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State of Colorado
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Flag Of Colorado
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Map_of_USA_COsvg
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The Centennial State
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Nil Sine Numine
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Denver
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English
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Coloradoan
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Denver
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Denver-Aurora Metro Area
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Bill Ritter (D)
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Wayne Allard (R)<br/> Ken Salazar (D)
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CO
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Colo
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8<sup>th</sup>
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269,837
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104,185
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268,879
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103,815
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962
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371
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036%
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22<sup>nd</sup>
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4,301,261
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37<sup>th</sup>
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1601
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415
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$51,022
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10<sup>th</sup>
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38<sup>th</sup>
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August 1 , 1876
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-7/ DST -6
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37°N to 41°N
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102°03'W to 109°03'W
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451
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280
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612
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380
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Mount Elbert 12
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4401
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14,440
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2073
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6,800
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Arikaree River
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1010
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US-CO
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The (/) is a
State located in the
Rocky Mountain Region of the
United States Of America . Colorado may also be considered to be a part of the
Western ,
Southwestern , and
Central Regions Of The United States . The
United States Census Bureau estimates that the state population was 4,753,377 in 2006, a 10.49% increase since
U.S. Census 2000 .
3 Denver is the
Capital as well as the
Most Populous City of Colorado. Citizens of Colorado are known as
Coloradans .
See Also: Geography of Colorado
The State of Colorado is defined as the geospherical rectangle that stretches from
37°N to
41°N latitude and from
102°03'W to
109°03'W longitude (
25°W to
32°W from the
Washington Meridian ).
4 Colorado is one of only three
U.S. State s (with
Wyoming and
Utah ) that have only lines of
Latitude and
Longitude for boundaries.
The summit of
Mount Elbert at 4401 meters (14,440 feet) elevation in
Lake County is the state's highest point and the highest point in the entire
Rocky Mountains . Colorado has approximately 550 mountain peaks that exceed 4000 meters (13,123 feet) elevation. Colorado is the only U.S. state that lies entirely above 1000 meters (3281 feet) elevation. The state's lowest elevation is 1010 meters (3315 feet) at the point on the eastern boundary of
Yuma County where the
Arikaree River flows into the
State Of Kansas .
East of the
Southern Rocky Mountains are the
Colorado Eastern Plains of the
High Plains , the section of the
Great Plains within Colorado at elevations ranging from 3315 to 6562 feet (1010 to 2000 meters). The states of
Kansas and
Nebraska border Colorado to the east. The plains are sparsely settled with most population along the
South Platte and the
Arkansas rivers. Precipitation is meager, averaging from 12 to 18 inches (300 to 450 millimeters) annually. There is some irrigated farming, but much of the land is used for
Dryland Farming or
Ranching .
Winter Wheat is a typical crop and most small towns in the region boast both a
Water Tower and a
Grain Elevator .
The bulk of Colorado's population lives along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in the
Front Range Urban Corridor . This region is partially protected from prevailing storms by the high mountains to the west.
To the west lies the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains with notable peaks such as
Longs Peak ,
Mount Evans ,
Pikes Peak , and the
Spanish Peaks near
Walsenburg in the south. This area drains to the east, is forested, and partially urbanized.
During the drought of 2002 devastating
Forest Fire s swept this area.
The
Continental Divide stretches across the crest of the Rocky Mountains. To the west of the Continental Divide is the
Western Slope . Water west of the Continental Divide drains west into the
Pacific Ocean via the
Colorado River .
Within the interior of the Rocky Mountains are several large parks or high broad basins. In the north, on the east side of the Continental Divide is
North Park . North Park is drained by the
North Platte River , which flows north into
Wyoming . Just south but on the west side of the Continental Divide is
Middle Park , drained by the Colorado River.
South Park is the
Headwater s of the South Platte River. To the south lies the
San Luis Valley , the headwaters of the
Rio Grande , which drains into
New Mexico . Across the
Sangre De Cristo Range to the east of the San Luis Valley lies the
Wet Mountain Valley . These basins, particularly the San Luis Valley, lie along the
Rio Grande Rift , a major
Geological Formation , and its branches.
The Rocky Mountains within Colorado contain 54 peaks that are 14,000 feet (4270 m) or higher, known as
Fourteener s. The mountains are timbered with
Conifer s and
Aspen to the
Tree Line , at an elevation of about 12,000 feet (4,000 m) in southern Colorado to about 10,500 feet (3,200 m) in northern Colorado; above this only alpine vegetation grows. The Rockies are snow-covered only in the winter; most snow melts by mid-August with the exception of a few small glaciers. The
Colorado Mineral Belt , stretching from the
San Juan Mountains in the southwest to
Boulder and
Central City on the front range, contains most of the historic gold- and silver-mining districts of Colorado.
relief map of Colorado — nearly half of the state is flat, despite stereotypes]]The Western Slope is generally drained by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Notable to the south are the
San Juan Mountains , an extremely rugged mountain range, and to the west of the San Juans, the
Colorado Plateau , a high desert bordering Southern
Utah .
Grand Junction is the largest city on the
Western Slope .
Grand Junction is served by Interstate Highway I-70. To the southeast of Grand Junction is
Grand Mesa , the worlds largest flat-topped mountain. Further east are the
Ski Resort s of
Aspen ,
Vail ,
Crested Butte , and
Steamboat Springs . The northwestern corner of Colorado bordering Northern Utah and Western Wyoming is mostly sparsely populated rangeland.
