Is it Canon City or Canyon City CO?

I've been blogging on Active Rain since 2006 and it has never, ever occured to me to answer the question I get asked often.

"How you you pronounce the name Canon City?" The name of the Fremont County seat and largest city is Canon City. Pronounce it "Canyon"  Population between 16,000 - 17,000. There is some debate why the name is spelled the way it is. Is Can~on City written with a Spanish influence or was it a misspelling? Since nobody was there video taping the history of the town we will probably never really know. So the answer is subject to whom you ask. 

Locals, natives and those of us that are simi-native simply say "Canon" and delete the "City" part of the name. 

Fremont County also has a "Florence" a small town of almost 4000 people. Approx 8 miles from Canon City. Known as "The antique Capital of Colorado" There are approx 34 towns in the U.S.A. named Florence. This particular Florence sits on the Upper Arkansas River.

And Penrose Colorado approx  3500 people was named after Spencer Penrose. Localed approx 11 miles East of Canon City. Primarily know for it's apples and rocket factory.

Since Fremont County is relatively small when locals say they live in "Canon" they could might live in Florence, Penrose or a few other very small town such as Rockvale, Williamsburg and Coal Creek. 

Confused yet? :)