Colorado Springs Real Estate

The Military Presence in Colorado Springs

The military has maintained a strong presence in the Colorado Springs area since the 1940's. The local business community receives approximately $2 billion annually in impact spending. Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base, the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), the United States Air Force Academy, and Fort Carson collectively represent Southern Colorado’s largest industry.

The Peterson Complex

The Peterson Air Force Base is home to the 21st Space Wing, the Air Force's only organization responsible for worldwide missile warning and space control. The men and women of the 21st Space Wing work throughout the Colorado Springs area in what is known as the Peterson Complex - Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base, and Cheyenne Mountain Air Station- as well as 25 locations in 9 countries around the world. In addition to the operational missions, the 21st Space Wing serves as host unit of the Peterson Complex for four major military headquarters: North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Space Command and Army Space Command, as well as the 302nd Airlift Wing (Reserve) and many tenant units from other major commands.

Peterson Switchboard:    719-554-7321
Schriever Switchboard:   719-567-1110
NORAD:                        719-554-7321

Peterson Air Force Base is adjacent to and east of Colorado Springs off U.S. Highway 24.  Schriever Air Force Base is located nine miles east of the city near the town of Falcon off Route 94.  The North American Aerospace Defense Command is southwest of the city off Highway 115.

Throughout the Peterson complex, there are about 8,165 military personnel with a total of 9,700 military dependents. Most of these military families reside on the local economy. The total economic impact is $900 million annually.

Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson AFB, known as "Pete Field", was originally a fighter training base during World War II. The site of the United States and Air Force Space Commands, as well as a number of supporting agencies, Peterson is the administrative center of the Complex providing support for Schriever AFB and NORAD including exchange services, a medical clinic, personnel processing and record keeping.

Schriever Air Force Base
Schriever Air Force Base is primarily an operation site for various satellite operations including the control point for worldwide tracking stations. Falcon Air Force Station was established in 1983 as a military space systems control facility. The 50th Space Wing was activated on January 30, 1992. Falcon Air Force Base was renamed Schriever Air Force Base on June 5, 1998, in honor of retired General Bernard A. Schriever, who pioneered the development of the nation's ballistic missile programs and is recognized as "the father of the United States Air Force's space and missile program." The base acreage is 3,840 and its population is approximately 3,800 military, DOD civilians, and contractors.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
NORAD has existed since the beginning of the Cold War. Located within Cheyenne Mountain Air Station on the southwest edge of Colorado Springs, it was originally built as a facility to withstand a direct hit nuclear explosion. Although that design parameter was superceded decades ago, it remains hardened and remote to other forms of attack. NORAD is a binational United States and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America. Aerospace warning includes the monitoring of man-made objects in space, and the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, utilizing mutual support arrangements with other commands. Aerospace control includes providing surveillance and control of the airspace of Canada and the United States.

The United States Air Force Academy

The Academy is located at the northern edge of Colorado Springs on 18,000 acres. There are two gates from I-25, one at Academy Boulevard and a second about four miles north.

Main Switchboard:   719-333-1110
Cadet Admissions:   719-333-2520

The formal training ground for the Air Force officer corp, the Academy graduates about 1,000 2nd Lieutenants each year. The Academy was established in 1954 and receives nearly 10,000 applications annually from across the country. Only about 1,200 are selected to attend as freshman. The USAFA Mission Statement is as follows:

TO INSPIRE AND DEVELOP OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO
BECOME AIR FORCE OFFICERS WITH KNOWLEDGE, CHARACTER AND
DISCIPLINE MOTIVATED TO LEAD THE WORLD'S GREATEST AEROSPACE
FORCE IN SERVICE TO THE NATION

The Academy has about 6,603 military personnel which includes 4,000 cadets. The permanent party assigned military have 4,300 dependents, about 60% of whom live on the Academy grounds. The economic impact of the Academy on the city is about $470 million annually.

Fort Carson

Fort Carson is located on the south side of Greater Colorado Springs adjacent to the towns of Widefield and Security on the north and Fountain on the west with gates off Highway 115 and South Academy Boulevard.

Main Switchboard:     719-526-5811
Help Office:                719/526-4357
Family Coordinator:    719-526-4590

Fort Carson sits on 137,000 acres of land which extends well south of the city and over 200,000 acres of training area in southeastern Colorado. The Colorado Air National Guard also has 97,000 acres of training area as part of the Fort Carson assets.

Named in honor of frontier scout Christopher "Kit" Carson, Fort Carson was established in 1942 and has been home to nine infantry divisions. The mission of the installation units is training for combat readiness, which has not changed throughout the last five decades. Currently, the post has a military population of about 12,000 soldiers with 31,000 family members. Of this 43,000 total, approximately 32,000 reside in the civilian economy for a total economic impact of $880 million annually. Many of these military families reside in the Widefield and Security areas where numerous starter homes are available.

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