How Conservative is Conservative? (Denver, Colorado Springs: how much, houses, buy)

[JayNetty]

Hello all!

My fiance and I are considering making the move from Oklahoma City to either Colorado Springs or Denver. I have read many postings regarding perceived differences between the two places, and they have been very helpful. I do have a few questions I would like answered though. Someone mentioned that Colorado Springs is much more conservative than Denver. How much more conservative? For instance, (and these are just a few things synonymous with conservatism in my opinion) what time do night clubs close in COS or Denver? In OKC they close at 2am. Also, in Oklahoma, you cannot buy cold beer that is greater than 3.2% alcohol. Lastly, there are restrictions regarding types of pornography in Oklahoma. Like I said, these are definitely not sticking points that will prevent me from or encourage me to move, but I am just curious as to whether or not COS or Denver have any types of laws similar to the Oklahoma laws I just mentioned. My fiance and I were really looking forward to moving somewhere more progressive and less conservative than Oklahoma.
Thanks!
Jeanette

[Terytee]

I think the best thing to do is to see if you can come out and perhaps try them both out. They're both very different places.

Denver is a huge metropolitan city, so just like any other major city, it is more diverse because the population is proportionately bigger. For instance, I'm half Asian, and there are many more Asian people living and working in Denver and there are more Asian grocers and restaurants there than in the Springs. I've managed to survive.

As for the Colorado Springs conservative label, I think it tends to stem from it being home to several very large evangelical churches. The World Church and Focus on the Family are headquartered here and I think there are a lot of churches here in town. I don't think that it's a bad thing. I've been here for just under a year and I haven't been attacked by any church goers. :-)

I also think it comes from a large military presence here. So I think politically and perhaps socially, Colorado Springs is labeled as more conservative.

As for the night clubs here, I have no idea what time they close. I hate clubs.

As for the beer; you can only buy the 3.2% beer in the grocery stores, however, you can get every manner of 5% and higher beer at liquor stores and those are everywhere! There seems to be a liquor store on ever corner. They are closed on Sundays, (state wide), but no big deal... you get your beer on Friday after work or anytime on Saturday for the game on Sunday.

By the way, Colorado is the microbrew capital of the USA. Colorado knows good beer. There are more microbrews here than anywhere and I can tell you, I can't even drink grocery store beer anymore.....Colorado has made me a beer snob.

Tattooing is legal here and I don't know if that's changed in OKlahoma, but I thought it was illegal there. There are no helmet laws for motor cyclists.

As for the porn question........I'm no expert, (ahem), but I can tell you that whether good or bad, there are a few adult video stores in town that you can plainly see from some of the major streets and there seems to be no shortage of asian massage joints, so it's a conservative town with a dark side?? I dunno....but I can tell you Denver probably has more of everything.....to include rush hour traffic!!!

Spend a few days in each and get the feel for them.

[COflower]

but I am just curious as to whether or not COS or Denver have any types of laws similar to the Oklahoma laws I just mentioned

Colorado state laws prevent any bar to stay open later than 2 am here. In both C Springs and Denver - the bars stay open as late as they can and all (I think) have a cut-off at 1:00 am for alcohol.

We (Springs and Denver) again are regulated by state law in regards to our alcohol purchases. All, but 3.2% alcohol, are purchased at state licensed liquor stores and can't be sold on Sundays (blue laws as they are called). We can, however, buy 3.2% in licensed grocery and convenience stores between 8:00 am (I think) and midnight 7 days a week. Also, you can buy wine and liquor and beer at bars and restaurants during those same hours 7 days a week as well.

As for porn/adult stores, we have them as well as ***ty bars in C Springs as well as other cities and towns around the state.

When people talk about the conservative nature of C Springs, it's mostly in the area of political rather than social. As Colorado Springs grows, it is becoming a little less conservative by the day.

With that said, Denver is a lot more along the middle ground politically speaking. Hehe, it's sandwiched between the the very far left nature of Boulder and the very far right of C Springs so it makes some sense in that regard.

From what I know of OK and the area, C Springs is less conservative in most all ways. While C Springs has a lot of religious based organizations and such, we aren't in the Bible belt that OK falls into. Still spirited (although less as time goes on) by the "Wild West" attitude of what is my business isn't your business, C Springs and Colorado in general have a pretty laid back attitude.

For a young couple still wanting a great nightlife (or singles) Denver is a good place to be. That's not to say that C Springs doesn't have its nightlife, but it is a little more subdued.

For couples seeking to raise children, C Springs is a great town for families. Again, that's not to say that Denver Metro isn't a good place to raise a family either.

It is mostly the political nature that separates C Springs and Denver not to mention the amount of people in the Denver Metro area which, IIRC, houses approximately 1/2 of the state's population. I would have to go to the main city-data site to see what they are reporting though.

I have lived in both (most of my life in C Springs though) cities and as a non-religious Libertarian, the cities aren't all that much different really, for me anyhow. Denver attracts long-term residents from all walks of life and with C Springs being a large military town, we do to but more on a short term basis. Although, I do know a lot of military that have retired from their stint and stayed here.

Hope that answers some of your questions. Anymore, fire away!

