KRCC Marks 75 Years Serving Southern Colorado

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | 2:38pm CT

KRCC/Colorado Springs

KRCC is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026, marking three-quarters of a century as a public radio voice for Southern Colorado. The station signed on in 1951 as Colorado's first nonprofit FM station, originally established by Colorado College to support speech and drama education.

Since then, KRCC has evolved into a regional public media service operated by Colorado Public Radio (CPR) in partnership with Colorado College and supported by its members.

Over the decades, KRCC has expanded from a campus station using a World War II surplus transmitter into a network of stations and translators serving communities across Southern Colorado. In 1984, it became Colorado's third NPR member station and today combines local journalism with national and international news programming.

"For 75 years, KRCC has had the privilege of telling the stories of people and places across Southern Colorado," said Andrea Chalfin, Managing Editor of KRCC. "While the station has evolved over the decades, our commitment remains the same: reporting thoughtfully and shining a light on the communities that make this region such a special place to live."

Sean Nethery, Senior Vice President of Content & Planning at Colorado Public Radio, credited the station's supporters for its longevity. "We're grateful to the listeners, members, volunteers, staff and community partners who have made KRCC's first 75 years possible," Nethery said. "We look forward to continuing to serve Southern Colorado for generations to come."

As part of the anniversary celebration, KRCC will host a special open house on July 19 to coincide with the region's annual 719 Day festivities. The station is also offering a limited-edition 75th anniversary tote bag through the CPR online shop. A larger anniversary celebration is planned later this year, with additional details to be announced.