El Paso County lies in east central Colorado and encompasses more than 2,158 square miles. While the western portion of El Paso County is extremely mountainous, the eastern part is prairie land. The altitude ranges from about 5,095 feet (1569 m) on the southern border at Black Squirrel Creek to 14,110 feet (4301 m) on the summit of Pikes Peak, near the western boundary. The county seat is located in Colorado Springs. El Paso County Government continually strives to provide high-quality services at a reasonable cost. This has allowed us to maintain the lowest tax rate of any Front Range County in the State of Colorado while providing desired services for our residents. We have been able to accomplish these goals by planning and thinking strategically.