Cañon City ( ) is the home rule city that is the county seat of and the most populous municipality in Fremont County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 17,141 at the 2020 United States census. Cañon City is the principal city of the Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area and it is a part of the Front Range Urban Corridor. Cañon City straddles the easterly flowing Arkansas River and is a popular tourist destination for sightseeing, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing. The city is known for its many public parks, fossil discoveries, Skyline Drive, The Royal Gorge Railroad, the Royal Gorge, and extensive natural hiking paths. In 1994, the United States Board on Geographic Names approved adding the tilde to the official name of Cañon City, a change from Canon City as the official name in its decisions of 1906 and 1975. It is one of the few U.S. cities to have the Spanish Ñ in its name, others being La Cañada Flintridge, California; Española, New Mexico; Peñasco, New Mexico; and Peñitas, Texas.

History

Cañon City, Kansas Territory, was laid out on January 17, 1858, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, but then the land was left idle. A new company "jumped the claim" to the town's site in late 1859, and it put up the first building in February 1860. The Cañon City, Kansas Territory, post office opened on December 13, 1860. The spelling of the town's name frequently omitted the tilde over the Spanish letter ñ. This town was originally intended as a commercial center for mining in South Park and the upper Arkansas River."Canon City, its rise and progress," Canon City Times, November 10, 1860, p.4.

1860s to 1900

The new Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, and Fremont County, Colorado Territory was created on November 1, 1861, with Cañon City as the first and only county seat.

In 1861, the town raised two companies of volunteers to serve with the Second Colorado Infantry during the American Civil War. This regiment fought in skirmishes in nearby New Mexico and as far east as the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and Missouri before ending its organization in 1865.

In 1862, A. M. Cassaday drilled for petroleum north of Cañon City, close to a known oil seep. Cassaday struck oil at the depth of , and he completed the first commercial oil well west of the Mississippi River. He drilled five or six more wells nearby, and he refined kerosene and fuel oil from the petroleum. Cassaday sold the products in Denver.Francis M. Van Tuyl and Arthur E. Brainerd (1960), Historical summary, in Mineral Resources of Colorado First Sequel, Denver: Colorado Mineral Resources Board, p.491-492.

Congress approved the Territory of Colorado's request for funds to construct a penitentiary in 1867. The Colorado Territorial Penitentiary opened in 1871, becoming Colorado's first prison. The original structure held 43 prisoners, though the number of incarcerated people increased steadily to over 400 people by the turn of the century. Records of inmate labor at the penitentiary date to 1872, including numerous complaints that inmates were not receiving full compensation for their work. Incarcerated workers contributed significantly to the development of the city, including the construction of Skyline Drive by 60 inmates. The scenic road opened in 1905.

The City of Cañon City was incorporated on April 3, 1872. A number of metal ore smelters were built in Cañon City following the discovery of gold at Cripple Creek in 1891. On July 30, 1904, the spelling of the Cañon City post office was changed to the common English spelling "Canyon City", but the spelling was changed back to the Spanish spelling "Cañon City" on December 15 of that year.

Historical designations The Cañon City Downtown Historic District is an historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Geography Cañon City is located in eastern Fremont County. It sits primarily on the north side of the Arkansas River, just east of where the river exits from Royal Gorge. It is bordered to the south by the unincorporated community of Lincoln Park. Via U.S. Route 50, Pueblo is to the east and Poncha Springs is to the west. Colorado Springs is to the northeast.

At the 2020 United States census, the city had a total area of including of water.

Climate The city's nickname, "the Climate Capital of Colorado", derives from the combination of unique geography and elevation protecting the city from harsh weather conditions. The average daily high temperature in January is warmer in Cañon City than in Grand Junction, even though the elevation of Cañon City is higher.

The average minimum temperature in January is . During July, overnight lows are on average. Cañon City has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).

Neighborhoods

As Cañon City has grown, the city has both annexed surrounding communities and developed new subdivisions to create the city that exists today.

