Introduction - Colorado
Known for its world-class skiing, plentiful natural resources, and the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is a U.S. state in the western region of the country. Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and New Mexico all border Colorado. What makes this state unlike any other is its elevation above sea level; it has the highest average elevation of any of the 50 U.S. states. If you look at Colorado's southwest corner, you'll see it is also the only place in the U.S. where the corner of four different states meet. There are many interesting facts about this state listed below, including how many people ascend Pikes Peak each year, when Colorado became a state, and who was inspired to write one of America's most famous songs after seeing Pike's Peak. The information is listed in a format that is easy to read for both kids and adults.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about Colorado.
Colorado Quick Facts
- Colorado was the 38th state to join the union.
- Colorado officially became a state on August 1, 1876.
- The state capital of Colorado is Denver, which is also the largest city in Colorado.
- With 104,100 square miles (269,618 square km), Colorado is the 8th biggest state in the U.S.
- The population of Colorado is 5,268,367 (source 2013 United States Census Bureau estimate) making it the 22nd most populous state.
- The state flower of Colorado is the Aquilegia caerulea.
- Colorado is nicknamed the Centennial State and Colorful Colorado.
- Residents of Colorado are called Coloradans.
- There are several major bodies of water in Colorado which include rivers such as the Colorado River, Arkansas River, Rio Grande and the South Platte River as well as lakes and reservoirs such as Grand Lake, John Martin Reservoir and Blue Mesa Reservoir.
- The Colorado state song is called Where the Columbines Grow.
Colorado Interesting Facts
- In Spanish, the word Colorado means "colored red".
- With its numerous peaks and valleys, Colorado is referred to as the Switzerland of America.
- In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates wrote the beginning of what would become the well-known song, America the Beautiful after being inspired from the view of Pike's Peak. Her final version was finished in 1913.
- Delivering three and a half million gallons of water every day, Glenwood Springs, Co is home to the world's largest outdoor mineral pool.
- Until 2001, the Royal George Bridge in Canyon City, Colorado was the highest suspension bridge in the entire world. Suspended by towers that are 150 feet (46 m) high, it is still the highest suspension bridge in the United States.
- More than 400,000 people ascend Pikes Peak, America's most famous mountain, each year.
Colorado Historical Facts
- Central City, Colorado dates back to 1859 when it became a mining town that exploded with people in search of fortunes after a man named John H. Gregory discovered gold there during Pike's Peak Gold Rush. The small town became known as the "Richest Square Mile on Earth".
- In 1806, Zebulon Montgomery Pike, whom Pike's Peak is named after, was sent by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the southern portion of the Louisiana Territory. An account of his adventures was published in 1810 and drew a lot of attention to that area of the country.
- Mesa Verde, which lies in southwestern Colorado, is a national park and world heritage site that focuses on preserving the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived there from as early back as A.D. 600. Hundreds of cliff dwellings and thousands of archeological sites such as Pueblo villages are well-preserved there.