Here’s a few random questions that I’ve been wondering about and finally found the answers to:
Where do Colorado Springs block numbers start? (Also known as zero point.)
Point zero in Colorado Springs is at Pikes Peak and Cascade Avenue (downtown, of course). However, that’s somewhat complicated, because there’s a second point zero at Lake Avenue and First Street in the Broadmoor area. It’s really hard to tell how far that area extends, though it’s certainly not out of the Broadmoor area. It looks like that grid extends north to around Cheyenne Blvd and south to Marland Road, maybe?
Either way, in general, street numbers are based off of the starting point of Pikes Peak and Cascade. That’s good to know, but it’s also not helpful with streets like Union Blvd that twist and turn like a ride at an amusement park. We tell newbies to just remember that the mountains are to the west. If you can remember that, and have accustomed yourself to what Pikes Peak looks like from different parts of the city, you ought to be able to determine where you are and where you need to be pretty easily.
How is the elevation in Colorado Springs determined?
The official elevation in Colorado Springs is 6,035 feet, but exactly where is that elevation located? I thought it might be an average of the whole town, but found out it’s measured from the south steps of City Hall. Relatedly, according to the Gazette, the lowest point in Colorado Springs is along Fontaine Blvd, between Marksheffel Rd and Powers (5,706 feet), and the highest point within the Springs city limits is the northern part of Cheyenne Mountain, know as “The Horns” (9,212 feet).
And where is Cheyenne Mountain, anyway?
Cheyenne Mountain is the mountain to the south of Pikes Peak – the one with all the radio towers. Yep, you know where that mountain is! Here’s an article with some interesting history about Cheyenne Mountain.