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Falcon, Colorado

Coordinates: 38°55′59″N 104°36′31″W / 38.933049°N 104.608583°W / 38.933049; -104.608583
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Falcon, Colorado
Map
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyEl Paso
Elevation
[1]
6,831 ft (2,082 m)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total10,514
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (Mountain Daylight Time)
ZIP code
80831 (Peyton)
Area code719

Falcon is an unincorporated community exurb in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It lies along US 24 about 14 miles northeast of Colorado Springs. A railroad hub in the early 20th century, the town spent several decades as a quiet ranching community until it experienced rapid residential growth throughout the 1990s which has continued increasingly through today. The population of Falcon as of 2009 was estimated to be 10,514.[2] The U.S. Post Office in Peyton, Colorado (ZIP Code 80831) serves Falcon postal addresses.[3] Many people mistakenly believe those residing in the Falcon area are Peyton residents because most still put Peyton, CO 80831 as their mailing address. This is incorrect and the postal service accepts Falcon, CO 80831.

History

Falcon, Colorado
The fire station.

In 1881, the area now known as "Falcon" was crossed by the railroads: first the Denver and New Orleans on a rail bed parallel to today's Eastonville Road, then the Chicago and Rock Island on a rail bed parallel to today's U.S. Highway 24. The lines' intersection remains an important center of the Falcon area today.[4]

On September 20, 1888, the first announcement of "Falcon, Colorado" was advertised in the Colorado Springs Gazette. The Falcon Land and Town Company, associated with the Chicago Rock Island Railroad, were selling lots to individuals. By 1896, there were two hotels, a newspaper, six saloons, a pool hall, stockyards, two train depots, two general stores, a blacksmith shop and a school.[5]

The introduction of the automobile brought a decline in passenger rail traffic to Falcon. A 1935 flood washed out the Colorado & Southern tracks, which weren't rebuilt, and the Rock Island railroad junction closed.[4] By 1975, only a small number of homes and the school remained near the Falcon intersection.

In 1984, a business complex including a convenience store and gas station was built at the intersection of Meridian Road and U.S. 24; the intersection gained a traffic light in 1996.[5] In the early 1990s, Falcon began residential development at a rapid pace[6] and the area's population nearly doubled between 1990 and 2000.[7]

With the rapid growth, suburban amenities began appearing in Falcon. Safeway opened a grocery store in 2000.[8] The county approved a new Wal-Mart store in 2005 with minimal opposition.[9] As that new retail presence was preparing to open, residents voted in May 2007 on whether to incorporate as a town. The proposal was defeated, with 78% of the vote against incorporation.[10] The next major retail chain slated to set up shop in Falcon was Lowe's, which had agreed to procure the current site of Fire Station #1 of the Falcon Fire Protection District. Lowe's would have built a replacement station at Golden Sage and Woodmen, but in September 2008, that deal fell through and Lowe's did not complete the transaction.[11]

Geography

Falcon neighborhoods include The Meadows, Elkhorn Estates, Meridian Ranch, Woodmen Hills, Paint Brush Hills (which is now the name of the neighborhood formerly known as "Falcon Hills"), and Falcon Heights.

Arts and culture

The Black Squirrel Creek Bridge, a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located between Falcon and Peyton, Colorado.

On October 16, 2010 High Prairie Library, a branch of the Pikes Peak Library District, opened to the public.

In 2004, the Antler Creek Golf Course opened as the longest golf course in Colorado and the second-longest in the nation.[12]

Education

Geographically, students are served by Falcon School District 49, but some choose to attend other school districts in El Paso County instead. District 49 currently has four high schools: Falcon High School, Vista Ridge High School, Sand Creek High School and the Patriot Learning Center. The area's rapid growth has caused the district to grow by 1,100 new students annually over the past few years. [7]

Religion

Falcon is home to many churches and religious organizations including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known as the "LDS" or "Mormon" Church"), Falcon Baptist Church, Meridian Point Church, Sagecreek Community Church, St. Benedict Catholic Church, Family of Faith Lutheran Church, missio Dei: Falcon, and Gathering Stones Community Church. A few, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Meridian Point Church and Falcon Baptist Church, have their own buildings while most meet in rented spaces. Falcon is also home to the Thai Buddhist "Wat Santidhamma Temple".

References

  1. ^ "USGS detail on Falcon". Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  2. ^ Wilson, Jennifer (2007-05-21). "Would town of Falcon have enough money?". The Gazette.
  3. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup" (JavaScript/HTML). United States Postal Service. January 6, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Epstein, Warren (1998-04-06). "New winds of change alter Falcon". p. Our Town 1.
  5. ^ a b Wilson, Dru (1996-02-11). "Go East, young man, go East". The Gazette. p. City/State 1.
  6. ^ Reuter, Jane (2007-03-28). "Falcon takes wing". The Gazette. Retrieved 2007-09-28. When the market turned around in the entire region, the market at Falcon Hills turned around with it. It was ultimately a success story.
  7. ^ a b Newsome, Brian (2007-03-28). "Falcon's growing discontent". The Gazette. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  8. ^ "Safeway Plans Supermarket in Falcon, Colo". Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. 2000-02-21. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  9. ^ Laden, Rich (2005-12-23). "County approves Wal-Mart in Falcon". The Gazette. Retrieved 2007-09-28. [dead link]
  10. ^ Wilson, Jennifer (2007-05-31). "Falcon says no to incorporation". The Gazette. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  11. ^ Bliss, Lynne. "Lowe's transaction stalls, Ranchland News, September 11, 2008".
  12. ^ Kensler, Tom (2004-05-20). "Go the distance at Antler Creek". Denver Post. p. D-01. Demand for distance clubs figures to be high at Antler Creek, which will play 8,100 yards from the back tees, making it the first golf course in Colorado to stretch more than 8,000 yards and the second-longest in the nation, according to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Further reading

  • Ranchland News, September 11, 2008 "Lowe's Transaction stalls"

DENVER & NEW ORLEANS RAILROAD: IN THE SHADOW OF THE ROCKIES by James R. "Jim" Jones,1997, Sundance Publications, Denver, CO. Out of print.

38°55′59″N 104°36′31″W / 38.933049°N 104.608583°W / 38.933049; -104.608583

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