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Colorado Springs, Colorado
Money magazine’s 19th annual survey of the Best Places to Live in America ranks Colorado Springs No. 1 in the big city category, population of 300,000 or more. The Springs outperformed Austin, Texas, and Mesa, Ariz. — not to mention New York and San Diego — in a study released Monday that factored a range of financial, housing, educational, health, weather, leisure and quality-of-life issues in 59 big cities. One economic indicator that helped put the city over the top: a median home price of $192,250 that was well below the Best Places’ average of $256,659.
“Colorado Springs also did very well on education scores,” said Money magazine executive editor Craig Matters, “and in ease of living,” which he said included “factors like commute times and health.”
If you are looking for Colorado Springs Real Estate contact us today! We also have El Paso, Teller, Custer and Elbert County homes and properties for sale. Cities include Fountain, Monument, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Divide, Canon City, Peyton and Elbert. Our real estate website features Colorado's finest real estate homes for sale, land for sale and other fabulous properties.
HISTORY
"Could one live in constant view of these grand mountains without being elevated by them into a lofty plane of thought and purpose?"
General William Jackson Palmer wrote these words in a letter to his wife upon seeing the Pikes Peak region in 1870. A year later, he built the first house in what was to become Colorado Springs. Since then, 358,400 people have settled here - and many of them have been inspired by their surroundings. After a wagon ride to the summit of Pikes Peak in 1893, Katharine Lee Bates felt compelled to write the poem "America the Beautiful," which later became an anthem of American pride. In 1899, Nikola Tesla came to Colorado Springs to perform electrical experiments. While he did wreak havoc on the city's electrical system, he also invented the Tesla Coil, without which we would not have radio, radar, or any other type of broadcasting system.
Silent-film star Lon Chaney was born in Colorado Springs in 1883. He wrote and acted in his first play here. But here in Colorado Springs, in constant view of those grand mountains, there is one thing almost everyone wants to try at one point or another. We all want to see the world from the top of Pikes Peak. Whether we brave the punishing 13-mile hike up Barr Trail, ride the Cog Railway or drive Pikes Peak Highway, we feel an innate desire to see the view that inspired Katharine Lee Bates so long ago.
After a failed attempt to scale the peak in 1803, Zebulon Pike believed that no one would ever be able to climb the mountain that would one day bear his name. Today, about 15,000 people attempt to hike to the summit every year. Many turn back though, in part because of the oxygen level. The summit of Pikes Peak has half the oxygen found at sea level.
Almost 300,000 people make the 19-mile drive up the Pikes Peak Highway each year to view the world from 14,110 feet up - and maybe to be inspired a little. Whether or not the spectacular view of the mountains allows Colorado Springs residents to attain a lofty plane of thought and purpose, it does provide a backdrop for daily life. Those mountains are an integral part of our city's personality and history. They are how we tell directions and the setting for some amazing sunsets. Palmer envisioned a great city here at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. More than a century later, hundreds of thousands of people are still reaping the benefits of his lofty dream.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Altitude: 6,035 feet
Population: 374,000
MONEY MATTERS
Median household income: $49,225.
Median sales price of an existing house: $154,000.
UTILITIES
Electricity/gas/water
Colorado Springs Utilities, 111 S. Cascade, Ave., 448-4800.
CABLE
Adelphia, (888) 683-1000
Charter Communications, Fort Carson, 576-7404.
DirectVision, 477-1700.
Starview Communications, 591-6571.
PHONE
Qwest, (800) 244-1111.
GARBAGE
A number of companies provide garbage service to Colorado Springs, including:
Bestway Disposal, 633-8709
L&L Disposal Service, 473-4861
Pam and Dan's Hauling, 527-9988
Springs Waste Systems, 634-7177
Team Green Recycle and Sanitation Inc., 634-0055
U.S. Waste Industries, 591-5000
Waste Management, 632-8877
Waste Systems Inc. (lower Colorado Springs), 390-5097
RECYCLING
El Paso County's Solid Waste Management Department offers a recycling directory with complete information on where and how to recycle and/or dispose of almost anything, including hazardous waste. To obtain a copy, call 520-7878 or pick one up in the lobby of the El Paso County Office Building, 27 E. Vermijo Ave. A pdf version of the directory is also available for download at www.elpasoco.com/solidwst/.
