Manitou Springs is ahome rule municipality located at the foot ofPikes Peak in westernEl 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 ofPikes 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.
GeneralWilliam 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]
In June 2012, the entire city was evacuated due to theWaldo Canyon fire nearby. Parts of westernColorado 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]
On the afternoon of August 9, 2013, the city was inundated by aflash 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, andspillways, damaging 20 homes, 8 of them significantly. The flood water threatened buildings and parking lots alongFountain Creek, and closed a portion of Manitou Avenue, which reopened later that evening.[14]
Manitou Springs has ahumid 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.
Manitou Springs is managed by the electedmayor and sixcity 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]
The Manitou Springs City Boards and Commissions include:[21]
Business Improvement District sponsors events and promotions to encourage tourism and business within Manitou Springs. It was also formed to "improve the cleanliness, safety, and marketability of the Downtown Historic District."[22]
Planning Commission, with the objective of "guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, well adjusted and harmonious development of the City and its environs."[31]
Urban Renewal Authority Board to oversee the "redevelopment of the east end of Manitou Avenue."[32]
As of thecensus[33] of 2000, there were 4,980 people, 2,452 households, and 1,255 families residing in the city. Thepopulation 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 orLatino, 0.50%African American, 1.06%Native American, 1.12%Asian, 0.12%Pacific Islander, 0.94% fromother 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the city was $24,492. About 4.7% of families and 7.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
The Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theater, located on Ruxton Avenue, is a dinner theatre for families and adults.[35][36]
Manitou Cliff Dwellings,[37] a full-size replica ofAnasazi Indian cliff dwellings, as well as a museum. The cliff dwellings were built in the early 1900s, using materials from ruined cliff dwellings in theFour Corners area.[38][39]
TheSpringsabouts Walking Tours, a tour of nine of theManitou Mineral Springs sites offered by the Mineral Springs Foundation. People can also take their own tour of the springs by visiting The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau to pick up a free mineral-springs brochure, content chart and a sampling cup.[43]
Parks, from east to west along Manitou Avenue, include Schryver Park, Memorial Park, Mansions Park, and Soda Springs Park. Fields Community Park is located on El Paso Boulevard. Seven Minute Gazebo is located behind Mansions and Memorial Parks.[44][45]
There are a total of eight springs throughout town, each with their own mineral properties.[46]
Manitou Incline, a formerincline railway bed that rises over 2,000 feet above Manitou Springs is a popular hiking and fitness activity.
Barker House, (a private Residential Apartment building for many decades) was one of the first hotels in Manitou Springs and due to its long history, Barker House is on theNational Register of Historic Places.[62]
^Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide. The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development. 2013. pp. 19–24.
^abcJanet Kolb. "Manitou Springs: Arts, history, entertainment founded on pure mineral water [July 21, 2002. Corrected 08/14/02]." Colorado Springs:The Gazette. 2002. HighBeam Research. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
^Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide. The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development. 2013. pp. 10–11,40–41.
^Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide. The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development. 2013. pp. 13,40–41.
^Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide. The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development. 2013. p. 13.
^abcTravis Duncan. "Calendar Benefits Library; Work of 17 local artists is showcased in '09 'Historic Manitou Springs' calendar." Colorado Springs:The Gazette. September 28, 2008. HighBeam Research. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
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