Map of El Paso County, Colorado

El Paso County overview:
Name:	El Paso County
FIPS code:	08-041
State:	Colorado
Founded:	November 1, 1861
Named for:	Spanish name for The Pass
Seat:	Colorado Springs
Largest city:	Colorado Springs
Total Area:	2,130 sq mi (5,500 km²)
Land Area:	2,127 sq mi (5,510 km²)
Total Population:	730,395
Population Density:	340/sq mi (130/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−7 (Mountain)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−6 (MDT)
Website:	www.elpasoco.com

El Paso County location map. Where is El Paso County?

El Paso County location on the U.S. Map. Where is El Paso County. — Location of El Paso County in the the United States.

El Paso County location on the Colorado map. Where is El Paso County. — Location of El Paso County in Colorado.

History

In July 1858, gold was discovered along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. This discovery precipitated the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. Many residents of the mining region felt disconnected from the remote territorial governments of Kansas and Nebraska, so they voted to form their own Territory of Jefferson on October 24, 1859. The following month, the Jefferson Territorial Legislature organized 12 counties for the new territory including El Paso County. El Paso County was named for the Spanish language name for Ute Pass north of Pikes Peak. Colorado City served as the county seat of El Paso County.

The Jefferson Territory never received federal sanction, but on February 28, 1861, U.S. President James Buchanan signed an act organizing the Territory of Colorado. El Paso County was one of the original 17 counties created by the Colorado legislature on November 1, 1861. Part of its western territory was broken off to create Teller County in 1899. Originally based in Old Colorado City (now part of Colorado Springs, not today’s Colorado City between Pueblo and Walsenburg), El Paso County’s county seat was moved to Colorado Springs in 1873.

El Paso County Road Map

El Paso CountyStreet Map. — Street map of El Paso County, Colorado. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

El Paso CountyMap — El Paso Countypolitical map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,130 square miles (5,500 km), of which 2,127 square miles (5,510 km) are land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km) (0.1%) are covered by water.

Adjacent counties

Douglas County – north
Elbert County – northeast
Lincoln County – east
Crowley County – southeast
Pueblo County – south
Fremont County – west
Teller County – west

Major highways

Interstate 25
I-25 BL (Nevada Avenue)
U.S. Highway 24
U.S. Highway 85
State Highway 16 (Mesa Ridge Parkway)
State Highway 21 (Powers Boulevard)
State Highway 83 (In El Paso County, CO SH-83 begins with the intersection of CO SH-21)
State Highway 94
State Highway 105
State Highway 115

National protected area

Pike National Forest

State protected area

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

Historic sites

Pikes Peak National Historic Landmark
USAFA Cadet Area National Historic District
Old Colorado City (National Register of Historic Districts)
Manitou Springs (National Register of Historic Districts)

Trails

American Discovery Trail
Barr National Recreation Trail
Bear Creek Cañon Park
Bear Creek Regional Park and Nature Center
Calhan Paint Mines
Fountain Creek Nature Center
The Incline
New Santa Fe Trail
Pikes Peak Greenway
White House Ranch National Recreation Trail