In going through old newspapers, I found a description of the infant town that I thought you might enjoy. As you read it, think about your last visit to downtown.
“The town of Colorado Springs is situated in the center of El Paso County, at a point where the Monument Creek unites with the Fontaine qui Bouille, and where the Ute Pass opens upon the plains.
"Everything possible is being done to heighten the attractive character of a spot in which Nature has bestowed so many advantages. It is intended to make Colorado Springs not only famous as a sanitarium, but as an educational center, and a home for refined society. Wide streets and avenues and spacious squares have been laid out, and thousands of trees have been planted.
"The town is a Colony Town and the purchase of lots are destined to public improvements. There are three types of lots available: Business Lots 25 feet by 190 feet range from $150 to $250, Resident lots 50 feet by 190 from $50 to $150. There are a few 100 foot wide lots. Outlying tracts are available in one to five acre sizes. The land set aside for the town is some 10,000 acres."
"The population, according to a recent enumeration, taken by order of the town trustees, lacked only about a score of being 1,000. The various institutions necessary to a well ordered community have been quickly got into working order. There are already two churches, one in course of erection, and another to be commenced. Two public schools, a lyceum, a newspaper, a post office, a telegraph office, a bank, three or four large hotels, numerous boarding houses, stores of all kinds, well stocked - where the luxuries, as well as the necessaries of life can be obtained, livery stables, etc. The town has been organized with trustees and other officers, and several companies have been formed for the prosecution of important commercial undertakings, including a steam saw mill, brick manufacture, fruit canning and others."