COLORADO SPRINGS RELOCATION GUIDE

 Moving to Colorado Springs opens up a world of fantastic possibilities for you and your loved ones. With some of the best outdoor activities in the country, amazing natural spaces, a unique history, great schools, and a positively sublime climate, you'll be glad that you were relocated to this wonderful city. Time after time Colorado Springs makes numerous top ten lists for one thing or the other. Whether it's the best city to live in, the most active city in America, the best city to work, live, and play in, the cleanest city, the best value for money city, or the best city for Defense Jobs, we think you get the point that there are not many cities that can compete with all that Colorado Springs has to offer its residents!

This Colorado Springs Relocation Guide will help you to understand a bit about the surrounding area, city facts, the military installations in the area, and some of the best communities in the city to live in. Let's take a closer look at some of the general reasons why so many people love this area so darn much:

• Colorado Springs is the second largest city in Colorado
• The city is located at the base of Pikes Peak mountain
• The elevation is 6,035 feet (1,839 meters) above sea level
• The population of the city is about 440,000 people (The metro area is about 660,000+)
• The area receives about 5 Million visitors annually
• Colorado Springs has a vital resource center for the Defense industry, with a focus on missile technology development

• General William Jackson Palmer founded the area in 1871
• In the 1890s gold was discovered around Pikes Peak, which spiked the population of the area almost overnight
• In the early 1900s, Katherine Lee Bates wrote "America the Beautiful" in Colorado Springs, which is the most famous poem in the country
• Around the 1940s the U.S. Army opened Camp Carson, which was the first of many military bases in the area
• Today Colorado Springs has a strong military presence, a growing IT presence, and a thriving medical presence

One of the best things about relocating to Colorado Springs is the amazing climate! With ample year-round sunshine, a spectacular mountain range, plenty of interesting geological formations, and less than average rainfall, you have a great formula for the perfect climate. Here are a few facts about the weather in this simply lovely city:

• Climate: Alpine Desert
• Average Yearly Precipitation: 17.4"
• Average Yearly Snowfall: 37"
• Average Humidity: 51.5%
• Average Yearly Days of Sunshine: 300+

The Colorado Springs area is famous for many fantastic tourist attractions. There are too many to mention here but let's take a look at the top 5 attractions that bring tourists each year from all over the world:

• 1. Garden of the Gods
• 2. Seven Falls Park
• 3. Pikes Peak
• 4. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
• 5. United States Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs is locally known as "The Springs". It was originally called "Little London" as many British tourists settled here many years ago. As with many cities throughout the world, there are a number of terms that are primarily known to locals. So, when you are pcsing to Colorado Springs it's important to understand some of these terms. The following are just some of the many local slang terms that you may want to know:

• The High Country - The area of the Rocky Mountains with the highest peaks
• The Front Range - The eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains from Pueblo to Cheyenne, Wyoming
• The Valley Highway - The I-25
• Mouse Trap - The intersection of the I-70 and the I-25
• RiNo - The River North District

With 156 city and state parks, the Colorado Springs area has no shortage of outdoor activities for residents and visitors to enjoy throughout the seasons. Whether you are interested in alpine recreation, whitewater activities, or mountain and road cycling, you'll be spoiled for choice in this gorgeous part of the country. The natural beauty will simply take your breathe away from the moment you relocate to this city. Take the time to explore all the trails and parkways throughout the city and surrounding area. Here's just a small sample of the more well known trails in and around Colorado Springs:

• Pikes Peak Recreation Area
• Palmer Park
• Seven Bridges Trail
• New Santa Fe Regional Trail
• Pulpit Rock Park
• North Slope Recreation Area

Not only does this city have fantastic outdoor activities but it also has some of the best shopping complexes around! Some of the more popular shopping malls include the following:

• The Promenade Shops At Briargate
• Chapel Hills Mall
• First & Main Town Center
• The Citadel
• Cheyenne Mountain Shopping Center

• Academy School District 20
• Cheyenne Mountain School District 12
• Colorado Springs School District 11
• Falcon School District 49
• Fountain Ft Carson School District 8
• Harrison School District 2
• Lewis Palmer School District 38
• Manitou Springs School District 14
• Widefield School District 3

• Colorado College
• Colorado Technical University
• DeVry University - Colorado Springs Center
• Pikes Peak Community College
• United States Air Force Academy
• University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
• Webster University 

Colorado Springs has five military installations in and around the city. When you know you are pcsing to Colorado Springs it's important to know what communities are close to the base and what the community can offer you and your family. The stress of relocating does not have to include the stress of finding the perfect home. We at Military Home Search have helped so many military families find a home that is close to their base, in a community with good schools, and with a selection of homes that fit their family's needs. Below is a description of where each of these bases are located and some of the potential communities that you may soon be calling home:

Peterson Air Force Base is located directly east of downtown Colorado Springs sharing a runway with the Colorado Springs International Airport. This central location offers home buyers a variety of neighborhoods to choose from. Whether you want the historic charm of Downtown Colorado Springs, a newly constructed property in Powers, or a more affordable home in Fountain, you'll have a good variety of neighborhoods to choose from that are within close proximity to the base.

Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station is located in the southwest section of Colorado Springs. The Cheyenne Mountain complex was built in the 1960s and was the first of its kind for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). For those of you wanting to live away from the base should look at areas such as Fountain, Downtown Colorado Springs, and Broadmoor.

Fort Carson is located quite close to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. The closest communities for you to live in are Fountain, Downtown Colorado Springs, and Broadmoor. Keep in mind there are many other areas in southern Colorado Springs that will be suited to your families housing needs. Please ensure you speak with one of our Military Homes experts to help you explore all the options in the area.

The United States Air Force Academy is located in the northeast section of Colorado Springs. Communities such as Briargate and Northgate are very close to this base and offer great value for young families. There are also wonderful options for anyone relocating to Colorado Springs and looking for a more luxurious property. The abundance of new construction homes in both of these communities offer home buyers the chance to truly customize their property.

Schriever Air Force Base is about 10 miles east of Peterson Air Force Base. The closest communities will be similar to Peterson AFB and include Downtown Colorado Springs, Powers, and Fountain.. Again, there are a number of other fantastic areas that may be just perfect for you and your family, so be sure to let us help you in any way we can to find your perfect family home!