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Get caught up on the latest news around Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.
Noteworthy Accolades
Colorado Springs and area attractions consistently rank at the top of a variety of national and international lists. Below is a list of noteworthy accolades.
Milken Institute - #5 Best Performing City in 2025
Neighbor.com - #1 Most Neighborly City in America in 2024
U.S. News & World Report - #3 Best Place to Live in the U.S. in 2024
TripAdvisor – #9 Top 10 World Attractions in 2022 (Garden of the Gods Park)
TripAdvisor – #7 Emerging World Destinations in 2021
New York Times – #13 on 52 Places to Go in 2020
TripAdvisor – #10 Top 25 Trending Destinations in the U.S. in 2020
Pikes Peak Region Fast Facts
- Colorado Springs is Colorado's second-largest city
- Founded in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer
- Nicknames/taglines: Olympic City USA, City for Champions, The Springs, COS
- Elevation: 6,035 ft./1,839 meters above sea level
- Population: City estimate (2020): 478,961, Metro area estimate (2020): 755,105
- Climate: Alpine desert
- Average yearly precipitation: 18”
- Average yearly snowfall: 57"
- Average humidity: Morning: 63%, Afternoon: 40%
- Average yearly days of sunshine: 300+
- Tourism is the third-largest industry in Colorado Springs, providing more than 40,000 jobs throughout the region. Learn more about the benefits of tourism here
- 2 state parks in the region, Mueller and Cheyenne Mountain
- 9,000+ acres of parkland and 500 acres of trail
- El Paso County Parks has 7 regional parks, 6 regional trails, 19 open spaces and 6 community parks
- Major attractions: 55+
- Taxes: 8.2% sales tax, 2% lodging
- Annual visitors: 25.6 million
- Lodging rooms: 14,500 (Greater Colorado Springs area)
- Meeting space: 450,000+sq. ft.
- 60+ sports organizations including four international sports federations and 25 National Governing Bodies are headquartered in Colorado Springs
