In 1954 the post designation was upgraded from Camp to Fort and again hosted a Division. However, at the end of the Korean War, the Army consolidated facilities. Drawdown expanded, and the facility nearly closed as the number of troops dwindled to 600 in 1946. The fate of Camp Carson looked bleak after the war. Maximum troop numbers reached 43,000 in 1943, and all told, 104,165 men trained at Camp Carson during World War II. The first sections were turned over to the 89th Infantry Division on June 2, 1942. At the time, the project was called the greatest boom period in history for the city. Such a monumental undertaking in the region was unprecedented. The camp would be named in honor of frontiersman Brigadier General Christopher “Kit” Carson. This investment was about the same as the total assessed property value for the existing city and would nearly double the local population. The magnitude of the Army’s decision was grandiose and audacious: a $30 million contract to house 30,000 soldiers, to be built within 6 months. Army announced on January 6, 1942, that they would establish an Army training camp just south of the city. Land incentives and the efforts of the boosters were successful-the U.S. A tightly-knit campaign from a determined group of city businessmen promoted Colorado Springs to politicians and military brass for a new military installation. World War II brought a rapid increase in industrial production of war machinery and the inscription and training of troops.
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