Editing Cañon City, Colorado

{{short description|Home rule city in Fremont County, Colorado, United States.}}
{{redirect|Cañon City|other uses|Canyon City (disambiguation){{!}}Canyon City}}
{{infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info ----------------->
|name                      = Cañon City, Colorado
|settlement_type           = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>|nicknames                = Climate Capital of Colorado
|motto                    = Gateway to the Authentic West
<!-- images and maps ------------>
|image_skyline            = ChrisLitherlandCanonCity.jpg
|image_caption            = Downtown Cañon City, 2010
|image_flag               =
|flag_size                = 150px
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_map                = Fremont County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Cañon City Highlighted 0811810.svg
|mapsize                  = 
|map_caption              = Location of the City of Cañon City in {{nowrap|[[Fremont County, Colorado]].}}
<!-- Pushpin map -->
|pushpin_map             = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief          = 
|pushpin_label           = Cañon City
|pushpin_label_position  = right
|pushpin_map_caption     = Location of the City of Cañon City, Colorado.
<!-- Location -->
|coordinates             = {{coord|38.4410|-105.2424|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-191867|name=Cañon City, Colorado|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=191867|name=Cañon City, Colorado|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>
|elevation_ft            = 5351
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/>
<!-- Politics ------------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun />
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Preston Troutman(R) {{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = 
|leader_name2             = 
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1860
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = April 3, 1872<ref name="MuniIncCO">{{cite web |url=http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html |title=Colorado Municipal Incorporations |publisher=[[State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives |date=December 1, 2004 |access-date=September 2, 2007}}</ref>
<!-- Area --------------------->
|unit_pref                = US
|total_type               = Total
|area_footnotes           = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 32.127
|area_land_km2            = 32.095
|area_water_km2           =  0.032
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
|population_total         = 17,141
|population_density_sq_mi =  1,383
|population_metro         = 48,939
|population_blank1_title  = [[Pueblo-Cañon City, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
|population_blank1        = 217,101
|population_blank2_title  = [[Front Range Urban Corridor|Front Range]]
|population_blank2        = 5,055,344
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset              = −07:00
|timezone_DST            = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST          = −06:00
<!-- Area, postal, and other codes -->
|postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate|title=ZIP Code Lookup|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>
|postal_code             = 81212, 81215 ([[PO Box]])
|area_code_type          = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code               = [[Area code 719|719]]
|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|191867}}
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS city ID]]
|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|2409976}}
|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|08|11810}}
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.canoncity.org/}}
|footnotes                = 
|blank1_name_sec2         = Major Routes
|blank1_info_sec2         = [[File:US_50.svg|26px|link=U.S. Route 50 in Colorado]] [[File:Colorado_115.svg|26px|link=Colorado State Highway 115]]
}}

'''Cañon City''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|n|j|ən}} {{respell|KAN|yən}})<ref>{{cite AV media  |date= January 8, 2024|title= New details released in Cañon City manhunt|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze-LW5Pfteg&ab_channel=KOAA5 |publisher=KOAA5|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 2, 2024 |time= 00:04}}</ref> is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]] that is the [[county seat]] and the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] of [[Fremont County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The city population was 17,141 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Cañon City is the principal city of the [[Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and 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, [[rafting|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.<ref name=privatecorrections57>{{cite journal| last1=Welch| first1=Michael| last2=Turner| first2=Fatiniyah| title=Private Corrections, Financial Infrastructure, and Transportation: The New Geo-Economy of Shipping Prisoners| journal=Social Justice| date=2007| volume=34| issue=3| page=57| jstor=29768464}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite GNIS|191867|Cañon City}}</ref> 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==
{{See also|Early history of Fremont County, Colorado}}
Cañon City 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, Colorado, post office opened on December 13, 1860.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> The spelling of the town's name frequently omitted the [[tilde]] over the [[Ñ|Spanish letter ñ]]. This town was originally intended as a commercial center for [[mining]] in [[South Park (Park County, Colorado)|South Park]] and the upper Arkansas River.<ref>"Canon City, its rise and progress," Canon City ''Times'', November 10, 1860, p.4.</ref>
{{clear|left}}

