Urban Animations

From 2012 to 2021, John Harner (Professor, Geography and Environmental Studies) worked in the archives of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum to write a book on the historical geography of the city. He developed a historical geographic information system (GIS) database with historical features no longer present in the contemporary landscape, historical maps and georeferenced photos, time stamps on contemporary infrastructure and landscape features, and reconstruction of past housing and census data, among other entries. From that came a series of animations showing change in Colorado Springs through time. Subsequent work with the Pikes Peak Library District led to another animation of urban change around the East Library branch.

These animations are organized in five themes:

  1. Five animated maps on urban growth showing city parcels, city streets, political annexations, water infrastructure, and railroads. These run from 1860, just before the founding of Old Colorado City, to 2010. Each frame is a one-year increment, with date labels changing every five years.
  2. Three animated maps showing population and housing change from 1900 to 2010 for the Census Tracts in the downtown and older surrounding neighborhoods. Each frame is from the decennial census, twelve decades in total.
  3. An animated map showing the patterns of street grids as they were developed according to differing orientations around the older downtown. These are not date-specific, but rather serve to show how contemporary street patterns evolved from earlier settlements.
  4. An animated map showing the development of different routes north to Denver. Again, these are not date-specific but show some of the changing road networks north to the Douglas County line.
  5. The map of change from 1950 to 2020 around the East Library.
Urban Growth Thumbnail

Urban Growth

Animated maps showing city parcels, city streets, political annexations, water infrastructure, and railroads from 1860 to 2010.

Population and Housing Change

Animated maps showing population and housing change from 1900 to 2010.
Street Grids Animation Thumbnail

Street Grids

An animated map showing how contemporary street patterns evolved from earlier settlements.
Denver Roads Thumbnail

Denver Highways

An animated map showing the development of different routes north to Denver.

East Library

The map of change from 1950 to 2020 around the East Library.

For more information on the historical development of the city and its sense of place, see:
Harner, John. 2021. Profiting from the Peak: Landscape and Liberty in Colorado Springs. Louisville, CO: University Press of Colorado https://www.upcolorado.com/university-press-of-colorado/item/4028-profiting-from-the-peak