History of Colorado Springs, Colorado in Timeline

Colorado Springs is the second-most populous and extensive city in Colorado, with a population of 478,961 in 2020, marking a 15.02% increase since 2010. It serves as the county seat of El Paso County and is the principal city of the Colorado Springs metropolitan area, home to 755,105 residents in 2020. Furthermore, it holds the position of the second-most prominent city within the Front Range Urban Corridor.

1901: Tesla Experimental Station ceases operation

In 1901, the Tesla Experimental Station ceased operation on Knob Hill.

1902: Construction of City Hall began

Construction of Colorado Springs City Hall began in 1902 on land donated by W. S. Stratton.

1904: Construction of City Hall completed

Construction of Colorado Springs City Hall was completed in 1904 on land donated by W. S. Stratton.

December 9, 1919: Extreme low temperature recorded

On December 9, 1919, an extreme low temperature of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in Colorado Springs.

1919: Aircraft flights begin

In 1919, aircraft flights to the Broadmoor's neighboring fields began.

1925: Alexander Airport opens

In 1925, Alexander Airport, located north of the city, opened for operation.

1925: Colorado Springs Airport in Operation

The Colorado Springs Airport (COS) has been in operation since 1925. It's the second-largest commercial airport in the state.

1927: Purchase of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport land

In 1927, land was purchased east of the city for the original Colorado Springs Municipal Airport.

1941: Camp Carson established

In 1941, Camp Carson (now Fort Carson) was established, marking the beginning of the city's military presence during World War II.

December 1942: Peterson Field named

In December 1942, the United States Army Air Forces leased land adjacent to the municipal airfield and named it Peterson Field.

November 1950: Ent Air Force Base selected as ADC headquarters

In November 1950, Ent Air Force Base was selected as the Cold War headquarters for Air Defense Command (ADC).

February 1, 1951: Extreme low temperature recorded

On February 1, 1951, an extreme low temperature of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in Colorado Springs.

1951: Peterson Field re-opened as a U.S. Air Force base

In 1951, Peterson Field, formerly an Army Air Base inactivated at the end of WWII, was re-opened as a U.S. Air Force base.

1962: World Ice Hockey Championships hosted

In 1962, Colorado Springs and Denver co-hosted the World Ice Hockey Championships.

1965: Establishment of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs

In 1965, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs was established in the city.

1966: Torii Gate Erection

In 1966, the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs erected a torii gate, crisscrossed bridge and shrine to celebrate the sister city relationship with Fujiyoshida.

1968: Establishment of Pikes Peak State College and Colorado Technical University

In 1968, Pikes Peak State College and Colorado Technical University were established in or near the city.

1970: Comparison of White and Hispanic population percentages

As of 1970, 86.6% of the population was White and 7.4% was Hispanic or Latino.

1971: Amtrak Formation

In 1971, remaining services connecting the Front Range cities ceased with the formation of Amtrak.

1977: Former Ent AFB becomes a US Olympic training center

In 1977, most of the former Ent Air Force Base became a US Olympic training center.

October 1, 1981: Annexation of several areas

On October 1, 1981, the Broadmoor Addition, Cheyenne Canon, Ivywild, Skyway, and Stratton Meadows were annexed after a Colorado Supreme Court decision.

1990: Mexican American percentage of the population

In 1990, Mexican Americans made up 9.1% of the city's population.

1992: Founding of Professional Bull Riders

In 1992, Colorado Springs was the original headquarters of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) from its founding.

1996: Apple Inc. facility sold to Sanmina-SCI

In 1996, the Apple Inc. facility was sold to Sanmina-SCI.

1999: Flooding occurred

Following flooding in 1999, Colorado Springs experienced unusually low precipitation for several years.

1999: Agilent spun off from HP

In 1999, Agilent was spun off from HP as an independent, publicly traded company.

2000: High-tech sector employment

In 2000, the high-tech sector in the Colorado Springs area employed around 21,000 people.

2002: Lawn water restrictions enacted

Due to unusually low precipitation after flooding in 1999, Colorado Springs enacted lawn water restrictions in 2002.

2004: Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority Established

In 2004, the voters of Colorado Springs and El Paso County established the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.

2005: PBR headquarters moved to Pueblo

In 2005, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) organization moved its headquarters from Colorado Springs to Pueblo.

2005: Lawn water restrictions lifted

In 2005, the lawn water restrictions that were enacted in 2002 were lifted.

2006: Decrease in high-tech sector employment

From 2000 to 2006, the high-tech sector in the Colorado Springs area decreased its overall presence from around 21,000 to around 8,000.

2006: Bankstown TAP Performance

In 2006, the Bankstown TAP (Talent Advancement Program) performed with the Youth Symphony and the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale as part of the annual "In Harmony" program.

September 2008: Further annexations expanding the city

In September 2008, further annexations expanding the city included the Nielson Addition and Vineyard Commerce Park Annexation.

2009: Intel employees in Colorado Springs

In 2009, Intel had 250 employees in Colorado Springs.

November 2, 2010: Adoption of council-strong mayor form of government

On November 2, 2010, Colorado Springs voters adopted a council-strong mayor form of government.

2010: Population demographics

As of the 2010 United States census, 78.8% of the population of Colorado Springs was White, 16.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% Black or African American, 3.0% Asian, 1.0% descended from indigenous peoples of the Americas, 0.3% descended from indigenous Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders, 5.5% of some other race, and 5.1% of two or more races.

2010: Interstate 25 bypass approved

In 2010, an Interstate 25 bypass was approved.

2010: Bankstown TAP Performance

In 2010, the Bankstown TAP (Talent Advancement Program) performed with the Youth Symphony and the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale as part of the annual "In Harmony" program.

