Monument, Colorado facts for kids

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Monument, Colorado | other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Statutory Town | motto = "Proud Of Our Past, Confident Of Our Future " | image_skyline = Monument, CO, Town Hall and Police Dept. IMG_5168.JPG | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = Monument Town Hall and Police Department | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = File:El Paso County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Monument Highlighted 0851800.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Monument in El Paso County, Colorado. | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name =  United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 =  Colorado | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = El Paso | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = Statutory Town | leader_title1 = Mayor and Monument Rock in the west. The first records of the town can be found in various volumes in the El Paso County Courthouse dating back to 1872. With the help of the railroad, which brought in necessities, people started small businesses and started to create a town.

Geography

Monument is located at 39°04′52″N 104°51′45″W / 39.081024°N 104.862491°W / 39.081024; -104.862491. It is north of Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Academy, and east of the Rampart Range, which is the eastern front range of the Rocky Mountains. Monument Creek, a gentle mountain stream beginning in the Rampart Range, eventually tumbles down through Palmer Lake and the west side of Monument to become one of the main waterways flowing south through Colorado Springs.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Monument has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,971 people, 725 households, and 550 families residing in the town. The population density was 426.1 people per square mile (164.4/km²). There were 770 housing units at an average density of 166.4 per square mile (64.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.98% White, 0.91% African American, 1.42% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 2.03% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.71% of the population.

There were 725 households, out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 38.3% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,000, and the median income for a family was $54,211. Males had a median income of $41,071 versus $27,583 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,878. About 5.4% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Organizations

The residents of Monument support many different organizations. It is home to various types of churches, such as Presbyterian, Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, and nondenominational. Monument has several organizations that are unique to the community, and also several nationwide organizations. The local organizations in Monument and their mission statements include:

Tri-Lakes Cares: a community-based non-profit agency serving the Tri-Lakes area in Northern El Paso County, that improves people's lives by providing emergency assistance, self-sufficiency programs and other social services.

Pikes Peak Library District: to inform, empower, inspire, and entertain through service and resources that respect individuals and ideas, foster discovery, and build community.

The Griffith Center for Children: to provide troubled children the environment and opportunities to become healthy, participating and productive members of society.

Also in Monument are the nationwide organizations:

Pikes Peak YMCA: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Monument Hill SERTOMA (SERvice TO MAn): To provide sponsorship of programs to aid the hearing impaired, and many other areas of need within the Tri-Lakes area, Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

Boy Scout Troop 514 is in possession of a special American flag better known as the Challenger flag. This flag was on board of the ill-fated last mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger and was recovered undamaged.

Transportation

The greater Monument urban area is bisected by Interstate 25 and can be accessed via exit 161 and exit 158. State Highway 105 also runs East/West through Monument. A major freight railroad also runs North/South through monument that is used primarily for coal transport. The only form of public transportation that exists in Monument is a bus stop for the Bustang, Colorado's interregional express bus service. Most rideshare services will not pickup from Monument but most destinations in Monument are close enough to Colorado Springs that rideshares will still drop off in Monument.

Climate

Education

Formerly Grace Best Elementary School, this building now serves as the district office for Lewis-Palmer #38.

By Colorado law, Monument is a school-choice community. Because of this, there are opportunities for public schools, private schools, charter schools, and home schooling groups. The public school system is Lewis-Palmer School District 38. Lewis-Palmer District ACT scores (at 23) are about 20% higher than the average state scores (at 19) in the two high schools, Palmer Ridge and Lewis-Palmer. The Lewis-Palmer district as a whole performs 15-20% better on CSAP tests than the Colorado state average. There are five public elementary schools in District 38: Lewis-Palmer Elementary, Palmer Lake Elementary, Kilmer, Prairie Winds Elementary, and Bear Creek Elementary. There is one public middle school serving all of District 38: Lewis-Palmer Middle School. Monument Academy is the only charter school and serves grades K through 8.

Notable residents

• Kevin J. Anderson, bestselling science fiction author
• Jennifer Barringer, professional runner and Olympian
• Robert Liparulo, bestselling thriller novelist
• Bobby Burling, professional MLS player, attended Lewis-Palmer High School
• Chumped, members of the band
• Tom Clements, former Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, assassinated
• Pat Garrity, former NBA playerws, Wr, National Car
• Wayne Laugesen, journalist, Fox News, The Washington Examiner, The National Catholic Register

• Frances McConnell-Mills, toxicologist
• Jennifer Sipes, actress and model, born in Monument, attended Lewis-Palmer High School
• Paige Spiranac, professional golfer and model
• Amy Stephens, former Colorado House Majority Leader
• Mathew Ward, Christian musician and former member of 2nd Chapter of Acts

See also

In Spanish: Monument (Colorado) para niños