Manitou Springs is a

home rule municipality Devolution is the statutory delegation of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to govern at a subnational level, such as a regional or local level. It is a form of administrative decentralization. Devolved territories ...

located at the foot of

Pikes Peak Pikes Peak is the List of mountain ranges of Colorado#Mountain ranges, highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America. The Ultra-prominent peak, ultra-prominent fourteener is located in Pike National Forest ...

in western El Paso County,

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. 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 of

. 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. The city population was 4,992 at the

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...

. Students are served by

Manitou Springs School District 14 Manitou Springs School District 14 is the main school district of Manitou Springs and its nearby communities (Cascade, Cedar Heights, Chipita Park, and Green Mountain Falls) at the western edge of El Paso County, Colorado. The district current ...

and

Manitou Springs High School Manitou Springs High School (MSHS) is a public high school in Manitou Springs, Colorado, United States. It is the only high school in the Manitou Springs School District 14. The high school has the highest graduation rate in the Pikes Peak Region ...

History

General

William Jackson Palmer William Jackson Palmer (September 18, 1836 – March 13, 1909) was an American civil engineer, veteran of the Civil War, industrialist, and philanthropist. During the American Civil War, he was promoted to brevet brigadier general and receive ...

and Dr.

William Abraham Bell Dr. William Abraham Bell (26 April 1841 – 6 June 1921), fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, was an English physician who is best known as a photographer of the Western United States, American West, and a founder and developer of several bu ...

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. "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."

Historic district

In 1980, the

Manitou Springs Historic District Manitou Springs Historic District in Manitou Springs, Colorado is roughly bounded by U.S. Route 24 in Colorado, US 24, Ruxton Avenue, El Paso Boulevard and Iron Mountain Avenue. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places,

was formed by the Historic Preservation Committee to manage development, renovation and preservation within the town. It is a

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

listingNational Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado.
American Dreams. Retrieved May 3, 2013. and one of the country's largest National Historic Districts.

Waldo Canyon fire

In June 2012, the entire city was evacuated due to the Waldo Canyon fire nearby. Parts of western

Colorado Springs Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...

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.

Waldo Canyon flash flood

On the afternoon of August 9, 2013, the city was inundated by a

flash flood A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, or tropical storm, or by meltwater from ice or snow flowing o ...

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, and

spillways A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of water downstream from a dam or levee, typically into the riverbed of the dammed river itself. In the United Kingdom, they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways ensure th ...

, damaging 20 homes, 8 of them significantly. The flood water threatened buildings and parking lots along

Fountain Creek Fountain Creek is a stream that originates in Woodland Park in Teller County and flows through El Paso County to its confluence with the Arkansas River near Pueblo in Pueblo County, Colorado. The creek,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydr ...

, and closed a portion of Manitou Avenue, which reopened later that evening.

Geography

Situated directly along

U.S. Route 24 U.S. Route 24 (US 24) is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is in Independence Township, Mic ...

just west of

Old Colorado City Old Colorado City, formerly Colorado City, was once a town, but it is now a neighborhood within the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Its commercial district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It was founded during ...

and Cave of the Winds, the town is bordered by Mt. Manitou to the west, Red Mountain to the south, and Englemann Canyon, south and west. It is near

Garden of the Gods Garden of the Gods (Arapaho: ''Ho3o’uu Niitko’usi’i'') is a public park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Name The area now known as Garden of the Gods was fir ...

, with the same red stone as Red Mountain,Manitou Springs Historic District Nomination Form
. History Colorado. Retrieved May 3, 2013. and is at the base of

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , all of it land.

Climate

Manitou Springs has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...

(

Koppen Koppen is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Dan Koppen (born 1979), American football offensive lineman * Erwin Koppen (1929–1990), German literary scholar * Luise Koppen (1855–1922), German author * Wladimir Köppen (1846� ...

: Dfb), categorized by four distinct seasons. Summertime is hot, and wintertime is cool, sometimes cold. Spring and fall are generally very pleasant.

Government

Manitou Springs is a

local government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...

and a

home rule Home rule is government of a colony, dependent country, or region by its own citizens. It is thus the power of a part (administrative division) of a state or an external dependent country to exercise such of the state's powers of governance wit ...

city located within the

Colorado Springs metropolitan area The Colorado Springs, CO, Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Office of Management and Budget defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) located in the Colorado Springs region of the State of Colorado. The 2020 United States census ...

City council

Manitou Springs is managed by the elected

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

and six

city council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

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. Manitou Springs residents may attend the following meetings or working sessions held each month at the Council Chambers at 606 Manitou Avenue.

