Fort Carson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Carson |
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| El Paso, Pueblo, Fremont, and Huerfano counties near Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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 One of the entrance signs at Fort Carson.         
Shoulder sleeve insignia of units stationed at
Fort Carson. |
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| Type | U.S. Army post |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | January 31, 1942 |
| In use | 1942–present |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 4th Infantry Division 10th Special Forces Group 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade |
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Fort Carson, Colorado
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Location of the Fort Carson CDP in El Paso County, Colorado.
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 Fort Carson
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | El Paso County |
| Named for | Kit Carson |
| Government | |
| • Type | Federal Military Government/Garrison |
| Area | |
| • Total | 27.998 sq mi (72.515 km2) |
| • Land | 27.969 sq mi (72.440 km2) |
| • Water | 0.029 sq mi (0.075 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,814 ft (1,772 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,693 |
| • Density | 631.934/sq mi (243.991/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
80902 & 80913
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| Area code(s) | 719 |
| GNIS feature | Fort Carson CDP |
Fort Carson is a large United States Army base located in Colorado, USA. It sits just south of Colorado Springs. The base spreads across parts of four counties: El Paso, Pueblo, Fremont, and Huerfano.
Fort Carson is home to several important Army units. These include the 4th Infantry Division and the 10th Special Forces Group. Other units like the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade, the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), and the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron of the United States Air Force are also stationed here. The base also hosts units from the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, and the Colorado Army National Guard.
Contents
History of Fort Carson
Fort Carson has a rich history, starting as a training camp during World War II. It has grown into a major military installation.
How Camp Carson Started
Camp Carson was created in 1942. This was after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, leading the U.S. into World War II. The city of Colorado Springs bought land south of the city. They then gave it to the War Department for the new camp.
Building began quickly. The first building, the camp headquarters, was finished on January 31, 1942. The camp was named after General Christopher "Kit" Carson. He was a famous Army scout who explored the American West in the 1800s.
Building the Camp
At its busiest, almost 11,500 workers built the new camp. They created facilities for over 35,000 soldiers, officers, and nurses. Most buildings were made of wood. The hospital was built from concrete block. It had space for 1,726 beds, which could be expanded to 2,000.
Training Soldiers for War
The 89th Infantry Division was the first big unit to train at Camp Carson. During World War II, over 100,000 soldiers trained here. Many different types of units were activated or moved to Camp Carson. These included nurses, cooks, and tank battalions.
Camp Carson also held nearly 9,000 prisoners of war (POWs). Most were from Italy and Germany. These POWs helped with farm work in Colorado. They picked crops and helped with logging.
The Role of Pack Mules
From 1942 to 1956, pack mules were common at Camp Carson. They arrived by train from Nebraska. Mules were used by Field Artillery battalions. They carried equipment and supplies over mountains.
One famous mule was Hambone. He belonged to the 4th Field Artillery Battalion. For 13 years, he carried first sergeants up Ute Pass. This was on the way to Camp Hale, where the Army trained for cold weather. Hambone died in 1971 and was buried with military honors.
After the war, the number of soldiers at the camp decreased. In 1949, the Strategic Air Command opened a survival school here. This school taught soldiers how to survive in mountains.
Becoming Fort Carson
Camp Carson officially became Fort Carson in 1954. In the 1960s, more advanced military units arrived. The fort expanded to its current size of about 137,000 acres. Butts Army Air Field was built between 1963 and 1966. It has a long runway for light aircraft.
Fort Carson has been home to nine different Army divisions. In 1983, an additional training area was bought. This area, called the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, is about 150 miles away. It is used for large-scale training exercises. Soldiers also train at Fort Carson itself.
Modern Training and Deployments
Soldiers from Fort Carson train regularly. They go to the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site and the National Training Center in California. They also take part in joint exercises around the world. These exercises happen in places like Africa, Europe, and Southwest Asia.
In 2003, many Fort Carson units were sent to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some troops also went to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. President George W. Bush visited the base in 2003. He praised the soldiers and their families for their service.
More construction happened in 2007 and 2008. This was to prepare for the return of the 4th Infantry Division. About 5,000 more soldiers came to Fort Carson after their deployment.
Fort Carson Community
Fort Carson is also a community. It is officially called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a community identified by the U.S. Census Bureau. The main part of Fort Carson is in El Paso County. The Colorado Springs post office handles mail for Fort Carson. In 2020, about 17,693 people lived in the Fort Carson CDP.
Fort Carson Geography
The Fort Carson CDP covers an area of about 72.5 square kilometers (28 square miles). A very small part of this area is water.
Notable People from Fort Carson
Many important people have served at Fort Carson or have connections to it. Here are a few:
- John E. Butts (1922–1944): A Medal of Honor recipient. The airfield at Fort Carson is named after him.
- Wesley Clark (1944- ): A general who became the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
- Martin Dempsey (1952- ): A general who served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Andrew Maynard (1964- ): An Olympic gold medalist in boxing.
- Colin Powell (1937–2021): A general who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Secretary of State.
- Dennis Reimer (1939- ): A general who was the US Army Chief of Staff.
- Bernard W. Rogers (1921–2008): A general who was US Army Chief of Staff and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
- John William Vessey, Jr. (1922–2016): A general who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Charley Pride: A famous country singer and former professional baseball player.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Carson (Colorado) para niños
