Colorado Springs is a large city located just east of the geographic center of the U.S. state of Colorado. It has a population of 360,890 (according to the 2000 census) making it the second largest city in Colorado and the 49th-largest city in the United States, it's also a large part of the metropoltian area of the Front Range. The capital of Colorado, Denver, is 68 miles to the north. At an elevation of 6,035 feet Colorado Springs is over a mile above sea level, though it is significantly higher in other areas of the city. The city itself is situated near the base of one of the most famous American peaks, Pikes Peak, on the east side of the Rocky Mountains. The city is the county seat of El Paso County^GR1.

Today, Colorado Springs has many features of a modern urban area such as parks, bike trails, urban open-area spaces, business and commerce, theatres and other entertainment. It was first established as a posh resort community and the tourist industry has remained strong and offers many activities and attractions.

The Springs also has its share of problems like overcrowded roads and highways, crime, and government budget issues. Many of the problems arising are indirectly or directly caused by the city's difficulty in coping with the large population growth experienced in the last 20 years.

A large number of religious organizations and churches make their headquarters here, particularly Evangelical Christians. Many high-tech businesses reside in the city including a large number of chip manufacturers, such as Intel. Colorado Springs is also home to a large number of military installations and important national defense agencies including the missle defense agency. It is also home to the United States Air Force Academy, one of only four military academies in the entire country.