Idaho Springs is a statutory city in Clear Creek County, Colorado, set in Clear Creek Canyon about 30 miles west of Denver, where Chicago Creek empties into Clear Creek. It is the most populous municipality in the county, though the county seat remains in nearby Georgetown for historical reasons. The 2020 census counted roughly 1,800 residents. The town's story begins in January 1859, when prospector George A. Jackson discovered placer gold at the creek confluence — the first substantial gold discovery in Colorado and an early event of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Jackson had been drawn to the site by steam rising from nearby hot springs, and the settlement grew through a series of names before becoming Idaho Springs. Hard-rock mining followed, and the town sat at the center of the region's mining district through the late nineteenth century, with the Argo Tunnel draining and opening many ore lodes between the town and Central City. Today the city lines the north side of Interstate 70, with a historic downtown in its central portion, a strip of visitor-oriented businesses on its eastern end, and residences to the west. The climate is classic high-country continental, with heavy average snowfall of about 72 inches a year. Idaho Springs blends a preserved mining heritage with a mountain-tourism economy, drawing visitors for its hot springs, mine tours, and canyon setting while also serving as a bedroom community for workers at the Loveland Ski Area farther up the canyon. Idaho Springs suits people who want a compact, walkable mountain town with deep history and direct access to both Denver and the high country. Its hot springs, mine tours, whitewater park, and proximity to Mount Blue Sky and the ski areas make it a year-round base on the I-70 corridor.