Monument, Colorado

Monument, Colorado
Statutory town
Looking west along 2nd Street
Motto(s):  "Proud of our past, confident of our future "
Location of Monument in El Paso County, Colorado.
Coordinates: 39°04′52″N104°51′45″W / 39.08111°N 104.86250°W / 39.08111; -104.86250
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	El Paso [1]
Incorporated (town)	June 2, 1879 !-- Area --------------------->
Government
• Type	Home rule town
• Mayor	Mitch LaKind [2]
Area [3]
• Total	6.91 sq mi (17.90 km2)
• Land	6.86 sq mi (17.78 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation [4]	6,982 ft (2,128 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,399
• Estimate  (2023) [5]	12,088
• Density	1,179.80/sq mi (455.53/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	80132 [6]
Area code	719
FIPS code	08-51800
GNIS feature ID	2413009 [4]
Website	townofmonument.org

Monument is a home rule town situated at the base of the Rampart Range in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Monument is one of the three communities that make up the Tri-Lakes area, along with Palmer Lake and Woodmoor. Monument is bordered by Pike National Forest on the west, Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Academy to the south, Bald Mountain, True Mountain, and Spruce Mountain to the north, and Black Forest and rolling plains to the east. ^[7] Monument was first settled as a stop along the Rio Grande Railroad in 1872, and the area was incorporated as a town called Henry's Station in 1879, but the name was later changed to Monument. ^[8] The town population was 10,399 at the 2020 United States Census, ^[9] a 88% increase from a population of 5,530 in 2010 and a 528% increase from a population of 1,971 in 2000.

History

Monument Rock, the formation from which the town derives its name

Monument's first homesteaders arrived in 1865 to mark out the town's preliminary shape, but settlement increased when Monument became a stop along the Rio Grande Railroad in 1872. The area was incorporated as a town called Henry's Station, after prominent settler Henry Limbach, on June 2, 1879, and the first town meeting was held July 3, 1879. ^[10] However, three years later the name was changed to Monument after Monument Creek and Monument Rock in the west. ^[11] The first records of the town can be found in various volumes in the El Paso County Courthouse dating back to 1872. ^[11] With the help of the railroad, which brought in necessities, people started small businesses and started to create a town.

Geography

Monument is located at 39°04′52″N104°51′45″W / 39.081024°N 104.862491°W / 39.081024; -104.862491 . ^[12] It is north of Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Academy, and east of the Rampart Range, which is the eastern front range of the Rocky Mountains. Monument Creek, a gentle mountain stream beginning in the Rampart Range, eventually tumbles down through Palmer Lake and the west side of Monument to become one of the main waterways flowing south through Colorado Springs. ^[13] The town of Monument is situated on the southern slope of Palmer Divide, a significant geographical feature which separates the Arkansas and South Platte basins. According to the United States Census Bureau, Monument has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	125		—
1890	177		41.6%
1900	156		−11.9%
1910	149		−4.5%
1920	192		28.9%
1930	192		0.0%
1940	175		−8.9%
1950	126		−28.0%
1960	204		61.9%
1970	393		92.6%
1980	690		75.6%
1990	1,020		47.8%
2000	1,971		93.2%
2010	5,530		180.6%
2020	10,399		88.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [14]

As of the census ^[15] of 2020, there were 10,399 people (a 136% increase from 2000) with 3,798 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,703.7 inhabitants per square mile (657.8/km²). There were 3,746 housing units at an average density of 596.5 per square mile (230.3/km²), approx. 386.5% increase from 2000. As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the town was 82.80% White alone, 1.52% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 2.53% from other races, and 10.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.05% of the population.

