Manitou Springs, Colorado Explained

Manitou Springs
Settlement Type:	Home rule municipality^[1]
Motto:	At the foot of Pikes Peak
Pushpin Map:	USA Colorado#USA
Pushpin Label Position:	right
Subdivision Name2:	El Paso County^[2]
Subdivision Name3:	Manitou Springs
Leader Title:	Mayor
Leader Name:	John Graham^[3]
Established Date2:	January 25, 1888^[4]
Area Footnotes:	^[5]
Area Total Km2:	8.16
Area Land Km2:	8.16
Area Water Km2:	0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:	3.15
Area Land Sq Mi:	3.15
Area Water Sq Mi:	0.00
Population Footnotes:	^[6]
Population Total:	4858
Population Density Km2:	auto
Population Density Sq Mi:	auto
Utc Offset:	-7
Utc Offset Dst:	-6
Coordinates:	38.8575°N -104.9128°W
Elevation Ft:	6306
Postal Code Type:	ZIP code^[7]
Postal Code:	80829
Area Code:	719
Blank Info:	08-48445
Blank1 Name:	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:	2411021

Manitou Springs is a home rule municipality located at the foot of Pikes Peak in western El 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 of Pikes 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.

The city population was 4,858 at the 2020 United States Census. Students are served by Manitou Springs School District 14 and Manitou Springs High School.

History

General William 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.^[8] "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."^[9]

Historic district

See main article: Manitou Springs Historic District. In 1980, the Manitou Springs Historic District was formed by the Historic Preservation Committee to manage development, renovation and preservation within the town. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing^[10] and one of the country's largest National Historic Districts.^[11]

Waldo Canyon fire

In June 2012, the entire city was evacuated due to the Waldo Canyon fire nearby. Parts of western Colorado 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.^[12]

Waldo Canyon flash flood

On the afternoon of August 9, 2013, the city was inundated by a flash 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, and spillways, damaging 20 homes, 8 of them significantly. The flood water threatened buildings and parking lots along Fountain Creek, and closed a portion of Manitou Avenue, which reopened later that evening.^[13]

Geography

Situated directly along U.S. Route 24 just west of Old Colorado City 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, with the same red stone as Red Mountain,^[14] and is at the base of Pikes Peak.^[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2sqkm, all of it land.^[15]

Climate

Manitou Springs has a humid 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.

Government

Manitou Springs is a local government and a home rule city located within the Colorado Springs metropolitan area.

City council

Manitou Springs is managed by the elected mayor and six city 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.^{[16] [17]} Manitou Springs residents may attend the following meetings or working sessions held each month at the Council Chambers at 606 Manitou Avenue.^[18]

City boards and commissions

The Manitou Springs City Boards and Commissions include:^[19]

• 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."^[20]
• Fountain Creek Restoration Committee^[21]
• Historic Preservation Commission manages development, restoration and preservation of the Historic District.^[22]
• Housing Advisory Board
• iManitou including the Chamber of Commerce, Office of Economic Development and Visitors Bureau.^[23]
• Metro Parking District, which operates parking lots.^[24]
• Mineral Springs Foundation was organized to "restore, protect and publicize the natural mineral springs".^[25]
• Open Space Advisory Committee was formed to acquire open space.^[26]
• Park and Recreation Advisory Board is charged with the enhancement and promotion of the local parks and trails.^[27]
• Parking Authority Board^[28]
• Planning Commission, with the objective of "guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, well adjusted and harmonious development of the City and its environs."^[29]
• Urban Renewal Authority Board to oversee the "redevelopment of the east end of Manitou Avenue."^[30]

Attractions and community events

Attractions

Attractions include:^[31]

• 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.^{[32] [33]}
• Manitou Cliff Dwellings,^[34] a full-size replica of Anasazi 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 area.^[35]
• Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway, extending from Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak^[36]
• Manitou Springs Food Tour^[37]
• Manitou Springs Heritage Center^[38]
• Miramont Castle and Manitou Springs Fire Department Museum
• Rainbow Falls (aka Graffiti Falls) is a waterfall on Fountain Creek where there is a large amount of colorful graffiti painted on the canyon walls and bridge overpass.

Mineral springs and parks

• The Springsabouts Walking Tours, a tour of nine of the Manitou 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.^[39]
• 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.^{[40] [41]}
• There are a total of eight springs throughout town, each with their own mineral properties.^[42]
• Manitou Incline, a former incline railway bed that rises over 2,000 feet above Manitou Springs is a popular hiking and fitness activity.

Events

Annual events include:^[43] January

• The Great Fruitcake Toss^[44]
• Historic Speaker series

February

• Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo cook off
• Mardi Gras Parade^[45]
• Historic Speaker series^[46]

March

• Historic Speaker series

April

• 9 News Health Fair^[47]
• Historic Speaker series

June

• Colorado Wine Festival^[48]
• Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run^[49]
• Clayfest, Potter's competition^[50]
• Pikes Peak International Hill Climb^[51]
• Summer concert series at Soda Springs Park

July

• July 4 Fireworks
• Ice Cream Social and Pie Baking Contest^[52]
• Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb^[53]
• Summer concert series at Soda Springs Park

August

• Buddy Walk^[54]
• Craft Lager Festival^[55]
• Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon^[56]
• Mountain Music Festival^[57]
• Summer concert series at Soda Springs Park

September

• Commonwheel Arts and Crafts Festival
• Pikes Peak Challenge
• ArtWalk Weekend

October

• Emma Crawford Memorial Coffin Races.^[58]
• 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.^[59]
• 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

Notable people

• Justin Armour, NFL football player for the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos
• Matt Carpenter, athlete in the Pikes Peak Marathon.^[60]
• Actors George Stults and Geoff Stults attended Manitou Springs High School.
• Clarence R. Wallace, Brigadier general, USMC; was born in Manitou Springs

See also

• • Manitou Springs Historic District Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway

Further reading

• Book: Bettie Marie Sharpton Daniels. Virginia McConnell Simmons. The springs of Manitou. 1964. Sage books.
• Book: Stephanie Waters. Haunted Manitou Springs. September 1, 2011. The History Press. 978-1-60949-347-9.