[rainbunnyblue]

Let's see... I've lived her for several years, and I find Colorado Springs sorta-conservative in an funny, odd way. We live here over Denver because of the opportunities, job-wise, and because we love living so close to the mountains and the scenery.
I'm tattooed and pierced and don't have a problem day to day - people are very nice here; on 2 occasions, I have had strange comments - only twice, though and nothing aggressive or nasty. For the most part, people are accepting and friendly.
There's an annual Pridefest, and some very artistic areas (Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City) which I see as more liberal, as well as some conservative aspects (Focus on the Family, etc).
I have some very conservative neighbors, but they are sweet and kind and I would consider them friends even though we are politically different.
I don't go to many nightclubs anymore but iirc, they close at 2:00 AM. There are all kinds of clubs.
You can buy 3.2 beer in the grocery store, and every other type of beer you could possibly imagine in liquor stores or restaurants. I can count 3 local small breweries offhand.
I like the outside art downtown, all of the galleries and theaters, and the festivals throughout the year in the area.
As to porn: I have a neighbor who works in an "adult" store, so I know they are here and there seem to be several, so that doesn't seem to be an issue. I have never seen it mentioned one way or the other in the papers, so I assume it isn't much of an issue. I know there are strip clubs here, too, but I've never been.
There are great restaurants, great bookstores, a cool zoo, museums, and parks. There are people from all over due to the bases here, and that is great. If you want ethnic groceries or a great place or two for sushi, you can find it easily. There are at least 3 colleges (UCCS, Colorado College, and Pikes Peak Community College), in addition to technical schools.
The people are overwhelmingly nice, and Colorado Springs is closer in to the mountains than Denver. Houses cost less, and after 7 or so years, I have just scratched the surface as far as local attractions.
If you choose Colorado Springs, you would be close to Cripple Creek if you gamble, Buena Vista (hot springs - near South Park), Pikes Peak, and Manitou Springs (look it up) is adjacent to ColoSpgs. We're close to white water runs nearby, and with the Olympic Training Center, there are more sports opportunities than you could count.
Do a search for Garden of the Gods Park - that is in the middle of town & has places to climb, bike, ride horses, and hike.
The weather is a bit better than Denver, usually a bit cooler and not as snowy in the winter.
I like the indie bookstores, indie coffee shops, all of the stuff around Colorado College, the indie movie place downtown, and so on.
And the best part is that if you want to go to Denver, it is an hour away by interstate.
Hope this helps, and either way, welcome to Colorado!

[JayNetty]

Thanks so much for the replies!

As I was reading through them, I realized that it probably seems as though my criteria for moving had to do with alcohol, porn, and night clubs. Haha! Thats definitely not the case, but thanks for the non-judgemental replies!

It seems like both CO Springs and Denver get positive reviews from people who live there. Thats really good to hear. I can handle conservitism if it doesn't infringe on others, as it does here in Oklahoma. It kind of gets put into perspective when you remind me that Oklahoma is indeed in the bible belt. I am really encouraged by the idea of indie theatres and coffee shops. I am a huge sushi fan, so hearing that sushi is within reach is a plus also. What about other types of theatre? I love ballet and musicals also...I wonder how accessible theatre is in Colorado Springs and Denver. In Oklahoma, if you dont like to hunt or fish, listen to country music/go to country bars, go to a rodeo, or eat Bar-b-que, there really isn't much to do! There isnt a large emphasis on education either. The majority of people ages 18-24 have families already, so there isn't a large market for career-minded active adults. I don't intend on making this a complaint session, so I'll stop!

Thanks again for the information! We are planning a trip to both Colorado Springs and Denver and couldn't be more excited!

Jeanette

[COflower]

Denver is a great place for cultural activities. Although, C Springs has it's own as well. I went with my father, brother and sis-in-law to see "The Producers" at the Pikes Peak Center. I have seen Sting (the greatest singer - well for me anyway) at the World Arena, Sam Kinison (sp - the raunchy comedian that has since passed), George Carlin, George Winston (the piano player) and other acts here in C Springs.

As a fan of football, I end up in Denver (which is a short drive) to go see my Broncos at least once a year.

Anyhow, with Denver as a short drive, C Springs is a nice place to live. My older brother and his wife go up to Denver on a regular basis to see musicals and plays that don't end up down here. However, with C Springs growing, they don't do it as often. Heck, even the Air Force Academy has gotten in the "act" if you will, and has their own concert and Broadway play series.

One of the nice things about C Springs is that it's close to Pueblo too which sports the State Fair grounds and they have concerts every so often not to mention the Frijoles and Chile festival (yep, going this year, by golly for some fresh roasted chiles) as well as a Friday Jazz concert series in February, if memory serves me correctly.

I plan on moving from C Springs to either Cañon City or back to Grand Junction but C Springs and Denver are very fun cities to live in. As a 20something, I loved Denver but as an almost 40 (hey - have another year) something, C Springs is a nice pace.

Remember that C Springs isn't the stiffeling (sp) place that many make it out to be. I do have friends here that are not exactly what J. Dobson has in his minions...I have friends here that are divorced, gay/lesbian, drinkers, non-drinkers, Christian, non-christian, pagans, goth, anti-goth....

[echo98]

conservative means not bike friendly, no public transit, poorly kept parks, tons of sprawl, and people keep to themself

[knrstz]

Although I don't currently live in Colorado, I'm from OKC. I think either area will compare fine compared to OKC. Denver being the least conservative.