- The circular blue field of Colorado's seal has a heraldic shield. The top part of the shield shows …
The state of Colorado got its name from the Spanish word meaning “red.” Spanish explorers chose this name for the brightly colored Colorado River, and the word later was given to the land as well. Colorado is nicknamed the Centennial State because it joined the Union in 1876 (100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence). It is sometimes called the Highest State because it has an average elevation of 6,800 feet (2,073 meters) above sea level. GeographyColorado covers 104,091 square miles (269,596 square kilometers) in a western part of the United States sometimes called the Mountain region. The state is bordered by Nebraska to the northeast, Wyoming to the north, Utah to the west, New Mexico and Oklahoma to the south, and Kansas to the east. Many people think of the Rocky Mountains when they think of Colorado. These mountains cover about half of the state, stretching from the northwest to the south-central part of Colorado. The highest peak in the state is Mount Elbert at 14,433 feet (4,399 meters). It is also the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains. Eastern Colorado is part of the Great Plains. Much of western Colorado is part of the Colorado Plateau, an area of flat-topped mesas (hills) and steep-walled canyons. Plants and animalsAbout a third of Colorado is forested. Most of the tree-covered land belongs to the federal government as part of the national forest system. The most common trees are ponderosa and lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, and true firs. Wildlife such as deer, antelope, black bears, bighorn sheep, raccoon, muskrat, beavers, and foxes can be found in the mountains. Hunting laws protect game birds such as pheasant, grouse, and quail. Mountain trout are found in the higher streams, while bass and perch live in the warmer waters of lower altitudes. People and cultureIn 2000, Colorado had a population of more than 4 million. The majority of residents were American-born whites. About one-sixth of the people were Hispanic, and African Americans made up less than 4 percent of the total population. There were roughly 45,000 Native Americans in Colorado. Members of the Ute tribe live on two reservations in the southwest. CitiesAbout 80 percent of Colorado's population lives along the eastern edge of the mountains, an area of towns and cities that runs from Fort Collins in the north to Pueblo in the south. Denver, the state's capital and largest city, is in this area. Other major cities within these limits are Boulder, Greeley, and Colorado Springs. Recreation - The ski lodges and slopes of Vail, Colorado, are popular with tourists.
The mountains have helped make Colorado one of the best winter sports areas in the world. There are dozens of ski lodges, including those in the well-known Aspen and Vail resort towns. In the summer, many resorts offer musical and theatrical performances. Summer also brings people outside for hiking, camping, rafting, and water skiing. Colorado has two national parks (Rocky Mountain and Mesa Verde) as well as many national monuments and national recreation areas. Some popular attractions include Pikes Peak (known for its scenic views), the Garden of the Gods (known for its red sandstone formations), and the canyons of the Colorado Plateau. The state's professional sports teams include the Colorado Rockies (baseball), the Colorado Avalanche (ice hockey), the Denver Broncos (football), and the Denver Nuggets (men's basketball). The United States Olympic Committee has its headquarters and a training center in Colorado Springs. EducationTwo of Colorado's largest schools of higher learning are the University of Colorado at Boulder and Colorado State University (in Fort Collins). The Colorado School of Mines (in Golden) is a public school known for training engineers. The federal government operates the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. EconomyMining and the raising of livestock (especially cattle) have been major parts of Colorado's economy since the frontier days. Though these two things are still important, tourism, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and the high-technology industry became valuable by the end of the 20th century. AgricultureThe single largest source of farm income is the raising of cattle. Sheep and pigs (hogs) are among the other livestock raised, and there is a good deal of dairy farming. The main field crops are wheat, hay, and corn. Farmers also grow sugar beets, potatoes, apples, peaches, soybeans, barley, and sorghum. ManufacturingManufacturing is the strongest part of the state's economy. Major industries include food processing, printing and publishing, metal production, lumber and wood products, and military weaponry. Natural resourcesAlthough many people came to Colorado during the 19th century seeking gold and silver, by the 21st century mineral wealth consisted of molybdenum, petroleum, coal, sand, and gravel. The western part of the state contains huge deposits of coal, and great oil resources can be found in the shale of the same area. Other major deposits include natural gas, zinc, vanadium, uranium, copper, and lead. HistoryAmong the earliest civilizations in Colorado were those of the Native Americans known as the Basket Makers and the Cliff Dwellers. They flourished from about 500 BC to AD 1300. Ruins of the homes they built into the sides of cliffs can be seen in Mesa Verde National Park. Spanish and French explorers who visited the area in the 18th century met Plains Indians: Cheyenne, Arapaho, Comanche, and Kiowa. The Ute tribe lived in the mountain region. Colorado in the 19th centuryThe United States bought the plains portion of Colorado in 1803 as part of a land deal with France known as the Louisiana Purchase. Much of the rest of Colorado was taken by the United States following a war with Mexico in the mid-1800s. The Territory of Colorado was established in 1851. Gold rushes after 1859 brought miners, farmers, tradesmen, and other settlers. The busy towns of Central City, Black Hawk, Gold Hill, and Cripple Creek made mining history. The territory became the 38th state in the Union in 1876. Modern stateWorld War II helped to develop the metals industry, especially molybdenum production. The state's population grew steadily throughout the 20th century. Between 1990 and 2000, the population increased by more than 30 percent. Population (2000 census), 4,301,261. |