External links

• • Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Pikes Peak Country Attractions
• CDOT map of the City of Manitou Springs

Notes and References

1. Web site: Active Colorado Municipalities. State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. January 27, 2021.
2. Web site: Colorado Counties. State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government. January 27, 2021.
3. Web site: City of Manitou Springs website . City of Manitou Springs . September 15, 2021 .
4. Web site: Colorado Municipal Incorporations . State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives . December 1, 2004 . September 2, 2007.
5. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2020.
6. Web site: Manitou Springs city; Colorado . United States Census Bureau. April 24, 2023 .
7. Web site: ZIP Code Lookup . . . November 17, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp . November 4, 2010 .
8. Web site: Welcome to Manitou Springs . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013 . October 6, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181006141207/http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/welcome . dead .
9. Web site: Manitou Springs . Colorado Tourism Office . May 18, 2013.
10. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/CO/El+Paso/state2.html National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado.
11. Book: Eric Peterson. Frommer's Denver, Boulder & Colorado Springs. May 4, 2013 . January 29, 2009. John Wiley & Sons. 978-0-470-46523-3. 197.
12. Web site: Fire at 3,600 acres  - and growing | fire, county, canyon - WALDO CANYON FIRE - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO . June 30, 2012 . July 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120701173216/http://www.gazette.com/articles/blaze-140753-fire-side.html . dead .
13. Web site: Waldo Canyon flooding causes damage to 20 homes . July 2013 . Denver Post . February 25, 2015.
14. http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/OAHP/crforms_edumat/pdfs/641.pdf Manitou Springs Historic District Nomination Form
15. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Manitou Springs city, Colorado. U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. January 25, 2016.
16. Web site: City Council . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130105104534/http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/government/council . January 5, 2013 . dead .
17. Web site: Manitou Springs Ward Map . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013 . June 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180619044919/http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/library/documents/general/map_ward.pdf . dead .
18. Web site: City Council Meetings . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013 . January 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190101141456/http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/government/council/council-meetings . dead .
19. Web site: City Boards and Commissions . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013.
20. Web site: Business Improvement District . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013.
21. Web site: Restore Fountain Creek . Fountain Creek Restoration Project . May 18, 2013.
22. http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/government/city-boards/hpc Historic Preservation Committee
23. Web site: iManitou. City of Manitou Springs. May 18, 2013. October 6, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131006081405/http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/government/other-boards/imanitou. dead.
24. Web site: Metro Parking District . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013.
25. Web site: Mineral Springs Foundation . Mineral Springs Foundation, Manitou Springs, Colorado . May 18, 2013.
26. Web site: Open Space Advisory Committee . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013.
27. Web site: Park and Recreation Advisory Board . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013.
28. Web site: Parking Authority Board . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130508121807/http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/government/city-boards/pab . May 8, 2013 . dead .
29. Web site: Planning Commission . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013.
30. Web site: Urban Renewal Authority Board . City of Manitou Springs . May 18, 2013.
31. Book: Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide . The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development . 19–24 . 2013 .
32. Web site: Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theatre . Colorado Tourism Office . May 18, 2013.
33. http://www.pikes-peak.com/Attraction/15.aspx Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theatre
34. Web site: Discover History, Explore the Past at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Manitou Cliff Dwellings. April 17, 2018.
35. http://www.cliffdwellingsmuseum.com Manitou Springs Cliff Dwelling Museum
36. http://www.cograilway.com Pikes Peak Cog Railway.
37. http://coloradospringsfoodtours.com/manitousprings.html Manitou Springs Food Tours.
38. http://www.manitouspringsheritagecenter.org Manitou Springs Heritage Center.
39. Book: Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide . The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development . 10–11, 40–41 . 2013 .
40. Book: Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide . The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development . 13, 40–41 . 2013 .
41. http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/library/documents/general/map_parks_and_trails.pdf Manitou Springs Park and Trails map
42. Web site: Manitou Mineral Springs. Visit Colorado Springs. en. October 1, 2019.
43. Book: Historic Manitou Springs, Colorado - 2013 Visitors Guide . The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development . 13 . 2013 .
44. http://www.visitcos.com/manitou-springs-fruitcake-toss Manitou Springs Fruitcake Toss.
45. Travis 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.
46. http://www.manitouspringsheritagecenter.org/1436/special-events/historic-speakers-series Historic Speakers Series
47. http://www.9healthfair.org/default.aspx 9Health Fair
48. http://manitousprings.org/calendar/manitou-springs-colorado-wine-festival/ Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival
49. http://www.gardentenmile.com/ Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run.
50. http://clayfest.com/about.php About
51. http://www.ppihc.com/info/ Overview
52. http://manitousprings.org/calendar/good-ol-summertime-ice-cream-social-pie-baking-contest/ Good ol Sumertime Ice Cream Social and Pie Baking Contest
53. http://www.ridepikespeak.com/ Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb.
54. http://www.ndss.org/Buddy-Walk/ Buddy Walk.
55. http://www.craftlagerfestival.com Craft Lager Festival
56. http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/ Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon.
57. http://www.visitcos.com/Manitou-Springs/mountain-music-festival Mountain Music Festival.
58. Janet 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.
59. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/CO/El+Paso/state.html National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado.
60. http://www.skyrunner.com/ppresults/pprecords.htm Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon Age-Group and Course Records