About El Paso County & Colorado

About el Paso County & Colorado

El Paso County

Overview

El Paso County lies in east central Colorado and encompasses more than 2,158 square miles - slightly more than twice the area of the state of Rhode Island (Excluding Narragansett Bay). While the western portion of El Paso County is extremely mountainous, the eastern part is prairie land where dairy cows and beef cattle are the main source of ranchers' income. The altitude ranges from about 5,095 feet (1569 m) on the southern border at Black Squirrel Creek to 14,110 feet (4301 m) on the summit of Pikes Peak, near the western boundary. The county seat is located in Colorado Springs.

The natural physical beauty of the area, situated at the base of Pikes Peak and with an uninterrupted view of the Front Range, can be enjoyed by all. The magnificent scenery inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the poem "America the Beautiful" after her visit here. The mild climate, on average, supplies 285 days of sunshine, 15 inches of rain, 35 inches of snow, and very low levels of humidity.

2008 estimated total population: 596,053
Number of estimated households: 221,959
Estimated civilian labor force: 316,619

Cities

Name	Phone	Population	Map
Colorado Springs	719-385-2489	369815	map
Fountain	719-322-2000	19081	map
Manitou Springs	719-685-5481	5039	map

Towns

Name	Phone	Population	Map
Monument	719-884-8031	2508	map
Palmer Lake	719-481-2953	2271	map
Calhan	719-347-2586	876	map
Green Mtn. Falls	719-684-9414	784	map
Ramah	719-541-2163	120	map

Colorado

Overview

First visited by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, the territory was claimed for Spain by Juan de Ulibarri in 1706. The U.S. obtained eastern Colorado as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the central portion in 1845 with the admission of Texas as a state, and the western part in 1848 as a result of the Mexican War.

Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any state, with more than 1,000 Rocky Mountain peaks over 10,000 ft high and 54 towering above 14,000 ft. Pikes Peak, the most famous of these mountains, was discovered by U.S. Army lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike in 1806.

Once primarily a mining and agricultural state, Colorado's economy is now driven by the service industries, including medical providers and other business and professional services. Colorado's economy also has a strong manufacturing base. The primary manufactures are food products, printing and publishing, machinery, and electrical instruments. The state is also a communications and transportation hub for the Rocky Mountain region.

Colorado Facts

Population, 2008 estimate	4,939,456

Population, 2000	4,301,261
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2005	7.3%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2005	25.3%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2005	10.0%
Female persons, percent, 2005	49.5%