Dawson Ranch Eagle Heights Fireman's Bluff Four Mile Ranch Gold Cañon Meadowbrook Orchard Park South Cañon, a historic neighborhood located on the west side south of the Arkansas River Sunrise Mesa Western Meadows Wolf Park Five Star Mobile Home park

Parks and recreation Cañon City is home to many city-owned parks, as well as parks owned by the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District.

City-owned parks Centennial Park, commonly known as "Duck Park" Denver & Rio Grande Western Park, commonly known as "Depot Park" Greydene Park Magdalene Park Margaret Park (originally Margarette Park) Mountain View Park, home of the city's skate park Red Canyon Park, a park located north of the city Royal Gorge Park, home of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Rudd Park Temple Canyon Park Veterans Park, known for Entertainment in the Park concerts during the summer

Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District The Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District, commonly called the Rec District, was created in 1965 to better serve the community's recreational needs with parks, the R.C. Icabone Pool (a public swimming pool), a dog park, an archery range and a ropes course along with a rec district office with a community room.

The following parks are operated and owned by the Rec District: John Griffin Park, located near the Sell's Avenue Trailhead of the Riverwalk Harrison Park, the former playground of the former Harrison Elementary School which had been relocated to a newer, larger school building housing both elementary and middle school students Pathfinder Regional Park, a joint-managed park located in the county between Cañon City and Florence Rouse Park

In addition, the city maintains the Tunnel Drive Trail, a four-mile long out-and-back trail that follows the course of an old irrigation canal. The trailhead is located at the west end of Tunnel Drive, just inside the city limits.

The Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation was created in the name of Guy U. Hardy to recognize people in the community who "help preserve, protect and advocate for providing outdoor recreation opportunities." Hardy had a significant impact on outdoor recreational opportunities in the Royal Gorge area.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Cañon City had a population of 17,141. The median age was 45.4 years. 19.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.1 males age 18 and over.

98.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,107 households in Cañon City, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.3% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,631 housing units, of which 6.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 14,589 85.1% Black or African American 268 1.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 225 1.3% Asian 115 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 9 0.1% Some other race 675 3.9% Two or more races 1,260 7.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,888 11.0%

Law Along with a police department, sheriff's office and detention center, and a municipal court, Cañon City is home to the courts for Fremont County and the 11th Judicial District of Colorado. It has been described as "America’s cheeriest prison town".

Government Cañon City is governed via the Council–manager government system. The city council consists of seven members who are elected from districts. The mayor is elected by the entire city.

Economy The area being situated along the Arkansas River has allowed for soil suitable to orchards, ranching, and farming, but has largely grown to rely on the large number of state and federal prisons in the area, as well as to tourism, education, manufacturing, medicine and many other sectors.

Major employers Cañon City depends on the Colorado Department of Corrections and federal prison system, and its tourism industry which includes the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Red Canyon Park, The Abbey winery, and various other attractions. The major local employers include downtown shops, the entrepreneurial TechSTART initiative that attracts major technology-based entrepreneurs, and CommonSpirit (owner of St. Thomas More Hospital and the Progressive Care Center).

Prisons Prisons have served an important significance to both Cañon City and the surrounding areas of Fremont County, as well as to the state of Colorado. The Museum of Colorado Prisons has been given the role of preserving and presenting the past of the state's corrections system. Colorado Department of Corrections operates the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City."Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "125 West US 50 Canon City, CO, 81215." In addition to several correctional facilities near Cañon City in unincorporated areas in Fremont County, Colorado State Penitentiary, the location of the state death row and execution chamber"Death Row FAQ." (Archive) Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. is in Fremont County."Colorado State Penitentiary ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215" Other state prisons in Fremont County include Arrowhead Correctional Center,"Arrowhead Correctional Center ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215" Centennial Correctional Facility,"Centennial Correctional Facility ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215" Fremont Correctional Facility,"Fremont Correctional Facility ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215" Four Mile Correctional Center,"Four Mile Correctional Center ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215" ADX Florence, and Skyline Correctional Center."Skyline Correctional Center ." Colorado Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 & Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"

On October 3, 1929, a riot at the prison claimed 13 lives.