Colorado City, Colorado Territory

History of Colorado Springs, Colorado
The 1903-1973 El Paso County Courthouse (now the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum).
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	El Paso
Municipality	City of Colorado Springs
1st settlement	1859 Colorado City
Oldest building	1859 "Dr. Gavin's Cabin", in Old Colorado City's Bancroft Park since 1927
Population history	2010: 416,427 (city), 678,319 (metropolitan area) 2000: 352,176 (city), 516,929 (metropolitan area) 1990: 397,014 1980: 309,524 1970: 235,972 1960: 143,742 1950: 45,472 1912: 35,000 1910: 32,000 1895: < 20,000 1890: 28,546 1880: 17,406 1879: 5,000-5,500

External images

Automobile Club, Colorado Springs

1905 magazine images

Before it was founded, the site of modern-day Colorado Springs, Colorado, was part of the American frontier. Old Colorado City, built in 1858 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush was the Colorado Territory capital. The town of Colorado Springs, was founded by General William Jackson Palmer as a resort town. Old Colorado City was annexed into Colorado Springs. Railroads brought tourists and visitors to the area from other parts of the United States and abroad. The city was noted for junctions for seven railways: Denver and Rio Grande (1870), Denver and New Orleans Manitou Branch (1882),Colorado Midland (1886-1918), Colorado Springs and Interurban (1887-1932 horse/electric tram), Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe (1889), Rock Island (1889), and Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek (1900-22 Short Line) Railways. It was also known for mining exchanges and brokers for the Cripple Creek Gold Rush.

Palmer, Spencer Penrose, and Winfield Scott Stratton provided land and funding for parks, buildings, and non-profit organizations. It was a home to successful mine owners, artists, and writers. The climate and mountain setting made it a popular tourist destination and health resort. A dry climate supported resorts for people with weak lungs or tuberculosis, including the 19th and 20th century Colorado Springs sanatoria.