City (pop., 2000: 360,890), central Colorado, U.S. Standing on a mesa near the eastern base of Pikes Peak , it was founded in 1871 as Fountain Colony and later renamed for a nearby mineral springs.
Growth followed the Cripple Creek gold strikes in the 1890s. Military installations gave further impetus to development: it is home to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the U.S. Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base (established 1942); Fort Carson (1942); and the U.S. Air Force Academy (1954). The Garden of the Gods, a natural park with red sandstone monoliths, is one of many scenic attractions.