Recycle America, 602 E. 4th St., 633-0955.
LANDFILLS
Fountain Landfill, 10000 Squirrel Creek Road, 382-9961. Colorado Springs Landfill and Recycling Center, E. Highway 94, 683-2000.
Colorado Springs Transfer Station and Recycling Center, 1965 Commercial Blvd., 576-9175.
Midway Landfill, Fountain (exit 119 off I-25), 382-8383.
POSTAL SERVICE
General postal information, (800) 275-8777.
Main Office (80901, 80903, 80905) - 201 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 570-5336. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
General Mail Facility (ZIP codes 80910, 80935) - 3655 E. Fountain Blvd., 570-5554. 7:30 a.m. -7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Antares Station (80909, 80932) - 2641 E. Uintah St., 633-7196, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Briargate Branch (80920, 80921, 80962) - 8585 Criterion Drive, 265-5390, 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
Cheyenne Mountain Station (80906, 80937, 80960) - 1540 S. Eighth St., 329-0611, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Cimarron Hills Branch (80915, 80916, 80922, 80928, 80929, 80930) - 5925 E. Galley Rd., 596-9346, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
North End Station (80907, 80933) - 2940 N. Prospect St., 570-5557, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Rockrimmon Station (80919, 80920, 80921, 80949) - 5001 Centennial Blvd., 265-1736, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Templeton Station (80917, 80918, 80936) - 4356 Montebello Drive, 570-5462, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
West End Station (80904, 80934) - 204 S. 25th St., 329-1214, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
CONTRACT POSTAL STATIONS
American Numismatic Association - 818 N. Cascade Ave., 632-2646, Ext. 55, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Black Forest Rural Branch - 11425 Black Forest Road, 495-3223, 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturday.
Chapel Hills Mall - 1710 Briargate Blvd., 594-0111, 10:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Citadel Mall - 750 Citadel Drive, East, 591-5515, 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sunday.
Colorado Creamery - 6628 Delmonico Drive, 265-6556, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Grocery Warehouse - 7635 N. Academy Blvd., 260-1073, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. every day. Mail Boxes Etc. - 1670 Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd., 540-0595, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
UPS Store - 5144 N. Academy Blvd., 522-0123, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
UPS Store - 455 E. Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd., Suite C, 576-2880, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
UPS Store - 6660 Delmonico Drive, 592-1778, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
MILITARY BASE POST OFFICES
Air Force Academy (80840, 80841) - 5136 Community Center Drive, 472-05137, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Fort Carson (80913, 80926) - 1611 McDonald St., 570-5453, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday.
Peterson Air Force Base Contract Station (80914) - Building 1466, 556-4596, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30-noon Saturday.
SELF-SERVICE POSTAL CENTERS, OPEN 24 HOURS DAILY
Colorado College, 15 E. Cache La Poudre.
General Mail Facility lobby, 3655 E. Fountain Blvd.
Main Office lobby, 210 E. Pikes Peak Ave., (self-service postal center open 6 a.m.-7 p.m.).
Memorial Hospital, 1400 E. Boulder St.
North End Station lobby, 2940 N. Prospect St.
Peterson Air Force Base, Building 1466
Rustic Hills Shopping Center, parking lot.
Southgate Shopping Center, parking lot.
Templeton Station lobby, 4356 Montebello Drive.
Wal-Mart, 525 S. 8th St.
Wal-Mart, 8250 Razorback Rd.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
El Paso County Department of Motor Vehicles 520-6240, http://car.elpasoco.com/mvdmain.asp.
