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El Paso County lies in east central Colorado and encompasses more than 2,158 square miles - slightly more than twice the area of the state of Rhode Island (Excluding Narragansett Bay). While the western portion of El Paso County is extremely mountainous, the eastern part is prairie land where dairy cows and beef cattle are the main source of ranchers' income. The altitude ranges from about 5,095 feet (1569 m) on the southern border at Black Squirrel Creek to 14,110 feet (4301 m) on the summit of Pikes Peak, near the western boundary. The county seat is located in Colorado Springs. The natural physical beauty of the area, situated at the base of Pikes Peak and with an uninterrupted view of the Front Range, can be enjoyed by all. The magnificent scenery inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the poem "America the Beautiful" after her visit here. The mild climate, on average, supplies 285 days of sunshine, 15 inches of rain, 35 inches of snow, and very low levels of humidity. The 2006 estimated population was 575,851 with 216,015 households with a civilian labor force of 264,000. Hme prices in El Paso County vary greatly depending on the many areas and type of property. Prices can range from $90,000 town homes and condos to the $300,000 range and higher. The average home price in El Paso County is $254,000. |
