Area description continued:
Population: city, 316,480; Colorado Springs Metro Area, 454,220. Colorado Springs, situated on a mesa (6,008 feet [1,831 m]) near the eastern base of Pikes Peak – east of Pike National Forest, was founded in 1871 as a rail terminal by General William J. Palmer, builder of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The establishment of military installations (U.S. Air Force Academy, The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the US Space Command gave impetus to development. The city is home to Colorado College, the University of Colorado at Colorado, Springs, the Nazarene Bible College and the U. S. Olympic Center. Flight times: Chicago-2 hrs., London-9 hrs., N.Y.-3 hrs., Los Angles-2.5 hrs, Miami-4 hrs. City Center to airport: 20 min. TRANSPORTATION Colorado Springs Airport, served by nine major national and regional airlines, has approximately fifty arrivals and departures daily with nonstop service to Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Dallas, Houst