Downtown office, Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., 520-6240;
Chapel Hills office, 1710 Briargate Blvd., #350, 520-6240;
Widefield office, 115 Fontaine Blvd., 520-6240.
DRIVER'S LICENSE - http://car.elpasoco.com/mvDriversLicenseInfo.asp
Downtown office, Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., 520-6240;
Chapel Hills office, 1710 Briargate Blvd., #350, 520-6240;
Widefield office, 115 Fontaine Blvd., 520-6240. .
GOVERNMENT -
Colorado Springs operates under the council/manager form of city government. A mayor and eight council persons (four from specified districts and four at-large) oversee a hired city manager. For information about city government, call 385-CITY (385-2489) or access the city's Web site at www.springsgov.com.
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OFFICALS , CITY GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS
The Colorado Springs City Council is the city's legislative body. Members serve staggered four-year terms -- elections are held the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years - and are paid $6,250 a year. City Council meets in Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave. Formal meetings are held at 9:00 a.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Informal meetings are held at 1 p.m. on Mondays preceding the Tuesday formal meetings. All City Council meetings are open to the public, except when legal, land acquisition or personnel matters are discussed.
For more information about the city of Colorado Springs, visit www.springsgov.com.
REAL ANSWERS FROM A REAL PERSON
Have a question, problem or complaint about city services? Call 635-CITY. A real, live human being will answer and do his or her best to answer your question or refer you to someone who can.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
For all emergencies, call 911.
POLICE
Colorado Springs Police Department operations center, 705 S. Nevada Ave. Luis Velez, chief. General police assistance and information , 444-7000.
Division Command Stations
Falcon (North), 7850 Goddard St., 444-7252.
Gold Hill (West), 705 S. Nevada, 444-7595.
Sand Creek (Southeast), 4125 Center Park,, 444-7270.
Sheriff El Paso County Sheriff's Office, 205 S. Cascade Ave. John Wesley Anderson, Sheriff.
Non-emergency assistance, 390-5555.
STATE PATROL
Colorado State Patrol, 18 E. Arvada, 635-0385. Road condition report, 1-877-315-7623 or www.cotrip.org.
OTHER RESOURCES
Crime Stoppers, 634-STOP (634-7867) or www.crimestop.net.
FIRE
Colorado Springs Fire Department: Administration office, 375 Printers Parkway, 385-5950. Manuel Navarro, chief.
Station 1, 29 S. Weber St.
Station 2, 314 E. San Miguel St.
Station 3, 922 W. Colorado Ave.
Station 4, 2280 Southgate Road.
Station 5, 2830 W. Colorado Ave.
Station 6, 2430 N. Union Blvd.
Station 7, 3901 Palmer Park Blvd.
Station 8, 3602 Airport Road.
Station 9, 622 Garden of the Gods Road.
Station 10, 3730 Meadowland Blvd.
Station 11, 3810 Jet Wing Drive.
Station 12, 445 Rockrimmon Blvd.
Station 13, 1475 Cresta Road.
Station 14, 2395 Briargate Blvd.
Station 15, 4770 Scarlet Drive.
Station 16, 4980 Farthing Drive.
Station 17, 3750 Tutt Blvd.
Station 18, 6830 Hadler View.
OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Broadmoor Fire Protection District, 4 Hazel Ave., 633-1069.
Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District, 1885 Peterson Road, 591-0960.
Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District, 2160 B St., 576-1200.
Wescott Fire Protection District, 15000 Sun Hills Drive, 599-4068.
Woodmen Valley Fire Protection District, 1150 W. Woodmen Valley Road, 522-9666.
JUSTICE
Colorado Springs Municipal Court, Robert M. Isaac Municipal Court Building, 224 E. Kiowa St., 385-5922. Colorado Springs Municipal courts hear cases involving violations of city ordinances and city charter provisions, including many traffic and criminal violations. Thirteen judges, all practicing Colorado attorneys, are appointed by City Council.
HOSPITALS
Memorial Hospital, 1400 E. Boulder, 365-5000.
