WSP04638

• File Number: 8136.500.10
• Description: Local Governments - Municipalities - Colorado Springs
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1981
• Author: Colorado Springs
• Title: Community Profile for the City of Colorado Springs
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

created. These figures are reflected in
the net migration statistics for these
years. For the period between 1970 and
1980, net migration accounted for 59% of
the population growth in the County.

Between 1940 and 1975, the population in
EI Paso County increased fram 54,025 to
291,300 resulting in an average annual
growth rate of abaut 5%. At this same
time, employment grew at an average
annual rate of 6%. Of the total change in
the County's population between 1940 and
1975, 24% is attributable to natural
increase with the remaining 76% due to
in-migration taking advantage of
employment opportunities. Of these
persons who came to EI Paso County, 45%
were employment-motivated, 40% were
affiliated with the military and 15%
moved to retire in the community.

ETHNIC POPULATION

Since 1960, the rate of population growth
for minorities has been higher than that
of the total population in the County.
However, this trend has slowed
considerably in the last decade. Table 4
and Figure 3 illustrate the growth rates
since 1960 of the various ethnic groups in
the community.

The percentage of minorities in the
community has continued to increase over
the I 970s, although not at the pace
previously incurred in the 1960s. In 1970,
blacks were 5.1 % of the total population,
increasing slightly to 5.9% in 1980.
Persons of Hispanic descent or surname
increased only a marginal amount from
8.5% in 1970 to 8.7% in 1980. Table 5 is
an estimate of population by ethnic graup
in EI Paso County compared to data for
the State.

AGE

In 1970, the median age of County
residents was 23.5 years, compared to a
median of 26.2 years for Colorado. In
1980, the County's median age of 25.3
years was below both that of the State,
28.2 years,S and the nation, 30.0 years.

MINORITY POPULATION
GROWTH RATES

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GROWTH RATES %
Tobl PIIpuhrtlOll
1970 -1980

1960 - 1970

00250

Tobl Mi.-lty Population
1970 _ 1980
1960 - 1970

Black PIIpulatlon
1970 -1980
1960 - 1970

Hi.panlc ......ullll.n
1970 - 1980
1960-1970

Other Minority Population
1970 - 1980
1960 - 1970

Anglo Pllpullllon
1970 -1980
1960 - 1970

FIGURE 3

The primary reason for this younger-than-
average age for County residents is
attributable to the presence of military
personnel in the community.

The age group 65 and older comprised
5.8% of the County's population in 1970;
this increased to 6.1 % in 1980. This local,
as well as national, trend of an increasing
number of elderly persons has
implications for the community in
providing special services and programs
necessary for the elderly. Table 6 and
Figure 4 indicate population by sex and
age for EI Paso County between 1970 and
1980.

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