Colorado Springs is a vibrant city that is home to a variety of industries, from aerospace defense to cybersecurity and sports. The city has made great strides in filling previous deficiencies and ensuring that its future infrastructure meets the demands. Our per capita use of public services is declining due to sustainability and conservation measures; however, as the city continues to grow, the overall demand for public services continues to increase. Stormwater infrastructure will require further development.
El Paso County and Colorado Springs are “the firewall that prevents the state of Colorado from becoming a democratic state”, according to Professor Dunn. Electricity costs are expected to increase in the coming years with the increase in EPA emission standards related to coal and natural gas power plants and as a result of the CSU's commitment to a greater proportion of renewable electricity supplies and the closure of the Martin Drake coal-fired power plant in downtown Colorado Springs by 2035 or earlier. The Colorado Springs & EDC Chamber focuses its efforts on helping to expand and retain existing employers, which generates most of the job growth, as well as on attracting new businesses to the region. Like most municipalities in Colorado, Colorado Springs depends on sales tax revenues to finance basic services and infrastructure. Professor Dunn is writing a book about the political nuance of Colorado Springs, exploring trends in how a growing population might affect the region's conservative base.
The book also examines the constants of Colorado Springs' political history, including what Dunn calls a “republicanism of the old Rocky Mountain West”, an attitude of “don't tax me and leave me alone”.The decisions made by Colorado Springs residents represent the continuation of national trends affecting the appearance of homes today, such as wealth, mobility, delayed marriage, increased longevity, and a shift away from traditional family structures. As the arts have been shown to capture economic uncertainty and drive local innovation and economic development, Colorado Springs residents are pushing for more investment in the city's arts and culture scene. Compared to other cities in Colorado and the state, taxable per capita retail sales in Colorado Springs are close to the state average and are in the mid-range of comparable cities. With the discovery of one of the richest gold deposits in the history of the United States, Colorado Springs experienced a boom in population and wealth in the 1850s and 60s, and again in the 1890s, making it known as the “City of Millionaires”.Exploring the myths and realities of Colorado Springs politics is a passion for Professor Dunn who moved to the city from Virginia in 2004. Although bicycle use is not shown specifically for Colorado Springs, it is highest in Boulder (11.1 percent) and Fort Collins (7.4 percent). The city's economy is driven primarily by military operations, high-tech industry, and tourism. According to projections, Colorado Springs will surpass Denver as the most populated city in the state by 2050.
At the beginning of the 19th century, it was also known as one of richest cities per capita in America.