===1860s to 1900===
[[File:Bird's eye view of Canon City, Colo. - DPLA - 3e4dfabc98a14673a333bd593a1047a5.jpg|thumb|left|Bird's eye view of dwellings, commercial and civic buildings between the Arkansas River and mountains in This drawing of Canon City, Colorado, 1882.]]
In 1861, the town raised two companies of volunteers to serve with the [[2nd Colorado Infantry Regiment|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]] {{convert|6|mi|0}} north of Cañon City, close to a known oil seep. Cassaday struck oil at the depth of {{convert|50|ft}}, 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]].<ref>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.</ref>

Congress approved the Territory of Colorado's request for funds to construct a penitentiary in 1867. The [[Colorado State Penitentiary|Colorado Territorial Penitentiary]] opened in 1871, becoming Colorado's first prison. The original structure held 43&nbsp;prisoners, though the number of incarcerated people increased steadily to over 400 people by the turn of the century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Brooke |date=2020-01-05 |title=Back In Time: History of the Colorado Territorial Penitentiary |url=https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/2020/01/05/back-in-time-history-of-the-colorado-territorial-penitentiary/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Canon City Daily Record |language=en-US}}</ref> 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&nbsp;inmates. The scenic road opened in 1905.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Brooke |date=2020-07-05 |title=Back In Time: For more than 100 years, Skyline Drive has been a must see for locals and visitors alike |url=https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/2020/07/04/back-in-time-for-more-than-100-years-skyline-drive-has-been-a-must-see-for-locals-and-visitors-alike/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Canon City Daily Record |language=en-US}}</ref>

A number of metal ore [[smelting|smelters]] were built in Cañon City following the discovery of gold at [[Cripple Creek, Colorado|Cripple Creek]] in 1891. On July&nbsp;30, 1904, the spelling of the Cañon City post office was changed to the common [[English language|English spelling]] "[[Canyon City, Colorado|Canyon City]]", but the spelling was changed back to the [[Spanish language|Spanish spelling]] "Cañon City" on December&nbsp;15 of that year.{{clear|left}}

===Historical designations===
The [[Cañon City Downtown Historic District]] is an [[historic district]] that was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1983.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>

==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, Colorado|Lincoln Park]]. Via [[U.S. Route 50]], [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]] is {{convert|39|mi}} to the east and [[Poncha Springs, Colorado|Poncha Springs]] is {{convert|62|mi}} to the west. [[Colorado Springs]] is {{convert|45|mi}} to the northeast.

At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|32.127|km2|acre|order=flip}} including {{convert|0.032|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
The city's nickname, "the Climate Capital of Colorado", derives from the combination of unique geography and {{convert|5300|ft|adj=on}} elevation protecting the city from harsh weather conditions. The average daily high temperature in January is {{convert|14|F-change}} warmer in Cañon City than in [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]], even though the elevation of Cañon City is higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=CO&refer=|title=United States of America Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

The average minimum temperature in January is {{convert|20|F}}. During July, overnight lows are {{convert|59|F}} on average. Cañon City has a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''[[Semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates|''BSk'']]'').