Centura Health/Penrose-St. Francis Health Services operates:
Penrose Hospital, 2215 N. Cascade Ave., 776-5000.
Penrose Community Hospital, 3205 N. Academy, 776-5000.
St. Francis Health Center, 825 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 776-5000.
CEMETERIES, MAUSOLEUMS
Evergreen Cemetery, city-owned, 1005 S. Hancock Ave., 578-6646.
Fairview Cemetery, city-owned, 1001 S. 26th St., 578-6638.
Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mausoleum, 3825 Airport Road, 596-7900.
Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleums, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., 634-1597.
CHURCHES
For a complete list of Pikes Peak area churches, click here.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Please visit our education section for more information about school districts. Click here.
TRANSPORTATION
Carpools Ridefinders, 385-7433 (385-RIDE).
Clean Air Campaign of the Pikes Peak Region, 633-4343.
BUSES
Springs Transit (Downtown terminal), 127 E. Kiowa St., 385-7433. Bus transportation for Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Security, Widefield, Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base. General information available from 5:45 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday. Call for schedules and fares.
OTHER BUSES:
Greyhound-TNM&O, 120 S. Weber St. (terminal), 635-1505.
Pikes Peak Tours/Gray Line (tours/charters), 3704 W. Colorado Ave., 633-1181.
The Broadmoor Transportation (tours/charters), 577-5769.
Ramblin' Express (tours/charters/daily Cripple Creek shuttles), 3465 Astrozon Place, 590-8687.
AIRPORT
Colorado Springs Airport, 7770 Drennan Road, 550-1972. www.flycos.com
Twelve airlines serve the airport with approximately 120 arrivals and departures daily. For reservations and information call:
Allegiant Air, (888) 594-6937
America West, (800) 235-9292
American, (800) 433-7300
Champion Air, (800) 387-6951
Continental, (800) 525-0280
Delta, (800) 221-1212
Great Plains, (800) 929-8646
Mesa, (800) 637-2247
Northwest, (800) 225-2525
Skywest-Delta Connection, (800) 453-9417
United, (800) 241-6522
Vanguard, (800)826-4827
LIBRARIES
Pikes Peak Library District, administration, information and book renewal, 531-6333.
Cheyenne Mountain Branch, 1791 S. Eighth St., 633-6278.
East Library and Information Center, 5550 N. Union Blvd., 531-6333.
Fountain Branch, 591 E. Iowa St., 382-5347.
Monument Branch, 1706 Lake Woodmoor Drive, 488-2370.
Old Colorado City Branch, 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave., 634-1698.
Penrose Public Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., 531-6333.
Rockrimmon Branch, 832 Village Center Drive, 593-8000.
Ruth Holley Branch, 923 N. Murray Blvd., 597-5377.
Sand Creek Branch, 1821 S. Academy Blvd., 597-7070.
Ute Pass Branch, 8010 Severy Road, Cascade, 684-9432.
CITY PARKS
For a complete listing of Colorado Springs' city parks, click here.
SHOPPING
Downtown Colorado Springs. Vibrant, thriving and newly renovated with landscaping and sculpture, downtown offers a unique mixture of smaller, locally-owned retail shops, restaurants, brewpubs and coffee shops.
Chapel Hills Mall, 1710 Briargate Blvd., (N. Academy Blvd. at Briargate Blvd.), 594-0111. More than 160 stores and shops anchored by JC Penny, Foley's, Mervyn's, Dillard's, Kmart and Sears. Indoor ice rink.
The Citadel, 750 E. Citadel Drive (N. Academy Blvd. at E. Platte Ave.), 591-5515. More than 150 retailers including JC Penney, Foley's, Mervyn's and Dillards.
Manitou Springs (adjoining Colorado Springs on the west). Colorful and historic shopping district features art galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants.
Old Colorado City. On Colorado Springs' far west side along Colorado Ave., this National Historic District offers unique restaurants, antique shops, galleries and boutiques.
Shops At Briargate http://www.gazette.com/shops/
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