City to Country (Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction: for sale, rent, chapel)

[Denise02]

Hi, I am Denise and I currently am active duty military at Fort Hood, Texas. My spouse is redeploying back to the states in Jan and in may we have orders for Peterson AFB. We are concerned about the transition from city to a more relaxed type life, and diversity in this area because we are afro american people. Will we have problems in general or will it just be something different. The thing is we are used to diversity, so that is the real issue. Are we exchanging pollution, fast food, malls for something else?

[Mike from back east]

You will be fine. Very little racism that I've heard of, lots of Army and USAF families here, lots more coming with BRAC and yesterday's Army decision to base a "new" brigade here. By 2013 we'll have 30,000 active duty types here, plus families.

Air and water here are among cleanest in the nation, low humidity, very few bugs. We have two malls, one at each end of town, all the usual fast food places and some pretty good local fare. Home prices are attractive compared to most cities.

COL SPGS and El Paso County are about 500,000 people, not really country, but you don't have to go too far to be in the country. Denver, with 2.5 million is only 90 minutes up I-25 from Carson/Peterson.

Thank you for serving!

s/Mike

[Denise02]

Thanks Mike

[CTownNative]

Originally Posted by Denise02

Hi, I am Denise and I currently am active duty military at Fort Hood, Texas. My spouse is redeploying back to the states in Jan and in may we have orders for Peterson AFB. We are concerned about the transition from city to a more relaxed type life, and diversity in this area because we are afro american people. Will we have problems in general or will it just be something different. The thing is we are used to diversity, so that is the real issue. Are we exchanging pollution, fast food, malls for something else?

Colorado Springs is a pretty big mid-sized city with about 380,000 people,and its a growing area,so I wouldn't worry about felling like you weren't in an urban area.Plus yeah like Mike from back East siad Colorado Springs isn't very far from Denver,from Peterson AFB to Denver probably an hour.With the diversity thing,no Colorado Springs isn't the most diverse place,but it isn't the least diverse place either.Colorado Springs is like 7% African American,Fountain is 9% African American,Cimarron Hills is 8%,Security-Widefield is 10.3% African American,than theres a pretty big Hispanic and Asain population in El Paso county too.Also the African American population and Hispanic population are growing in the area too.There is too huge malls in Colorado Springs,The Citidel Mall and The Chapel Hills mall.In my opinion the Citidel is the better mall.There is tons of fast food resturants in Colorado Springs.There is a street called Academy,and there is tons of stores on it.The malls are also located off of it.Citidel on the southside and Chapel Hills mall on the Northside.But yeah,I don't think you will have a hard time adapting to the Colorado Springs area.

[COflower]

While you will find yourself a bit concerned, Colorado Springs is a pretty good city as we (those of us that live here full time) appreciate the life of the military.

You can be purple or green and people will accept you here.

I've lived here most of my life (excpet for about 5 years in Grand Junction and in Denver) and given teh transient nature of the military, ya'll are accepted here. You better be as the military is the biggest employer here.

Anyhow, I will tell you this, the ratio of African-Americans to Caucasions (sp) is pretty small. We have more of hispanic decent than we do of African-American but don't let that bum you out. As I stated, we have a huge transient population because of the military here and for the most part, people are very accepting of anyone.

I've posted it before and I will say it again, many people here (long-timers) will take a while to warm up to because of the nature of the military here. Friendships are hard to maintain when your new friends move out 2-5 years later. I will attest that I am one to get my heart broken when my friends move away but I am not typical with making friends, when I make them, I am there for life if my friends move away even.

Anyhow, don't worry about it at all. It's what is in your heart that matters.

Oh and as for the country/city aspect. Colorado Springs is such a big city with a small town heart, you will be a-okay here. Yes, we have malls and fast food chains and all that stuff but overall, Colorado Springs is small town America in big city clothing. I've lived in Grand Junction (my favorite metro area with a small town feeling) and Denver.

Heck, even Denver is a small town with big city clothing....C springs has a lot to offer if you come to us with an open heart and an open mind. It can be a bit of a weird place to live but I usually come to the conclusion that when that happens, there are misconceptions about this place I was born and raised in. I can't help but want for all newcomers to love it as much as I do.

If I were more social, I would put together monthly "meetings" at a local water-hole or restaurant to get new people aclimated to the people here and so they know we aren't all that closed off. If I can get over my anxiety (yeah, clinical anxiety) I just might do that.

I hope what I said makes some sense. I've had one of "those" days...hehe. But don't worry, I am sure you will make many friends here and will grow to love C Springs. I know of a lot of ex-military that have stayed here...in fact my biologoical mother's father is ex Air Force. I wish I knew more about that but I don't.

EDIT: sorry for the massive typos...I would go change them all but not inclined at this time. Just know I posted with my heart and my heart is cold as the wind is blowing and what little snow we have is making me a bit unsettled. Haha.

[Denise02]

Thanks for all the wonderful information. I also am needing help with locating a house for sale or to possible rent until my home sells back here in Texas. Can anyone tell me a few names of some neighborhoods that may be within equal distance of Peterson AFB and the University. I have been looking at some area maps and I cannot find anything that shows me the location of Peterson AFB in conjunction with Fort Carson, The Academy and the University. Is it north or south of Fort Carson? Anyway, I am trying to research before I start making decisions. I am hopeful anyway will answer my call. Thanks

[Mike from back east]

Peterson AFB shares the same property as the public airport here, i.e., east of town, along Powers Blvd, north of Fort Carson.

[bashep]

I am hoping this will work. I got this off of mapquest. You can see Peterson AFB and Academy Blvd. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Colora...i=map&ct=image

If this link doesn't work, go to mapquest.com and type in Colorado Springs, CO and it will give a map of the City. Zoom in a little and you will be able to see the main streets, etc.

[jen 19th hole]

I have lived in colorado springs for ten years. my husband is a soldier at fort carson. I love it here. I work at Peterson. They are building new housing and the post is very slow compaired to others. relaxing it is!. The air the mountains the spring water. You are upgrading! dont worry.

Originally Posted by Denise02

Hi, I am Denise and I currently am active duty military at Fort Hood, Texas. My spouse is redeploying back to the states in Jan and in may we have orders for Peterson AFB. We are concerned about the transition from city to a more relaxed type life, and diversity in this area because we are afro american people. Will we have problems in general or will it just be something different. The thing is we are used to diversity, so that is the real issue. Are we exchanging pollution, fast food, malls for something else?

[otowi]

I am a public school teacher. While the proportion of African Americans here may seem a little small, it is growing. If you look at the youth, it is a bigger number, and there are a large number of interracial marriages - probably 1/4 of students are of 1st generation mixed race background. I think racism exists everywhere, but Colorado Springs is not a place where you are likely to find any concern or have trouble feeling at home.