2011: Walk Score Ranking

A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Colorado Springs 34th most walkable of fifty largest U.S. cities.

2011: Transition to new system of government

In 2011, the City of Colorado Springs transitioned to the new council-strong mayor system of government.

2011: Pikes Peak Highway completely paved

In 2011, the Pikes Peak Highway was completely paved.

June 23, 2012: Waldo Canyon fire began

On June 23, 2012, the Waldo Canyon fire began 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of the city, destroying 347 homes and killing two people. Over 32,000 residents were evacuated.

June 26, 2012: Extreme high temperature recorded

On June 26, 2012, an extreme high temperature of 101 °F (38 °C) was recorded in Colorado Springs.

2012: Approval of Colorado Amendment 64

In 2012, Colorado voters approved Colorado Amendment 64, which legalized retail sales of marijuana for recreational purposes.

April 2013: North Korean propaganda video

In April 2013, a North Korean propaganda video singled out Colorado Springs as one of four targets for a missile strike, though the location was incorrectly pinpointed on the map.

2014: Keysight Technologies spun off from Agilent

In 2014, Keysight Technologies spun off from Agilent.

2014: Medical marijuana sales

In 2014, medical marijuana sales were at $59.6 million, up 11 percent from the previous year.

2015: Medical marijuana clinics and sales

In 2015, there were 91 medical marijuana clinics in Colorado Springs, which reported sales of $59.6 million in 2014.

April 26, 2016: Moratorium on new licenses extended

On April 26, 2016, the Colorado Springs city council decided to extend the current six-month moratorium to eighteen months, with no new licenses to be granted until May 2017.

June 21, 2016: Extreme high temperature recorded

On June 21, 2016, an extreme high temperature of 101 °F (38 °C) was recorded in Colorado Springs.

December 2016: Bike Lane Removed

In December 2016, the City of Colorado Springs removed a bike lane along Research Parkway due to overwhelming opposition.

2016: Downtown political vibe

In 2016, downtown Colorado Springs was noted to have a different political vibe from the overall area's, with signs of changing demographics.

May 2017: End of moratorium extension on new licenses

The moratorium on new licenses, which was extended on April 26, 2016, ended in May 2017.

2017: Bike Lanes and Trails

As of 2017, Colorado Springs had 121 miles of bike lanes and 82 miles of paved trails. PikeRide, a local electric bike-share program, operated in urban core, Old Colorado City, and Manitou Springs.

2017: Colorado Springs political landscape

In 2017, Colorado Springs was described as "staunchly Republican" and ranked as "the fourth most conservative city in America".

2017: Craft breweries in Colorado

In 2017, Colorado had the third-most craft breweries at 348.

March 1, 2018: Medical marijuana centers

As of March 1, 2018, there were 131 medical marijuana centers and no recreational cannabis stores in Colorado Springs.

April 2018: Bike Master Plan Approved

In April 2018, the Colorado Springs City Council approved a Bike Master Plan to promote bicycling as a transportation option and create a well-connected network of trails and infrastructure.

2018: Tourism in the Pikes Peak region

In 2018, 23 million day and overnight visitors came to the area, contributing $2.4 billion in revenue.

February 25, 2019: Town Hall Meeting

On February 25, 2019, The Gazette hosted a town hall meeting called "Battle of the Bike Lanes" due to immense public interest and argument regarding the Bike Master Plan.

June 2019: Unemployment rate before COVID-19 pandemic

In June 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate in Colorado Springs was 3.3%.

December 2019: Water restrictions permanently reinstated

In December 2019, lawn water restrictions were permanently reinstated in Colorado Springs.

2019: Medical Marijuana only

As of 2019 Colorado Springs is still one of seven towns that have only allowed for medical marijuana.

2020: Population statistics for Colorado Springs

As of the 2020 United States census, the population of the city of Colorado Springs was 478,961, the population of the Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area was 755,105, and the population of the Front Range Urban Corridor was 5,055,344.

2020: Total area of the city

At the 2020 United States census, the city had a total area of 195.761 square miles (507.019 km).

2020: Opening of United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum

In 2020, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum opened, and the Flying W Ranch Chuckwagon Dinner & Western Show reopened.

2020: Population of Colorado Springs

In 2020, the census recorded the population of Colorado Springs at 478,961, marking a 15.02% increase since 2010. Additionally, the Colorado Springs metropolitan area had 755,105 residents in 2020.

2020: Shift towards the political center

Since 2020, Colorado Springs has continued to shift towards the political center.

January 13, 2021: Air Force announced new home for Space Command

On January 13, 2021, the Air Force announced a new permanent home for Space Command, moving it from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama in 2026, but the decision could be reversed by Congress.

2021: Military presence

As of 2021, there are nearly 45,000 active-duty troops in the Colorado Springs area, and the military and defense contractors supply more than 40% of the Pikes Peak region's economy.

2021: Opening of the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex and reopening of the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway

In 2021, the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex opened at the 14,115-foot summit, and the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway also reopened.

June 2022: State's unemployment rate

The state's unemployment rate in June 2022 was 3.4% compared to 3.6% for the nation.

2022: Governor Polis wins city in bid for reelection

In 2022, Governor Jared Polis won the city in his bid for reelection.

2022: Airport Passengers

In 2022, the Colorado Springs Airport handled 2,134,618 passengers.

2023: Fiber-optics connections

As of 2023, high-tech corporations like Lumen Technologies and Comcast offer fiber-optics to the premises connections within the city.

2023: Front Range Passenger Rail Proposal

As of 2023, the Front Range Passenger Rail is a current proposal to link the cities from Pueblo in the south, north to Fort Collins and possibly Cheyenne, Wyoming.