City boards and commissions

The Manitou Springs City Boards and Commissions include: * 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." * Fountain Creek Restoration Committee * Historic Preservation Commission manages development, restoration and preservation of the Historic District.Historic Preservation Committee
City of Manitou Springs. Retrieved May 18, 2013. * Housing Advisory Board * iManitou including the Chamber of Commerce, Office of Economic Development and Visitors Bureau. * Metro Parking District, which operates parking lots. * Mineral Springs Foundation was organized to "restore, protect and publicize the natural mineral springs". * Open Space Advisory Committee was formed to acquire open space. * Park and Recreation Advisory Board is charged with the enhancement and promotion of the local parks and trails. * Parking Authority Board * Planning Commission, with the objective of "guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, well adjusted and harmonious development of the City and its environs." * Urban Renewal Authority Board to oversee the "redevelopment of the east end of Manitou Avenue."

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 4,980 people, 2,452 households, and 1,255 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 2,654 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.98%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 3.65%

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

, 0.50%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 1.06% Native American, 1.12%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.12%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 0.94% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, 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% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

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. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $24,492. About 4.7% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Commercial district

Manitou Avenue

File:The side of the Spa, with bridge over Fountain Creek.JPG , The side of The Spa and the bridge over Fountain Creek File:Cheyenne Spring House 4.JPG, Cheyenne Spring House, Manitou Avenue File:Manitou Avenue - Barker House.JPG, Manitou Avenue and Barker House File:Manitou Avenue 12.JPG, Manitou Avenue File:Patsy's Candy and Arcade area.JPG , Arcade area

Canon Avenue

File:Canon Street - shops and houses overhead.JPG, Canon Avenue - shops and houses overhead - Manitou Springs File:Canon Street shops - Manitou.JPG, Canon Avenue - Manitou Springs

Ruxton Avenue

File:Ruxton Avenue shops - Manitou.JPG, Ruxton Avenue shops File:Twin Spring - side view.JPG, Ruxton Avenue shop and Twin Spring

Attractions and community events

Attractions

Attractions include: * Cave of the Winds, cave complex; tours given daily * The Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theater, located on Ruxton Avenue, is a dinner theatre for families and adults. *

Manitou Cliff Dwellings The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are a privately-owned tourist attraction consisting of replica Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and interpretive exhibits located just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on U.S. Highway 24 in Manitou Springs. The ...

, a full-size replica of

Anasazi The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, a ...

Indian cliff dwellings, as well as a museum. The cliff dwellings were built in the early 1900s, using materials from ruined cliff dwellings in the

Four Corners The Four Corners is a region of the Southwestern United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, and northwestern corner of New Mexico. The Four Corners area ...

area. *

Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway (also known as the Pikes Peak Cog Railway) is a cog railway that climbs one of the most iconic mountains in the United States, Pikes Peak in Colorado. The base station is in Manitou Springs, near ...

, extending from Manitou Springs to the top of

*Manitou Springs Food Tour *Manitou Springs Heritage Center *

Miramont Castle Miramont Castle is a museum located in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The Castle was originally built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French-born Catholic priest. Located in the Manitou Springs Historic District, it is ...

and Manitou Springs Fire Department Museum * Rainbow Falls (aka Graffiti Falls) is a

waterfall A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...

where there is a large amount of colorful

graffiti Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...

painted on the canyon walls and bridge overpass. *The only two recreational marijuana dispensaries in the county. File:Manitou Springs Maté Factor.jpg, Part of the commercial district File:Pikes Peak.jpg,

as seen from Manitou Springs File:M&PP 5 at Manitou Springs.jpg, Preserved Baldwin Engine No. 5 on public display at Manitou Springs Depot, September 2006

Mineral springs and parks

*The Springsabouts Walking Tours, a tour of nine of the

Manitou Mineral Springs Manitou Mineral Springs are natural mineral springs in Manitou Springs, Colorado and Cheyenne Spring House is on the National Register of Historic Places. The springs are located in one of the country's largest National Historic Districts. Mani ...

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. *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. *There are a total of eight springs throughout town, each with their own mineral properties. *

Manitou Incline The Manitou Springs Incline, also known as the Manitou Incline or simply the Incline, is a popular hiking trail rising above Manitou Springs, Colorado, near Colorado Springs. The Incline ascends on the east slope of Rocky Mountain which is itself ...