{{Weather box|location = Cañon City, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
| single line = Y
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan high F = 49.4
| Feb high F = 50.4
| Mar high F = 58.5
| Apr high F = 64.3
| May high F = 73.3
| Jun high F = 84.6
| Jul high F = 89.2
| Aug high F = 86.7
| Sep high F = 80.1
| Oct high F = 68.6
| Nov high F = 57.2
| Dec high F = 49.0
| year high F = 
| Jan mean F = 33.9
| Feb mean F = 35.0
| Mar mean F = 42.3
| Apr mean F = 48.8
| May mean F = 58.2
| Jun mean F = 68.4
| Jul mean F = 73.9
| Aug mean F = 72.0
| Sep mean F = 64.2
| Oct mean F = 52.4
| Nov mean F = 41.8
| Dec mean F = 33.8
| year mean F = 52.1
| Jan low F = 18.4
| Feb low F = 19.7
| Mar low F = 26.1
| Apr low F = 33.2
| May low F = 43.0
| Jun low F = 52.2
| Jul low F = 58.7
| Aug low F = 57.2
| Sep low F = 48.4
| Oct low F = 36.1
| Nov low F = 26.3
| Dec low F = 18.7
| year low F = 
| Jan record high F = 80
| Feb record high F = 82
| Mar record high F = 84
| Apr record high F = 90
| May record high F = 98
| Jun record high F = 104
| Jul record high F = 107
| Aug record high F = 102
| Sep record high F = 100
| Oct record high F = 95
| Nov record high F = 83
| Dec record high F = 82
| year record high F =
| Jan record low F = -24
| Feb record low F = -30
| Mar record low F = -13
| Apr record low F = 5
| May record low F = 15
| Jun record low F = 30
| Jul record low F = 35
| Aug record low F = 35
| Sep record low F = 25
| Oct record low F = -3
| Nov record low F = -24
| Dec record low F = -25
| year record low F = 
| Jan avg record high F = 68.1
| Feb avg record high F = 69.0
| Mar avg record high F = 76.5
| Apr avg record high F = 82.1
| May avg record high F = 89.0
| Jun avg record high F = 96.7
| Jul avg record high F = 97.8
| Aug avg record high F = 95.7
| Sep avg record high F = 92.1
| Oct avg record high F = 84.9
| Nov avg record high F = 75.6
| Dec avg record high F = 68.2
|year avg record high F = 98.8
| Jan avg record low F = -1.5
| Feb avg record low F = 2.2
| Mar avg record low F = 11.3
| Apr avg record low F = 20.2
| May avg record low F = 30.8
| Jun avg record low F = 42.9
| Jul avg record low F = 51.9
| Aug avg record low F = 50.0
| Sep avg record low F = 36.1
| Oct avg record low F = 21.2
| Nov avg record low F = 9.0
| Dec avg record low F = -1.6
|year avg record low F = -8.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.55
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.57
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.04
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.76
| May precipitation inch = 1.56
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.85
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.25
| Aug precipitation inch = 2.06
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.20
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.87
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.55
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.46
| year precipitation inch = 
| Jan snow inch = 6.7
| Feb snow inch = 6.2
| Mar snow inch = 6.0
| Apr snow inch = 4.1
| May snow inch = 0.5
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.2
| Oct snow inch = 3.3
| Nov snow inch = 5.1
| Dec snow inch = 6.2
| year snow inch = 
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.7
| Feb precipitation days = 4.7
| Mar precipitation days = 5.6
| Apr precipitation days = 6.8
| May precipitation days = 8.4
| Jun precipitation days = 7.4
| Jul precipitation days = 11.6
| Aug precipitation days = 12.0
| Sep precipitation days = 6.5
| Oct precipitation days = 5.4
| Nov precipitation days = 4.5
| Dec precipitation days = 4.1
| year precipitation days = 
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 3.4
| Feb snow days = 3.9
| Mar snow days = 3.0
| Apr snow days = 2.1
| May snow days = 0.4
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 1.0
| Nov snow days = 2.5
| Dec snow days = 3.8
| year snow days =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00051294&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Canon City, CO
|access-date = February 25, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pub
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pueblo
|access-date = February 25, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

===Neighborhoods===
[[File:StCloudHotel CanonCityCO.jpg|thumb|Located in Cañon City's [[Cañon City Downtown Historic District|National Historic District]], the St. Cloud Hotel has stood at the corner of 7th and Main since 1888. It is currently unoccupied and in disrepair after a string of failed attempts to revive the business. The hotel was moved, brick by brick, from [[Silver Cliff, Colorado]], in 1888.]]
[[File:Royal gorge bridge 1987.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Gorge Bridge]] in 1987]]
[[File:ArkansasRiverwalk.jpg|thumb|Arkansas Riverwalk in Cañon City is part of John Griffin Regional Park. It is owned and operated by the Cañon City Area Metropolitan Recreation and Park District.]]

