CLIMATE
Average annual snowfall
    42 inches
Average annual rainfall
    16.24 inches
Average humidity
    50 percent
Average sunny days per year
    300

POPULATION
Approximately 361,185
Median age: 33.7
Median household income: $49,3835

MAJOR INDUSTRIES
Tourism
Military
Space Technology
Computers & Electronics
Printing & Publishing
Manufacturing

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
US Air Force Academy
Pikes Peak
Garden of the Gods

TAXES
state income tax
    5% of federal
    taxable income
Corporate income tax
    5 percent flat rate
Inventory tax
    none
Motor fuel tax (per gallon)
    22 cents, state
    18.4 cents, federal
Real estate taxes
    Residential: 1 to 1.5 percent of market value
    Commercial: 1.7 to 2.5 percent of market value
Retail sales tax
    state, 3 percent
    county, 1 percent
    city, 2.1 percent
    (total, 6.1 percent)

I have personally lived here in Colorado Springs for 11 years and can testify to the fact that it is a great place to live. Colorado Springs is a comfortable city -- it is not so big to have lost that warm "town" feeling, but it is big enough to have any resource that you need. And, you couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting. Nestled in the rugged Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is in view of the famous and majestic Pikes Peak.

Founded in 1871, Colorado Springs is a thriving community with tourism, high technology, manufacturing, sports and the military ranking as key industries. According to the Census Bureau, Colorado Springs is the 18th-fastest-growing city and the 80th-biggest city in the United States.

The area has a robust, bustling economy with an unemployment rate of 3.1% and a projected job growth to 2011 of 23.9%. Colorado Springs is home to numerous high tech industries. In fact, there are so many high tech companies that Colorado Springs has earned the nickname Silicon Mountain. The Colorado Springs area has 350 high-tech companies employing more than 11,000 workers, and there are more on the way! It is also in close proximity to a number of major military installations.

Colorado Springs certainly has the resources you need academically with 148 public elementary, junior and senior high schools, over 25 private and parochial schools, approximately 20 colleges and universities, and 30 vocational/two-year schools.

There is also an abundance of healthcare facilities. Vigorous competition between major healthcare providers has kept the standard of care and the level of technology high. Providers include hospitals specializing in rehabilitation, women's medicine and free-standing clinics offering a variety of services. The care is excellent, and the variety of institutions makes superior treatment available for all kinds of illness.

There are numerous activities and attractions in the area. Snow skiing, water skiing, boating, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are among the many activities available within a short drive.

Dozens of new eateries, boutiques, coffeehouses, brewpubs, and one-of-a-kind shops have opened in the downtown area. The new Colorado Springs World Arena is showcasing nationally known entertainment, from Bill Cosby to Olympic skating champions. We now have a locally owned pro hockey team and major auto racing has arrived. And, we are home to the US Olympic Training Center, which is open to tours.

Much of the area's colorful past centers around the gold rush of the 1890's. Re-creations of frontier towns, historical museums, melodramas, historic homes, a pottery studio in an old railroad roundhouse, and preserved Native American cliff dwellings are reminders of the way things used to be.

There is a good-sized zoo and a 1,300-acre city-owned park called Garden of the Gods that features spectacular red sandstone formations. There are even a number of scenic/historical railways!

And, with nearly a 1.5 million visitors annually, the U. S. Air Force Academy is Colorado's most popular man-made attraction. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed cadet chapel, visitor center, the planetarium, the field house, exhibits on cadet life, and beautiful grounds make the academy a rewarding experience.

Known as the Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado, South Cheyenne Caņon winds through towering rock walls to the foot of Seven Falls (yes, there are seven of them cascading down 181 feet of sheer granite). A 224-step stairway leads to the top of the falls or you can ride an elevator carved into the mountainside.

Colorado Springs even has the world's highest suspension bridge! The Royal George Bridge soars 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. In addition to driving or walking across the nearly quarter-mile span, visitors can take the world's steepest incline railway to the bottom of the Royal Gorge, ride an aerial tram from rim to rim, or enjoy entertainment, food, and shopping.

And, no visit to Colorado Springs would be complete without a drive, hike, or ride to the top of Pikes Peak!

There is a rich spiritual atmosphere with a strong focus on family. Colorado Springs is an excellent place to raise children.

Because of the relatively mild climate and beautiful setting, Colorado Springs is a favorite place to spend ones golden years. This is especially so among retired military personnel.