Manitou Springs, Colorado

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Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs City Hall.JPG
The Manitou Springs City Hall
Flag of Manitou Springs, Colorado.svg
Motto: 
At the foot of Pikes Peak
El Paso County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Manitou Springs Highlighted 0848445.svg
Location of the City of Manitou Springs in El Paso County, Colorado.
USA Colorado location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Manitou Springs
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Manitou Springs
Coordinates: 38°51′27″N104°54′46″W / 38.85750°N 104.91278°W / 38.85750; -104.91278
Country Flag of the United States.svg  United States
State Flag of Colorado.svg  Colorado
County El Paso County [2]
City Manitou Springs [1]
Incorporated January 25, 1888 [3]
Government
  Type Home rule municipality [1]
  MayorJohn Graham [4]
Area
[5]
  Total
8.16 km2 (3.15 sq mi)
  Land8.16 km2 (3.15 sq mi)
  Water0.00 km2 (0.00 sq mi)
Elevation
[6]
1,922 m (6,306 ft)
Population
 (2020) [7]
  Total
4,858
  Density600/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code [8]
80829
Area code 719
FIPS code 08-48445
GNIS feature ID2411021 [6]
Website www.manitouspringsgov.com

Manitou Springs is a home rule municipality located at the foot of Pikes Peak in western El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The town was founded for its natural mineral springs. The downtown area continues to be of interest to travelers, particularly in the summer, with many shops and restaurants, as well as a creekside city park. The main road through the center of town was one of the direct paths to the base of Pikes Peak. Barr Trail, which winds its way up Pikes Peak, is accessible from town. The subdivision Crystal Hills was added to the municipality in the 1960s.

Contents

The city population was 4,858 at the 2020 United States Census. [7] Students are served by Manitou Springs School District 14 and Manitou Springs High School.

History

General William Jackson Palmer and Dr. William Abraham Bell founded Manitou Springs in 1872, intending the town to be a "scenic health resort". Bell's home, Briarhurst Manor, is open to the public as a fine dining restaurant, which is listed on the National Register of Historic places. In 1876, the town was incorporated. [9] "Manitou Springs has been the quintessential tourist town since the 1870s, when visitors discovered the healing waters the Ute Indians had been drinking for years. Many of the town's mineral springs still function today and the water is free." [10]

Historic district

In 1980, the Manitou Springs Historic District was formed by the Historic Preservation Committee to manage development, renovation and preservation within the town. [9] It is a National Register of Historic Places listing [11] and one of the country's largest National Historic Districts. [12]

Waldo Canyon fire

In June 2012, the entire city was evacuated due to the Waldo Canyon fire nearby. Parts of western Colorado Springs were also evacuated. Manitou Springs did not suffer any fire damage, and the city was under evacuation orders from only 1:30 a.m. Monday until 8 p.m. the same day. There was no fire damage visible from Manitou Springs, and all businesses reopened. [13]

Waldo Canyon flash flood

On the afternoon of August 9, 2013, the city was inundated by a flash flood entering the northern edges of the city via roadways and natural channels as it descended from the flooded-out US Hwy 24. Traffic was stopped in both directions as the highway barriers formed a river drifting several occupied cars down a runoff ditch. The strong current made a path down Manitou Avenue from Cavern Gulch, as well as Canon Avenue, meandering turbulently through streets, homes, businesses, and spillways, damaging 20 homes, 8 of them significantly. The flood water threatened buildings and parking lots along Fountain Creek, and closed a portion of Manitou Avenue, which reopened later that evening. [14]

Geography

Situated directly along U.S. Route 24 just west of Old Colorado City and Cave of the Winds, the town is bordered by Mt. Manitou to the west, Red Mountain to the south, and Englemann Canyon, south and west. It is near Garden of the Gods, with the same red stone as Red Mountain, [15] and is at the base of Pikes Peak. [12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.2 km2), all of it land. [16]

Climate

Manitou Springs has a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb), categorized by four distinct seasons. Summertime is hot, and wintertime is cool, sometimes cold. Spring and fall are generally very pleasant.