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 {{convert|500|acre|adj=on}} park located {{convert|10|mi|0}} 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<ref>{{cite web|title=Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District: About Us|url=http://ccrec.org/id1.html|access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> 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, Colorado|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.<ref name="CCDR - Award">{{Cite news |url=https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/nominees-for-the-guy-u-hardy-award-for-service-to-outdoor-recreation-are-due-sunday |title=Nominees for the Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation are due Sunday |date=November 25, 2019 |work=Cañon City Daily Record |access-date=February 3, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 229
|1880= 1501
|1890= 2825
|1900= 3775
|1910= 5162
|1920= 4551
|1930= 5938
|1940= 6690
|1950= 6345
|1960= 8973
|1970= 9206
|1980= 13037
|1990= 12687
|2000= 15431
|2010= 16400
|2020= 17141
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
As of the 2020 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/canoncitycitycolorado/PST045221 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2022 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 17,141 people residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,312.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% [[White American|White]], 1.0% [[African American]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian American|Asian]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 10.2% of the population. There were 7,448 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.05.

The age distribution was 22.6% under the age of 18 and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. Women represent 52% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,464. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $25,232. About 17.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].
{{clear|left}}

==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, Colorado|Fremont County]] and the 11th Judicial District of Colorado. It has been described as "America’s cheeriest prison town".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21726122-though-federal-policy-prisons-moving-backwards-politics-incarceration-has-not|title = America's cheeriest prison town does not want to lock more people up|newspaper = The Economist|date = August 10, 2017}}</ref>

==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 Centura Health (owner of [[Saint Thomas More Hospital|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, Colorado|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.<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ctcf-colorado-territorial-correctional-facility Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809111417/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ctcf-colorado-territorial-correctional-facility |date=2014-08-09 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "125 West US 50 Canon City, CO, 81215."</ref><!--38.435976,-105.247715--> In addition to several correctional facilities near Cañon City in [[unincorporated area]]s in [[Fremont County, Colorado|Fremont County]],<!--Summary of locations of individual prisons--> [[Colorado State Penitentiary]], the location of the state death row and execution chamber<ref name="ColoradoDR">"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/death-row-faq Death Row FAQ]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140804073048/http://www.doc.state.co.us/death-row-faq Archive]) [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.</ref> is in Fremont County.<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/csp-colorado-state-penitentiary Colorado State Penitentiary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804135110/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/csp-colorado-state-penitentiary |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> Other state prisons in Fremont County include Arrowhead Correctional Center,<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/node/11 Arrowhead Correctional Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120801152917/http://www.doc.state.co.us/node/11 |date=2012-08-01 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> [[Centennial Correctional Facility]],<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ccf-centennial-correctional-facility Centennial Correctional Facility] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804032135/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/ccf-centennial-correctional-facility |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> [[Fremont Correctional Facility]],<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fcf-fremont-correctional-facility Fremont Correctional Facility] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804044707/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fcf-fremont-correctional-facility |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> Four Mile Correctional Center,<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fmcc-four-mile-correctional-center Four Mile Correctional Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804143942/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/fmcc-four-mile-correctional-center |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref> [[ADX Florence]],
and Skyline Correctional Center.<ref>"[http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/scc-skyline-correctional-center Skyline Correctional Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804060201/http://www.doc.state.co.us/facility/scc-skyline-correctional-center |date=2014-08-04 }}." [[Colorado Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "E US Highway 50 & Evans Blvd Cañon City, CO, 81215"</ref>

On October 3, 1929, a riot at the prison claimed 13 lives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/library/2013/10/28/1929-colorado-state-penitentiary-riot/8856/|title=1929 Colorado State Penitentiary riot|website=The Archive}}</ref>

The Colorado Women's Correctional Facility near Cañon City in unincorporated Fremont County was decommissioned on June 4, 2009.<ref>Mitchell, Kirk. "[http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12515121 Cañon City women's prison closes today]." ''[[The Denver Post]]''. June 4, 2009. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/GEDtestingcenterscity.htm GDE Testing Centers by City] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420040212/http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/GEDtestingcenterscity.htm |date=2010-04-20 }}." [[Colorado Department of Education]]. Retrieved on August 15, 2010. "Colorado Women's Correctional Facility
3800 Grandview Ave. | Canon City, CO 81215."</ref>

====Tourism====
From Cañon City's [[Cañon City Downtown Historic District|Downtown Historic District]] located in the heart of the city to the [[Royal Gorge Bridge]], there are many places to see and visit in the area. {{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

==Media==
Cañon City is home to a daily newspaper, called the ''[[Cañon City Daily Record]]''; an FM radio station, [[KSTY|Star Country]] [[104.5 FM]]; and a long-running AM radio station, known as [[KRLN]] NewsRadio [[1400 AM]].

