Poncha Springs, Colorado

How Poncha Springs is governed

Form of government not yet listed.

0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.

• Mayor

  Executive

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  The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.

  • City Manager / Administrator

    Executive

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    The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).

    • Police Chief

      Administration & departments

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      Leads the police department.

    • Fire Chief

      Administration & departments

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      Leads the fire and emergency services department.

    • Public Works Director

      Administration & departments

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      Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.

    • Finance Director

      Administration & departments

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      The budget, taxes, and city accounts.

    • Planning & Zoning Director

      Administration & departments

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      Land use, zoning, building permits.

    • Parks & Recreation Director

      Administration & departments

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      Parks, programs, and public facilities.

• City Council

  Legislative

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  The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.

  • City Clerk

    Administration & departments

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    Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.

  • City Attorney

    Administration & departments

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    The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.

  • Boards & Commissions

    Legislative

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    Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.

• Municipal Court

  Judicial

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  Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.

  • Municipal Judge

    Judicial

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    Presides over the municipal court.

Website

ponchaspringscolorado.us

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Population over time

From 737 in 2010 to 925 in 2020 (+25.5%).

History

In 1779, Juan Bautista de Anza led a military expedition over Poncha Pass, about 6 miles (10 km) south of the present-day town's location. Before that, the Ute people used the area as camping grounds during the winter months. Following the Spanish exploration, French trappers and fur traders moved in. In 1855, Colonel Thomas T. Fauntleroy and the 1st Cavalry Regiment marched over Poncha Pass and engaged a group of Utes between present day Salida and Poncha Springs as part of the Ute Wars.

Prospectors began arriving around 1860, notably Bob Hendricks and Nat Rich, who built the first cabin in town. In 1866, an Indian agent named John Burnett constructed a log building on his ranch to serve as an Indian trading post. The Hutchinson and McPherson families also homesteaded the area around the same time. John McPherson purchased Nat Rich's squatting rights from Joe Hutchinson and built a grocery store. In 1867, Poncha Springs was designated as an election precinct, and it was incorporated on December 8, 1880.

Hot springs

While the European discovery of the Poncha hot springs is widely disputed, the first spring-fed bath was built by John Burnett, Henry Weber, and Paul Irvine in 1868 by digging a large pit and lining it with logs to contain the water. The springs became a popular attraction when a railroad was built through, and two hotels were constructed on the site. Both have since burned down.

In 1904, a year after the last fire, the Holman family took over management of the springs, which now featured a hand-plastered rock pool, two cabins, two baths, and a sleeping room. From 1927 to 1935, the springs were operated by Donald Hartwich until the City of Salida took ownership and the W.P.A. capped the springs with cement.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Other cities in Colorado

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• Colorado Springs 478,961
• Aurora 386,261
• Fort Collins 169,810
• Thornton 141,867
• Arvada 124,402
• Westminster 116,317
• Pueblo 111,876

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