Climate data for Manitou Springs, Colorado
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)73
(23)
76
(24)
81
(27)
87
(31)
94
(34)
100
(38)
100
(38)
99
(37)
94
(34)
86
(30)
78
(26)
77
(25)
100
(38)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)43
(6)
45
(7)
52
(11)
60
(16)
69
(21)
79
(26)
85
(29)
82
(28)
75
(24)
63
(17)
51
(11)
42
(6)
62
(17)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)18
(−8)
20
(−7)
26
(−3)
33
(1)
43
(6)
51
(11)
57
(14)
56
(13)
47
(8)
36
(2)
25
(−4)
18
(−8)
36
(2)
Record low °F (°C)−26
(−32)
−27
(−33)
−11
(−24)
−3
(−19)
21
(−6)
32
(0)
42
(6)
39
(4)
22
(−6)
5
(−15)
−8
(−22)
−24
(−31)
−27
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.32
(8.1)
0.36
(9.1)
1.00
(25)
1.42
(36)
2.03
(52)
2.50
(64)
2.84
(72)
3.34
(85)
1.19
(30)
0.82
(21)
0.40
(10)
0.34
(8.6)
16.56
(421)
Source: Weather.com [17]

Government

Manitou Springs is a local government and a home rule city located within the Colorado Springs metropolitan area. [9]

City council

Manitou Springs is managed by the elected mayor and six city council members. The mayor is elected to a two-year term. Council members are elected to 4-year overlapping terms. Three council members are "at large" members and three members represent one of each of the 3 wards in Manitou Springs. [18] [19] Manitou Springs residents may attend the following meetings or working sessions held each month at the Council Chambers at 606 Manitou Avenue. [20]

1st Tuesday2nd Tuesday3rd Tuesday4th Tuesday
City Council meetingWorking sessionCity Council meetingOptional working session

City boards and commissions

The Manitou Springs City Boards and Commissions include: [21]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 422
1890 1,439241.0%
1900 1,303−9.5%
1910 1,3574.1%
1920 1,129−16.8%
1930 1,2056.7%
1940 1,46221.3%
1950 2,58076.5%
1960 3,62640.5%
1970 4,27818.0%
1980 4,4754.6%
1990 4,5351.3%
2000 4,9809.8%
2010 4,9920.2%
2020 4,858−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census [33] of 2000, there were 4,980 people, 2,452 households, and 1,255 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,642.6 inhabitants per square mile (634.2/km2). There were 2,654 housing units at an average density of 875.4/sq mi (338.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.98% White, 3.65% Hispanic or Latino, 0.50% African American, 1.06% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 2.27% from two or more races.

There were 2,452 households, out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 40.2% were married couples living together' 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present; and 48.8% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,514, and the median income for a family was $57,260. Males had a median income of $39,102 versus $24,286 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,492. About 4.7% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions and community events

Attractions

Attractions include: [34]

Mineral springs and parks

Events

Annual events include: [47]

Inns and hotels

A view overlooking the city from the foothills Overlooking the city of Manitou Springs Colorado.jpg
A view overlooking the city from the foothills

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pikes Peak Cog Railway</span> Tourist cog railway to Pikes Peak, Colorado

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Cave of the Winds is a cave in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. It is located just west of Colorado Springs on U.S. Highway 24, near the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Tours of the complex of caves are given daily.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Colorado City Branch Carnegie Library</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Valley Cemetery</span> United States historic place in Manitou Springs, Colorado

Crystal Valley Cemetery is a cemetery located on Plainview Place in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Since its establishment in 1882, it has been the principal cemetery in Manitou Springs. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron Springs, Colorado</span> Neighborhood in Manitou Springs, Colorado

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Englemann Canyon is a valley along Ruxton Creek, in Manitou Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. It is one of three canyons in Manitou Springs, the others are Ute Pass and Williams Canyon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruxton Park</span> Park in Manitou Springs, Colorado, US

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Further reading