Manitou Springs, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manitou Springs
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The Manitou Springs City Hall
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| Motto(s):
At the foot of Pikes Peak
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Location of the City of Manitou Springs in El Paso County, Colorado.
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 Manitou Springs
Location in Colorado
Manitou Springs
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Colorado |
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| County | El Paso County | |
| City | Manitou Springs | |
| Incorporated | January 25, 1888 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Home rule municipality | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.16 km2 (3.15 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 8.16 km2 (3.15 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 0.00 km2 (0.00 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,922 m (6,306 ft) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,858 | |
| • Density | 595.3/km2 (1,542.2/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) | |
| ZIP code |
80829
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| Area code(s) | 719 | |
| FIPS code | 08-48445 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411021 | |
Manitou Springs is a small town in Colorado, United States. It is located right at the base of Pikes Peak in El Paso County. The town was started because of its amazing natural mineral springs.
Today, the downtown area is still a popular spot for visitors, especially in the summer. You can find many shops and restaurants there. There's also a nice park next to a creek. The main road through town used to be a direct path to the bottom of Pikes Peak. You can still access the Barr Trail, which goes up Pikes Peak, from Manitou Springs. In the 1960s, a neighborhood called Crystal Hills joined the town.
In 2020, about 4,858 people lived in Manitou Springs. Students in the town go to schools in Manitou Springs School District 14, including Manitou Springs High School.
Contents
History of Manitou Springs
General William Jackson Palmer and Dr. William Abraham Bell created Manitou Springs in 1872. They wanted it to be a beautiful place where people could come to relax and get healthy. Dr. Bell's home, Briarhurst Manor, is now a restaurant and is listed as a historic place.
The town officially became a city in 1876. Manitou Springs has been a popular tourist spot since the 1870s. Visitors discovered the special "healing waters" that the Ute Native American people had been drinking for many years. Many of the town's mineral springs still work today, and the water is free to try!
Manitou Springs Historic District
In 1980, the Manitou Springs Historic District was created. This group helps manage how buildings are developed, fixed up, and kept old in the town. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the biggest historic districts in the country. This means many buildings here are protected because they are important to history.
Waldo Canyon Fire and Flood
In June 2012, everyone in Manitou Springs had to leave their homes because of the Waldo Canyon fire nearby. Parts of Colorado Springs also had to evacuate. Luckily, Manitou Springs was not damaged by the fire. People were able to return home quickly, and all the businesses reopened.
On August 9, 2013, a flash flood hit the city. Heavy rains from the Waldo Canyon area caused water to rush down into Manitou Springs. The floodwaters flowed through streets, homes, and businesses. About 20 homes were damaged, and 8 of them were badly hurt. The flood also closed part of Manitou Avenue for a short time.
Geography and Climate
Manitou Springs is located along U.S. Route 24, just west of Old Colorado City and Cave of the Winds. The town is surrounded by mountains: Mt. Manitou to the west, Red Mountain to the south, and Englemann Canyon to the south and west. It's also very close to Garden of the Gods, which has similar red rock formations as Red Mountain. Of course, it's right at the base of Pikes Peak.
The city covers about 3.15 square miles (8.2 square kilometers) of land.
Manitou Springs Climate
Manitou Springs has a climate with four clear seasons. Summers are warm, and winters are cool, sometimes cold. Spring and fall are usually very pleasant.
| Climate data for Manitou Springs, Colorado | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (23) |
76 (24) |
81 (27) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
39 (4) |
94 (34) |
86 (30) |
78 (26) |
77 (25) |
100 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43 (6) |
45 (7) |
52 (11) |
60 (16) |
69 (21) |
79 (26) |
85 (29) |
82 (28) |
75 (24) |
63 (17) |
51 (11) |
42 (6) |
62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
20 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
33 (1) |
43 (6) |
51 (11) |
57 (14) |
56 (13) |
47 (8) |
36 (2) |
25 (−4) |
18 (−8) |
36 (2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−27 (−33) |
−11 (−24) |
−3 (−19) |
21 (−6) |
32 (0) |
42 (6) |
— | 22 (−6) |
5 (−15) |
−8 (−22) |
−24 (−31) |
−27 (−33) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.32 (8.1) |
0.36 (9.1) |
1.00 (25) |
1.42 (36) |
2.03 (52) |
2.50 (64) |
2.84 (72) |
3.34 (85) |
1.19 (30) |
0.82 (21) |
0.40 (10) |
0.34 (8.6) |
16.56 (421) |
| Source: Weather.com | |||||||||||||
Population of Manitou Springs
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 422 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,439 | 241.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,303 | −9.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,357 | 4.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,129 | −16.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,205 | 6.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,462 | 21.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,580 | 76.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,626 | 40.5% | |
| 1970 | 4,278 | 18.0% | |
| 1980 | 4,475 | 4.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,535 | 1.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,980 | 9.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,992 | 0.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,858 | −2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were about 4,980 people living in Manitou Springs. Most people in the city were White (about 94%). There were also people of Hispanic, African American, Native American, and Asian backgrounds.
Fun Things to Do in Manitou Springs
Attractions
Manitou Springs has many cool places to visit:
- Cave of the Winds: You can take tours through this amazing cave system.
- Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theater: This is a fun dinner theater for families.
- Manitou Cliff Dwellings: See a full-size copy of ancient Anasazi Indian cliff homes. There's also a museum. These were built using materials from real ruined cliff dwellings.
- Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway: Take a train ride from Manitou Springs all the way to the top of Pikes Peak!
- Manitou Springs Food Tour: Explore the town's food scene.
- Manitou Springs Heritage Center: Learn about the history of the area.
- Miramont Castle and Manitou Springs Fire Department Museum: Visit a historic castle and a fire department museum.
- Rainbow Falls (also called Graffiti Falls): This is a waterfall on Fountain Creek where the canyon walls and bridge are covered in colorful graffiti.
Mineral Springs and Parks
- Springsabouts Walking Tours: You can take a tour of nine of the Manitou Mineral Springs sites. Or, you can get a free map and cup from the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce and explore the springs yourself. Each spring has different minerals!
- Parks: There are several parks like Schryver Park, Memorial Park, Mansions Park, and Soda Springs Park. Fields Community Park is also nearby.
- Manitou Incline: This used to be a railway track that went straight up the mountain. Now, it's a super popular and challenging hiking trail that climbs over 2,000 feet above Manitou Springs!
Events in Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs hosts many fun events throughout the year:
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Places to Stay
- Barker House: This was one of the first hotels in Manitou Springs and is now a historic apartment building. It's on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Briarhurst Manor: A beautiful Victorian house built by Dr. William Bell, who helped found Manitou Springs.
- Cliff House at Pikes Peak: A fancy hotel and restaurant that is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous People from Manitou Springs
Some well-known people have connections to Manitou Springs:
- Justin Armour: An NFL football player who played for the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.
- Matt Carpenter: A famous athlete who competes in the Pikes Peak Marathon.
- George Stults and Geoff Stults: Actors who went to Manitou Springs High School.
- Clarence R. Wallace: A Brigadier General in the U.S. Marine Corps, born in Manitou Springs.
- Atiba Jefferson: A well-known photographer.
See also
In Spanish: Manitou Springs para niños