==Transportation==
Transportation in the Cañon City area consists of cab service, shuttle bus service, and a downtown wagon ride. The [[Royal Gorge Bridge]] trolley had also been used during special events (it was destroyed in the [[Royal Gorge Bridge#2013 wildfire|Royal Gorge Fire]], but it was reserved for use by the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. Jeep tours and [[Segway PT|Segway]] tours are also available to explore local parks such as Red Canyon Park or scenic places such as [[Skyline Drive (Colorado)|Skyline Drive]].

The town is served by the Fremont County airport (1V6) which is 6 miles to the East and currently has no scheduled passenger service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airport |url=https://www.fremontco.com/airport/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080418/https://www.fremontco.com/airport/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 13, 2018 }}</ref> Within an hour's drive is the [[Colorado Springs Airport]] with daily service by major airlines.

===Major roads and highways===
The area is served by one state and one U.S. highway with a mix of city and county roads to navigate the city or connect to neighboring areas.

====State and national highways====
*[[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 50]] - named Royal Gorge Boulevard from 1st Street to 15th Street in downtown Cañon
*[[State Highway 115 (Colorado)|State Highway 115]] - connects the city to nearby Florence and [[Penrose, Colorado|Penrose]], ending in [[Colorado Springs]]

====City and county roads====
*4th Street - connecting Downtown with South Cañon, Oak Creek Grade, [[Prospect Heights, Colorado|Prospect Heights]], and Capitol Hill
*5th Street - serves as a north-south connector from Downtown north, allows traffic from Skyline Drive to return to U.S. 50
*9th Street - serves as a carrier of CO 115 from the roundabout to the junction with U.S. 50, heads north and ends at Washington Street
*15th Street - main route north to the hospital, a fire station and a small cluster of businesses
*Orchard Avenue
*Raynolds Avenue/Ash Street - runs from center of East Cañon to CO 115 via a county road, changes to a gravel road and becomes Chandler Road
*MacKenzie / Four Mile Lane - routed to connect from CO 115 as a carrier of CR 20 until the city limits, at Hwy 50, heads north as Four Mile Lane

====Bus service====
*Cañon City is part of Colorado's [[Bustang]] network. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bustang Schedule |url=https://ridebustang.com/schedules/ |website=RideBustang |publisher=CDOT}}</ref>

====Scenic routes====
*[[Skyline Drive (Colorado)|Skyline Drive]], major scenic route overlooking Cañon City that was originally built by local inmates at the Territorial Prison

====Railroads====
*The [[Union Pacific Railroad]] mothballed the [[Tennessee Pass (Colorado)|Tennessee Pass]] line in 1997. In 1998 [[Rock and Rail LLC]] was formed, and began operating on the former Union Pacific track between Cañon City and [[Parkdale, Colorado|Parkdale]]. It also operates between Pueblo and Cañon City on lines purchased from the UP Railway. The tourist line [[Cañon City and Royal Gorge Railroad]] also operates on the RRRR's track.

==Education==
:''See also [[Cañon City School District]]''
Cañon City's school system is under the direction of the [[Cañon City School District]] Fremont RE-1.<ref name=Education>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoncityschools.org|access-date=November 11, 2013|title=Cañon City Schools}}</ref> The district currently has four elementary schools, one charter school, one school serving as both an elementary school and middle school, one middle school and one high school, [[Cañon City High School]].

