E l Paso County lies in east central Colorado, and encompasses more than 2,158 square miles. The western portion of El Paso County is extremely beautiful and mountainous. The eastern part is vast prairie land where dairy cows and beef cattle are the main source of ranchers' income. The county seat is located in Colorado Springs and the estimated population is 543,818 residents.

Residents here enjoy the breathtaking natural physical beauty of the area, situated at the base of Pikes Peak with an uninterrupted view of the Front Range. The magnificent scenery inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the poem "America the Beautiful" after her visit here. The mild climate, on average, supplies 285 days of sunshine, 15 inches of rain, 35 inches of snow, and very low levels of humidity.

The Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway will take you to the top of Pikes Peak, elevation 14,110. At the Cave of the Winds, you will descend into the vibrant depths of Colorado. Miramont Castle and the Cliff Dwellings Museum will take you back in time. The Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama and the Flying "W" Ranch Chuck Wagon Cowboy Show will tickle your funny bone and amuse your senses. The Garden of the Gods and Helen Hunt Falls will lift your spirit. Families have all of this to enjoy and more! The North Pole & Santa's Workshop, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and the Air Force Academy, are all within the region. Activities like hiking, fishing, camping, white water rafting, water skiing, snow skiing, and bike trails can be enjoyed throughout the year by neighboring El Paso communities!

C olorado Springs, the state's second largest city, and rests 6,035 feet above sea level at the foot of the Rampant Range and Pikes Peak in the spectacular Rocky Mountain. Colorado Springs ranks high nationally in studies of metropolitan areas with high- technology industries focusing on manufacturing and design of semi-conductors and microelectronics. Local manufactures also have the advantage of nation's largest Foreign Trade Zone for access to overseas markets. The military also provides the area with a stable base of economic activity, employing defense, civil service and military personnel. The median household income is $46,693 per year.

Homes in Colorado Springs typically average around $250,000. On the low end, homes can start as low as $150,000 and go up as high as $3 million. Available homes in Colorado Springs include single-family homes, residential, commercial, lots and land, investment properties, waterfront homes, town homes and condominiums.

Other communities in El Paso County include places like the City of Fountain. Fountain, Colorado has the distinction of being America's Millennium City because it best symbolizes the overall composition of America. Fountain was chosen after a Queens College sociologist crunched Census Bureau statistics in an effort to find the one city in the country that best represented the population make-up of the United States. In other words, Fountain is the most accurate representation of the American "melting pot." Because of its unique distinction, Fountain was featured in a special New York Times millennium edition on Sunday, December 5, 1999.

The Black Forest area is ideally suited for people who want rural living, but would like to remain close to town. There are a wide variety of homes for varying lifestyles in this wonderful area. Most locations feature at least 2.5 acres with the majority being home sites of 5-acre parcels. Each individual subdivision has different covenants governing them, but most allow for at least two horses. Some allow a family to raise 4-H farm animals, while others allow most kinds of animals. The majority of home sites have private wells and septic systems with natural gas, and the more rural areas use propane gas. Prices range from $130,000 to over $500,000. Some undeveloped land is now being opened up for development, and in the coming years will surely help property values to soar.

Fort Carson, the "Mountain Post", is located just south of Colorado Springs at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Established in 1942, Fort Carson has been home for many units, from the 89th, 71st, 104th Infantry Divisions and the 10th Mountain Division to a Greek Infantry Battalion and an Italian ordnance company. Most recently, it was the home for the 4th Infantry Division. Currently it is the home of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment, and the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). If relocation to this army base is in your future, you are in luck! This base is situated in one of the most striking states in the country. Surrounded by mountains, blessed with four mild seasons, and located near one of the best cities in the country, Fort Carson is an exciting place!

Green Mountain Falls, so named for the waterfalls that cascade down the mountains that surround the city, is close enough to enjoy the amenities and attractions of the region, yet a peaceful alternative offering the charm of real Colorado mountain living. If you are looking for a house with a large piece of land, this is the place! Most homes have at least two acres, others more. There is a wide variety in homes and in prices too. Some farms, with stalls and a thousand acres or more, sell in the region of $560,000. Land is still readily available, so if buying land and building a home is your aspiration, you can achieve it here. Lots sell for about $13,000, although some sell for more and others for less.

Concealed between the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak, America's most famous mountain, sits the magical town of Manitou Springs. "Manitou," a Native American word for "spirit," describes this beautiful mountain community. The snows of Pikes Peak feed nine named mineral springs throughout town. Long before white men traveled here, the Ute, Cheyenne and many other natives considered this area sacred. Manitou is a very special and enchanting community full of surprises.

El Paso County is a unique and charming area that is the perfect place to live, work, retire, or raise a family! It has outstanding schools, affordable housing, a strong economy and an unmatched quality of life. If you are considering moving to El Paso County, or would like more information, please feel free to request a "free relocation package" today!