First
visited by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, the territory was claimed for Spain
by Juan de Ulibarri in 1706. The U.S. obtained eastern Colorado as part of the
Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the central portion in 1845 with the admission of
Texas as a state, and the western part in 1848 as a result of the Mexican War.
Colorado
has the highest mean elevation of any state, with more than 1,000 Rocky Mountain
peaks over 10,000 ft high and 54 towering above 14,000 ft. Pikes Peak, the most
famous of these mountains, was discovered by U.S. Army lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike
in 1806.
Once
primarily a mining and agricultural state, Colorado's economy is now driven by
the service industries, including medical providers and other business and professional
services. Colorado's economy also has a strong manufacturing base. The primary
manufactures are food products, printing and publishing, machinery, and electrical
instruments. The state is also a communications and transportation hub for the
Rocky Mountain region.
The
farm industry, which is primarily concentrated in livestock, is also an important
element of the state's economy. The primary crops in Colorado are corn, hay, and
wheat.
Breathtaking
scenery and world-class skiing make Colorado a prime tourist destination. The
main tourist attractions in the state include Rocky Mountain National Park, Curecanti
National Recreation Area, Mesa Verde National Park, the Great Sand Dunes and Dinosaur
National Monuments, Colorado National Monument, and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
National Monument.
Coming!
See
more on Colorado: Encyclopedia: Colorado Encyclopedia: Geography Encyclopedia:
Economy Encyclopedia: Government Encyclopedia: History Monthly Temperature
Extremes
Accredited
Colleges and Universities
Selected
famous natives and residents:
Tim Allen actor and comedian; William
E. Barrett writer; William Bent fur trader and pioneer; Charles F. Brannan
lawyer and public official; M. Scott Carpenter astronaut; Lon Chaney actor;
Mary Coyle Chase playwright; Jack Dempsey boxer; Ralph Edwards entertainer;
John Evans physician, educator; Douglas Fairbanks actor; John Thomas
Fante writer; Eugene Fodor violinist; Gene Fowler writer; Erick Hawkins
choreographer; Helen Hunt Jackson novelist and Indian rights activist; Homer
Lea soldier, writer; Ted Mack TV host; Jaye P. Morgan singer; Peg
Murray actress; Ouray Ute Indian chief; Anne Parrish writer; Barbara
Rush actress; Horace A. Tabor silver king and lieut. governor; Lowell
Thomas commentator and author; Dalton Trumbo screenwriter, novelist; Amy
Van Dyken athlete; Byron R. White jurist; Paul Whiteman conductor; Don
Wilson announcer.
Capital:
Denver
State
abbreviation/Postal code: Colo./CO
Governor:
Bill Owens, R (to Jan. 2007)
Lieut.
Governor: Jane Norton, R (to Jan. 2007)
Senators:
Wayne A. Allard, R (to Jan. 2009); Ken Salazar, D (to Jan. 2011)
U.S.
Representatives: 7
Secy.
of State:
Donetta Davidson, R (to Jan. 2007)
Treasurer:
Mike Coffman, R (to Jan. 2007)
Atty.
General: John W. Suthers, R (to Jan. 2007)
Organized
as territory: Feb. 28, 1861
Entered
Union (rank): Aug. 1, 1876 (38)
Present
constitution adopted: 1876
Motto:
Nil sine Numine (Nothing without Providence)
State
symbols: flower Rocky Mountain columbine (1899) tree Colorado blue spruce
(1939) bird lark bunting (1931) animal Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (1961)
gemstone aquamarine (1971) colors blue and white (1911) song “Where
the Columbines Grow” (1915) fossil stegosaurus (1991)
Nickname:
Centennial State
Origin
of name: From the Spanish, “ruddy” or “red”
10
largest cities (2003 est.): Denver, 557,478; Colorado Springs, 370,448; Aurora,
290,418; Lakewood, 142,474; Fort Collins, 125,740; Pueblo, 103,648; Westminster,
103,391; Arvada, 101,972; Centennial, 98,586; Thornton, 96,584
Land
area: 103,717 sq mi. (268,627 sq km)
Geographic
center: In Park Co., 30 mi. NW of Pikes Peak
Number
of counties: 64
Largest
county by population and area: Denver, 556,835 (2004); Las Animas, 4,773 sq
mi.
State
forests: 1 (71,000 ac.)
State
parks: 44 (160,000 ac.)
Residents:
Coloradan, Coloradoan
2004
resident population est.: 4,601,403
2000
resident census population(rank): 4,301,261 (24). Male: 2,165,983
(50.4%); Female: 2,135,278 (49.6%). White: 3,560,005 (82.8%); Black: 165,063 (3.8%);
American Indian: 44,241 (1.0%); Asian: 95,213 (2.2%); Other race: 309,931 (7.2%);
Two or more races: 122,187 (2.8%); Hispanic/Latino: 735,601 (17.1%). 2000 percent
population 18 and over: 74.4; 65 and over: 9.7; median age: 34.3.
