorado-springs-continued-growth)
Housing costs have risen. A 2025 assessment found the city short roughly 30,000 dwelling units, with about 4,000 residents at high risk of homelessness from severe housing cost burdens and low incomes.[13](https://www.cpr.org/2025/12/11/colorado-springs-cost-of-living-housing-shortage-report/) In August 2026 home prices rose 0.3 percent and asking rents 2.4 percent year over year, while home sales fell 14.8 percent.[14](https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/10/13/colorado-springs-housing-rising-costs) Census figures put the median household income at $84,818 (2020-2024, in 2024 dollars), the median value of owner-occupied housing at $452,600, and the poverty rate at 9.0 percent.[2](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coloradospringscitycolorado/POP060210)
## Government
Colorado Springs uses a Mayor/Council form of municipal government, approved by voters in the November 2010 election. The Mayor's Office is the city's executive branch, and the nine-member City Council is the legislative body, setting policy, approving budgets, and establishing tax rates; councilmembers serve two four-year terms and receive an annual stipend of $6,250. The council also serves as the board of Colorado Springs Utilities, a separately managed utility owned by the city's residents.[5](https://coloradosprings.gov/Media)
## References
1. [About the City of Colorado Springs, City of Colorado Springs](https://coloradosprings.gov/human-resources/page/about-city-colorado-springs)
2. [U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Colorado Springs city, Colorado](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coloradospringscitycolorado/POP060210)
3. [2024 City of Colorado Springs Budget, City profile](https://coloradosprings.gov/system/files/2023-09/2024pbudget-00-04-glanceprofile.pdf)
4. [Historic Preservation, City of Colorado Springs](https://coloradosprings.gov/page/historic-preservation-1)
5. [Media Kit, City of Colorado Springs](https://coloradosprings.gov/Media)
6. [2.1 Climate, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers](https://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Portals/16/docs/environmental/fonsi/2026/Appendix%20F%20-%20Hazardous%20Toxic%20and%20Radioactive%20Waste.pdf?ver=0M-xEUdZY5Bf3KRBXHTJkA%3D%3D)
7. [Locals Corner, Visit Colorado Springs](https://www.visitcos.com/about-us/steward-cos/locals-corner/)
8. [Colorado Springs History & Heritage, Visit Colorado Springs](https://www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/)
9. [PlanCOS Appendix A: State of the City Snapshots, City of Colorado Springs](https://coloradosprings.gov/plancos/page/plancos-appendix-state-city-snapshots)
10. [Colorado Springs notches big economic development win, Axios](https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/08/20/colorado-springs-economic-development-pae-space-force)
11. [Colorado's top-performing cities, ranked, Axios Denver](https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/01/15/colorado-best-performing-cities-milken-institute)
12. [Colorado Springs sees continued growth, new census numbers show, Axios](https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/06/12/colorado-springs-continued-growth)
13. [Why is the cost of living in Colorado Springs so high?, Colorado Public Radio](https://www.cpr.org/2025/12/11/colorado-springs-cost-of-living-housing-shortage-report/)
14. [Colorado Springs housing snapshot shows rising costs, Axios](https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/10/13/colorado-springs-housing-rising-costs)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Settlements and neighborhoods › Cities and towns › Cities, towns, and villages of the Americas › Cities and towns in the Mountain West › Cities and towns in other Mountain West states*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license