There were 725 households, out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 38.3% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,000, and the median income for a family was $54,211. Males had a median income of $41,071 versus $27,583 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,878. About 5.4% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Monument town hall and police department

Monument is a home rule town and is under a home rule charter. ^[16] This means that the governmental policy is established by the Town Council. There are seven council members, including the mayor. The mayor is considered part of the Town Council, and has the same power as the other council members. Council members are elected for overlapping 4-year terms, and the mayor is elected for four years as well. A vacancy in office will be filled by council appointment or by voters at a regular or special election. There is a set term limit of two consecutive terms for the mayor and council members. All regular and special meetings must be open to the public, and people must be given the opportunity to be heard.

Education

The former Inez Johnson Lewis School, this building now serves as the Lewis-Palmer School District 38 administration building.

By Colorado law, Monument is a school-choice community. Because of this, there are opportunities for public schools, ^[17] private schools, ^[18] charter schools, ^[19] and home schooling groups. ^[20] The public school system is Lewis-Palmer School District 38. Lewis-Palmer District ACT scores (at 23) are about 20% higher than the average state scores (at 19) in the two high schools, Palmer Ridge and Lewis-Palmer. ^[21] The Lewis-Palmer district as a whole performs 15-20% better on CSAP tests than the Colorado state average. ^[22] There are five public elementary schools in District 38: Lewis-Palmer Elementary, Palmer Lake Elementary, Kilmer, Prairie Winds Elementary, and Bear Creek Elementary. There is one public middle school serving all of District 38: Lewis-Palmer Middle School. Monument Academy is the only charter school and serves grades K through 12.

Organizations

The residents of Monument support and participate in many different organizations. It is home to various types of churches, such as Presbyterian, ^[23] Catholic, ^[24] Lutheran, ^[25] Mennonite , ^[26] Methodist, ^[27] and nondenominational. ^{[28] [29]} Monument has several organizations that are unique to the community, and also several nationwide organizations. Some notable organizations in Monument include:

• The Pikes Peak Library District which serves Monument, Colorado Springs, and the surrounding areas. ^[30]
• Several Boy Scout Troops including Boy Scout Troop 514 which is in possession of the Challenger flag, ^[31] the USA flag that was aboard the final ill-fated mission of the Challenger Space Shuttle.
• A chapter of Kiwanis International. ^[32]
• Friends of Monument Preserve, a volunteer organization that works in partnership with the US Forest Service to protect and maintain historical and recreational lands in and around Monument. ^[33]
• Tri-Lakes Cares, a volunteer-supported organization that primarily serves economically disadvantaged individuals in the Tri-Lakes area. ^[34]

Transportation

The greater Monument area is bisected north/south by interstate 25 and can be directly accessed via exits 158 and 161. Interstate 25 serves as the primary land connection between Colorado's two largest population centers (Denver and Colorado Springs), and in its transit through Monument passes over the top of Monument Hill, a geological ridge protrusion from the Front Range which frequently experiences hazardous road conditions, particularly in the winter months; automobile accidents and traffic jams are common in this stretch of interstate. ^{[35] [36] [37]} State Highway 105 also runs east/west through Monument with the western terminus curving north to Sedalia and the eastern terminus dead-ending in to State Highway 83, which runs longitudinally through Black Forest,with the northern terminus leading to Aurora and the southern terminus turning into Interquest Parkway on the north end of Colorado Springs.

A section of railway (formerly, the Colorado and Southern Railway, now owned by BNSF) also runs parallel to interstate 25 through Monument, and is used primarily for coal transport. Passenger service used to be available along the railway southbound to Pueblo and northbound to Denver with connecting destinations, but was eventually discontinued by all carriers by 1971; as of 2024, passenger rail service remains unavailable in Monument. ^[38] There is widespread support for re-establishing a passenger rail connection spanning Colorado's Front Range Urban Corridor via the Front Range Passenger Rail Project. ^[39] In 2024, the project was granted $500,000 by the USDOT to research and devise a detailed active service plan in hopes of securing further funding. ^{[40] [41]}

The only form of public transportation that exists in Monument is a park and ride bus stop for the Bustang, Colorado's inter-regional express bus service. ^[42] Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber are becoming more accessible in Monument as a benefit of the town's close proximity to Colorado Springs. As of 2024, Lyft and Uber will service most of Monument and much of the Tri-Lakes area as part of their Colorado Springs services. ^[43]