Cañon City's higher education needs are served by the [[Pueblo Community College]] Fremont Campus, located on the west end of the city along [[U.S. Route 50 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 50]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pueblocc.edu/fremont |title=Fremont Campus {{!}} Pueblo Community College |website=pueblocc.edu}}</ref>

==Places of interest==
===Listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]===
*[[Cañon City Downtown Historic District]]
*[[Cañon City Municipal Building]], also known as the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center
*[[Cañon City Post Office and Federal Building]]
*[[Cañon City State Armory]]

===Other sites===
*[[Colorado State Penitentiary]]
*[[Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility]]
*[[Holy Cross Abbey (Cañon City, Colorado)]]
*[[Museum of Colorado Prisons]]
*[[Peabody Mansion]], home of the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce
*[[Royal Gorge Bridge]] and Park
*[[Royal Gorge Route Railroad]]

===Defunct sites===
*[[Buckskin Joe]], closed in 2010

==Notable people==
*[[Robert Wesley Amick]], artist
*[[Don Bendell]], writer
*[[Jack Christiansen]], NFL hall-of-famer ([[Detroit Lions]])
*[[Donald S. Fredrickson]], medical researcher, former director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] and first president of the [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]]; born in Cañon City
*[[Skip Konte]], musician, "Wizard of all Northern Realms"
*[[Vice Admiral]] [[Emory S. Land]] ([[U.S. Navy]]), born in Cañon City
*[[Bird Millman]], stage name of Jeannadean Engleman, Circus Aerialist, born in Cañon City
*[[James Hamilton Peabody]], former [[Colorado]] governor

==In popular culture==

The movie [[Canon City (film)|''Canon City'']] (1948) depicts the real-life 1947 escape of 12 prisoners from nearby [[Colorado State Penitentiary]].<ref name="IMDB">{{cite book|title=Canon City| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040210/| publisher=IMDb|date=June 30, 1948| access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref>

A diner in Cañon City is the setting of the song "Navajo Rug", which was named by the [[Western Writers of America]] as one of the Top 100 Western Songs of all time.<ref name="Top100">{{Cite web|title=The Top 100 Western Songs |author=Western Writers of America |year=2010 |author-link=Western Writers of America |website=American Cowboy |url=http://www.americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019002745/http://americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs |archive-date=October 19, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

A fictional version of the city is depicted in [[Philip K. Dick]]'s [[alternate history]] novel ''[[The Man in the High Castle]]'' (1963) and [[The Man in the High Castle (TV series)|its eponymous 2015 television series adaptation]]. Cañon City is in an ostensibly-[[Demilitarized zone|demilitarized]] "neutral zone" between the [[puppet state|puppet regimes]] of the Japanese Pacific States, in the west, and Greater Nazi Reich, in the east, in the former United States.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news| last1=Enger| first1=Jeremy| title=Red, Reich and Blue: Building the World of 'The Man in the High Castle'| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/arts/television/the-man-in-the-high-castle-imagines-a-red-reich-and-blue.html?_r=0| work=The New York Times| date=November 19, 2015| access-date=February 23, 2016}}</ref>

==Sister cities== 
{{See also|List of sister cities in Colorado}}
Cañon City's [[sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web|title=Sister Cities: Valdai, Novgorod Oblast, Russia|url=https://museum.canoncity.org/?p=841|website=canoncity.org|publisher=Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center|date=November 21, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Chalchicomula de Sesma Municipality|Chalchicomula de Sesma]], Mexico
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kahoku, Yamagata|Kahoku]], Japan
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Valday, Novgorod Oblast|Valday]], Russia

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
*[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of crossings of the Arkansas River]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[Colorado State Penitentiary]]
*[[Royal Gorge]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links== 
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[http://www.canoncity.org/ City of Cañon City official website]
*[http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/ Cañon City news and information] from the ''[[Cañon City Daily Record]]''
*[http://www.canoncitycolorado.com/ Cañon City & Royal Gorge Visitor Information]
*[http://www.canoncitychamber.com/ Cañon City Chamber of Commerce]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/CANON%20CITY.pdf CDOT map of the City of Cañon City]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Fremont County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canon City, Colorado}}
[[Category:Cañon City, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Fremont County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Colorado populated places on the Arkansas River]]
[[Category:1860 establishments in Kansas Territory]]