History of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado was part of the American border before it was established. The Old Colorado City that was founded in 1858 was the Colorado Territory capital. General William Jackson Palmer founded the town of Colorado Springs.
Native American Settlement
The Utes were convinced that the Pikes Peak area is their home. They call the Pikes Peak as Tavakiev, which means "sun mountain". They lived by hunting, fishing, and harvesting wild food. They would spend their summers in the mountains and travel down Ute Pass during the fall. They made offerings to the spirits of the springs for the good harvest and hunting in the spring. During winters, they travel to the mountain valleys to keep themselves protected from the cold.
Gold Rush Settlement
On August 13, 1859, Colorado City was established at the convergence of Camp creeks and Fountain resulting for it in becoming the first Pikes Peak region settlement. On October 24, it became a part of the Jefferson Territory and also of El Paso County on November 28, 1859.
Colorado Springs Founding and Incorporation
Civil War General William Jackson Palmer surveyed the Colorado Territory along with the Kansas Pacific Railway looking for possible railroad paths. Palmer and Bell instituted the Fountain Colony at the foot of Colorado City on July 31, 1871.
In 1873, the county seat transferred from the El Paso to the Town of Colorado Springs. Irrigation canals and a drinking water supply were part of the early groundwork in the city. In 1889, water was rerouted from the Middle Beaver Creek basin to the Ruxton Creek Basin.
Local and foreign visitors were attracted to the city's mineral waters, warm climate, and sunshine. There were a total of 17 tuberculosis institutes in the area which made it the center for tuberculosis treatment in Colorado. Further, on June 19, 1886, Colorado Springs incorporated.
In 1873, the county seat transferred from the El Paso to the Town of Colorado Springs. Irrigation canals and a drinking water supply were part of the early groundwork in the city. In 1889, water was rerouted from the Middle Beaver Creek basin to the Ruxton Creek Basin.
Local and foreign visitors were attracted to the city's mineral waters, warm climate, and sunshine. There were a total of 17 tuberculosis institutes in the area which made it the center for tuberculosis treatment in Colorado. Further, on June 19, 1886, Colorado Springs incorporated.
After Settlement
Colorado Midland Railroad started operation in 1885. Also, people who benefited much from the gold rush and gold industry made big houses on Wood Avenue, then in the urban area of Colorado Springs. Ivywild, Roswell, Old Colorado City and other towns that had gone through annexations was assigned to quadrants.
Also, Nikola Tesla constructed and operated his experimental station in 1899, located on Knob Hill. In 1903, governor James Hamilton Peabody dispatched troops to Colorado City. In 1880, Colorado Springs annexed Roswell and bought 640 acres of land in North Cheyenne Canon following the citizens of Colorado Springs vote for the measure. Between 1960 and 1970 parts of Cheyenne Mountain, Elmere, Pikes Peak, and Monument were annexed into Colorado Springs. This resulted in the increase of population to 37,500 in 1970. |
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Military Installations
Colorado City bought land at the southern frontier and granted it to the War Department. In the wake of the Pearl Harbor Attack, Camp Carson was inaugurated by the U.S. Army and named it after General Kit Carson. It was made into a training ground in preparation for World War II. Camp Carson was renamed Fort Carson in 1954. Also in the same year, the United States Air Force Academy was founded.
See this website for more information.
See this website for more information.