Climate

Monument experiences a hemiboreal continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with warm, relatively rainy summers and cold, snowy winters. The semi-arid climate keeps the dew point very low in Monument year-round which causes the air to feel quite dry. ^[44] Monument is part of the Front Range urban corridor and lies on the southern slope of Monument Hill. The town is situated near the western terminus of the Palmer Divide, a low-grade ridge that extends eastward from the Front Range and has a significant impact on Monument's climate. With Monument Hill reaching 7,352 feet above sea level, Monument is one of the highest communities in the Front Range urban corridor. ^[45] The combination of high elevation, uniquely situated geography, semi-arid climate, and freezing cold winter months, the town of Monument receives considerably more snow each year than its neighboring cities. Colorado Springs (20 miles to the South) receives an average of 33 inches of snow per year and Denver (53 miles to the North) receives an average of 56 inches of snow per year, whereas the town of Monument receives an average of 110 inches of snow per year. ^[46]

Climate data for Monument, Colorado. (data from 1988-2003)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	70 (21)	66 (19)	73 (23)	86 (30)	93 (34)	93 (34)	98 (37)	96 (36)	89 (32)	79 (26)	72 (22)	65 (18)	98 (37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	41.2 (5.1)	42.6 (5.9)	49.8 (9.9)	56.3 (13.5)	66.0 (18.9)	77.5 (25.3)	81.5 (27.5)	79.7 (26.5)	70.7 (21.5)	60.7 (15.9)	49.5 (9.7)	40.4 (4.7)	59.7 (15.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	15.8 (−9.0)	17.0 (−8.3)	22.9 (−5.1)	29.1 (−1.6)	38.0 (3.3)	47.1 (8.4)	52.4 (11.3)	51.4 (10.8)	43.8 (6.6)	32.8 (0.4)	22.4 (−5.3)	15.6 (−9.1)	32.4 (0.2)
Record low °F (°C)	−16 (−27)	−26 (−32)	−9 (−23)	0 (−18)	21 (−6)	30 (−1)	38 (3)	35 (2)	20 (−7)	−4 (−20)	−9 (−23)	−27 (−33)	−27 (−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.83 (21)	0.56 (14)	2.30 (58)	3.09 (78)	2.52 (64)	2.51 (64)	2.79 (71)	3.03 (77)	1.62 (41)	1.34 (34)	1.41 (36)	0.81 (21)	22.81 (579)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	13.5 (34)	10.0 (25)	22.3 (57)	22.4 (57)	3.1 (7.9)	0.1 (0.25)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1.4 (3.6)	9.1 (23)	15.9 (40)	12.8 (33)	110.6 (280.75)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center [47]

Notable people

• Kevin J. Anderson, bestselling science fiction author ^[48]
• Jennifer Barringer, professional runner and Olympian ^[49]
• Bobby Burling, professional MLS player, attended Lewis-Palmer High School ^[50]
• Adrian Carrio, racing driver
• Chumped, members of the band^{[ citation needed ]}
• Tom Clements, former director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, assassinated ^[51]
• Pat Garrity, former NBA player ^[52]
• Wayne Laugesen, journalist
• Robert Liparulo, thriller novelist ^[53]
• Frances McConnell-Mills, toxicologist ^[54]
• Jennifer Sipes, actress and model, born in Monument, attended Lewis-Palmer Elementary School ^[55]
• Paige Spiranac, professional golfer and model
• Matthew Ward, Christian musician and former member of 2nd Chapter of Acts