, a former

incline railway Incline, inclined, inclining, or inclination may refer to: *Grade (slope), the tilt, steepness, or angle from horizontal of a topographic feature (hillside, meadow, etc.) or constructed element (road, railway, field, etc.) *Slope, the tilt, steepn ...

bed that rises over 2,000 feet above Manitou Springs is a popular hiking and fitness activity.

Events

Annual Events include: January * The Great Fruitcake Toss * Historic Speaker series February * Mumbo Jumbo

Gumbo Gumbo (Louisiana Creole: Gombo) is a soup popular in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the official state cuisine. Gumbo consists primarily of a strongly-flavored stock, meat or shellfish (or sometimes both), a thickener, and the Creole ...

cook off *

Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...

ParadeTravis 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. * Historic Speaker seriesHistoric Speakers Series
Manitou Springs Heritage Center. Retrieved May 14, 2013. March * Historic Speaker series April * 9 News Health Fair * Historic Speaker series June * Colorado Wine Festival * Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run * Clayfest, Potter's competition *

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile hillclimb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, USA. The track measures and has over 156 turns, climbing from the sta ...

* Summer concert series at Soda Springs Park July * July 4 Fireworks * Ice Cream Social and Pie Baking Contest * Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb * Summer concert series at Soda Springs Park August * Buddy Walk * Craft Lager Festival * Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon * Mountain Music FestivalMountain Music Festival.
Visit Colorado Springs. Retrieved May 14, 2013. * Summer concert series at Soda Springs Park September * Commonwheel Arts and Crafts Festival * Pikes Peak Challenge * ArtWalk Weekend October *

Emma Crawford Memorial Coffin Races Coffin races or coffin racing is a sport in which the contestants compete in delivering a coffin from start to finish; rules may vary. Emma Crawford Coffin Memorial Races The town of Manitou Springs Colorado, USA decided "to put 'fun' into funera ...

.Janet Kolb. "Manitou Springs: Arts, history, entertainment founded on pure mineral water uly 21, 2002. Corrected 08/14/02" Colorado Springs: ''The Gazette''. 2002. HighBeam Research. Retrieved May 5, 2013. * Emma's Wake * Ghost Tours * Authorfest of the Rockies November * MSVFD Turkey Shoot * Salvation Army Community Dinner * Victorian Christmas at Miramont December * Breakfast with Santa * Santa at the Town Clock * Salvation Army Community Dinner

Inns and hotels

* 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 the

.National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado.
American Dreams. Retrieved May 3, 2013. * Briarhurst Manor, Victorian manor house built by the founder of Manitou Springs, Dr. William Bell * Cliff House at Pikes Peak, a small luxury hotel and dining room, on the National Register of Historic Places Overlooking the city of Manitou Springs Colorado

Overlooking the city of Manitou Springs Colorado

Notable people

* Matt Carpenter, current resident of the city, the most successful male athlete in the history of the

Pikes Peak Marathon The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a trail running competition that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,815 feet (2382 m) to the top of the 14,115 foot (4302 m) peak. Since 1956, the event takes p ...

, the outright record holder and winner of the marathon on eleven occasions.Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon Age-Group and Course Records
Skyrunner.com * Clarence R. Wallace, Brigadier general, USMC; was born in Manitou Springs *

Justin Armour Justin Hugh Armour (born January 1, 1973) is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and Baltimore Ravens. He is also the former head coach of the Manitou ...

, NFL football player for the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

and

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...

played for the High School team. Class of 1991. *Actors

George Stults George Sheehy Stults (born August 16, 1975) is an American actor and former fashion model. Stults is best known for his role as Kevin Kinkirk on the long-running family drama series '' 7th Heaven''. Life and career Stults was born in Detroit, Mi ...

and

Geoff Stults Geoffrey Manton Stults (born December 15, 1977) is an American actor. His first regular roles on television included '' 7th Heaven'', '' October Road'', and '' Happy Town''. He went on to star as Major Walter Sherman on '' The Finder'', Sgt. Pete ...

attended Manitou Springs High School. Graduated in 1995 and 1993 respectively.

References

External links

*
Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce

Pikes Peak Country Attractions

CDOT map of the City of Manitou Springs
{{Authority control Cities in El Paso County, Colorado

Cities in Colorado {{Parent cat , child_level=county , type= , metacategory =Cities in Colorado by county , commonscat=Cities in Colorado , geogroup=y , seealso=Colorado ‎‎ , main=List of cities in Colorado , child_no_parent=21452707 , parent_no_child=21452710 ...

Spa towns in the United States Pikes Peak Tourism in Colorado National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado 1888 establishments in Colorado Populated places established in 1888