See also

• Colorado portal

• Front Range Urban Corridor
• South Central Colorado Urban Area

References

1. "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
2. "Monument, CO - Official Website". townofmonument.org.
3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Monument, Colorado
5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
6. "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
7. "Town of Monument". www.townofmonument.net. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
8. Lavelett, Lucille. Through the Years at Monument, Colorado: The story of Monument Colorado. 2004. Published by Palmer Lake Historical Society, Palmer Lake, CO. ISBN   0-9755989-0-2. p. 7
9. "QuickFacts: Monument town, Colorado". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved September 7, 2021.
10. Lavelett, Lucille. Through the Years at Monument, Colorado: The story of Monument Colorado. 2004. Palmer Lake Historical Society, Palmer Lake, CO. ISBN   0-9755989-0-2 p. 14
11. Lavelett, Lucille. Through the Years at Monument, Colorado: The story of Monument Colorado. 2004. Palmer Lake Historical Society, Palmer Lake, CO. ISBN   0-9755989-0-2 P. 7
12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
13. "Monument Creek Headwaters: Reviews & Upcoming Events - the Gazette". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. "Government | Monument, CO". www.townofmonument.org. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
17. "Lewis-Palmer School District #38". lewispalmer.org.
18. ^[ dead link ]
19. "Monument Academy". Monument Academy.
20. Hall, Annette M. "El+Paso, Colorado (CO) Local Homeschool Support Groups". Local Homeschool.com.
21. "Explore Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument, CO". GreatSchools.org.
22. "Explore Boulder High School in Boulder, CO". GreatSchools.org.
23. "Home". www.mcpcusa.org.
24. "St. Peter's Catholic Church - Pages - Welcome to St. Peter Catholic Church". Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
25. "Trinity-monument.org". Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
26. "Mountain Community Mennonite Church". Mountain Community Mennonite Church.
27. "Tri-Lakes UMC". tlumc.org.
28. "Worship. Connect. Serve". New Life Church. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
29. "Tri-Lakes Chapel | Home". Archived from the original on July 22, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
30. "Library Locations | Pikes Peak Library District". ppld.org. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
31. "The American flag that survived the Challenger explosion". KUSA.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
32. "Monument Hill Kiwanis". monumenthillkiwanis.org. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
33. "About". Friends Of Monument Preserve. June 6, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
34. "About TLC – Tri-Lakes Cares". tri-lakescares.org. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
35. Gazette, Ellie Mulder and Kaitlin Durbin The. "'Bomb cyclone' aftermath around Colorado Springs: Relief for stranded drivers, trapped semis". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
36. McKee, Spencer. "The 9 'most dangerous' drives in Colorado, according to a local". OutThere Colorado. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
37. "Monument Hill proves to be a monumental challenge in winter conditions". KOAA. January 19, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
38. Horjus, Maren (February 28, 2024). "This Rail Expert Says a Front Range Passenger Train Would Be a Costly Disaster. Here's Why". 5280. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
39. "Trains, drivers stuck in traffic are likely winners as Colorado lawmakers reach finish". The Denver Post. May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
40. "Home". Ride the Front Range. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
41. Harnish, Rick (April 18, 2024). "Bringing Regional Rail to Colorado's Front Range". High Speed Rail Alliance. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
42. "Bustang Routes".
43. "Colorado Springs - Lyft". lyft.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
44. "Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Monument". Weatherspark.
45. "Colorado topographic map, elevation, relief". topographic-map.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
46. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Denver Seasonal Snowfall". www.weather.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
47. "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
48. "Science Fiction". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
49. "Jenny Simpson". US Track & Field. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
50. "Bobby Burling". MLS Soccer. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
51. Press |, The Associated (November 17, 2019). "Review of Tom Clements' murder investigation kept under wraps". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
52. "Patrick Joseph Garrity (Pat)". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
53. "Robert Liparulo bio".
54. Varnell, Jeanne (1999). Women of Consequence: The Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Johnson Books. p. 132. ISBN   9781555662141.
55. "Jennifer Sipes Video – Celebrity Interview And Paparazzi". OV Guide. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2013.

External links

• Media related to Monument, Colorado at Wikimedia Commons
• Town of Monument official website
• CDOT map of Monument
• Monument travel guide from Wikivoyage