From west to east, the state consists of desert-like basins, turning into plateaus, then alpine mountains, and then the grasslands of the Great Plains. The famous
Pikes Peak is just west of
Colorado Springs . Its lone peak is visible from near the
Kansas border on clear days.
Colorado is also one of only four states in the
United States to share a common border (
Four Corners ), along with
Arizona ,
New Mexico and
Utah . At this intersection, it is possible to stand in four states at once.
See Also: Colorado cities and towns
Colorado counties
Colorado municipalities
Colorado rivers
Territorial evolution of Colorado
Four Corners Monument
) on Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.]]
The climate of Colorado is best described as being cool and dry compared to the rest of the United States. While that is generally true throughout most of the state, the climate of Colorado is very complex. The typical south-north/cooler-warmer variation in other states is generally not applicable at all in Colorado. The location of mountain ranges and surrounding valleys affect local climate greatly. As a general rule, with an increase in elevation come a decrease in temperature and an increase in precipitation. A main climatic division in Colorado occurs where the Rocky Mountains begin with the Front Range cities and the plains to the east, the mountains and valleys to the west, and the foothills as a transitional zone in between the two.
The climate of the Eastern Plains is a . The average July temperature is 57 degrees in the morning and 87 degrees
in the afternoon.The average January temperature is 15 degrees in the morning and 43 degrees in
the afternoon,although temperatures can be 60 one day and 0 the next.
West of the plains and foothills, the weather of Colorado is much less uniform. Even places a few miles (kilometers) apart can experience entirely different weather, depending on the topography of the area. Most valleys also have a semi-arid climate, which becomes an alpine climate at higher elevations. Generally, the wettest season is in the winter in Western Colorado while June is the driest month, which is the opposite of the precipitation patterns in the east. The mountains have cool summers with many days of high temperatures around 60 °F (16 °C) and 70 °F (21 °C), although frequent thunderstorms can cause a sudden drop in temperatures. Summer nights are cool, and cold at the highest altitudes which can sometimes bring snow even in the middle of the summer. The winters bring abundant, powdery snowfall to the mountains which the skiers love, although even in the winter, there can be many days with abundant sunshine in between major storms. The Western Slope has high summer temperatures similar to those found on the plains while the winters tend to be slightly cooler due to the lack of any warming winds which are common in the plains and Front Range. Other areas in the west have their own unique weather. The
San Luis Valley is generally dry with little rain or snow, although the snow that falls tends to stay on the ground all winter.
.]]
]].
Extreme weather is a common occurrence in Colorado. Thunderstorms are common east of the Continental divide in the spring and summer, and Colorado is one of leading states in deaths due to
Lightning . Hail is a common sight in the mountains east of the divide and in the northwest part of the state. While not as common as some of the states to the east, much of the Eastern Plains are prone to tornadoes, and there have been some damaging tornadoes there. An example is the
1990 Limon F3 tornado which devastated the city. Floods are also a factor in the plains, not just from the thunderstorms, but also due to heavy snow in the mountains followed by a warm, dry period which swells rivers with melted snow.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Colorado was 118 °F (48 °C) on
July 11 ,
1888 , at
Bennett , while the lowest was -61 °F (-52 °C) on
February 01 ,
1985 , at
Maybell .
56
See Also: History of Colorado
See Also: Territorial evolution of Colorado
The region that is today the State of Colorado has been inhabited by
Native Peoples for more than 13 millennia.The oldest known
Archaeological Site in Colorado is the
Lindenmeier Site located in north central Colorado. The Lindenmeier Site contains
Artifact s dating from approximately 11200 BCE. The region was acquired by the
United States with the
Louisiana Purchase from
France in
1803 and the
Mexican Cession in
1848 . The region was divided among the
Territory Of New Mexico organized in
1850 , the
Territory Of Utah organized in
1850 , the
Territory Of Kansas organized in
1854 , and the
Territory Of Nebraska organized in
1854 .
Hispanic Settlers from
Taos, New Mexico , settled
San Luis (then in the
Territory Of New Mexico , but now Colorado's first
European settlement) on
1851-04-09 .
Gold was discovered along the
South Platte River in western
Kansas Territory in July of
1858 , precipitating the
Pike's Peak Gold Rush .
8 The Provisional Government of the
Territory Of Jefferson was organized on
1859-10-24 , but failed to secure federal sanction. The election of
Abraham Lincoln on
1860-11-06 , led to the secession of six
Slave States and the approach of
Civil War . The
Republican led
U.S. Congress admitted the eastern portion of the
Territory Of Kansas to the
Union as the
Free State Of Kansas on
1861-01-29 , leaving the western portion of the territory (and its gold fields) unorganized.
Thirty days later on
1861-02-28 , outgoing
U.S. President James Buchanan signed an act of Congress organizing the
Free Territory Of Colorado .
9 (The boundaries of the new territory were the same as the State of Colorado today.) The name Colorado was chosen because it was commonly believed that the
Colorado River originated in the territory. Early
Spanish explorers had named the river the
Rio Colorado for the reddish-brown silt it carried from the mountains.
10 (In fact, the Colorado River did not flow through Colorado until House Joint Resolution 460 of the
66th United States Congress changed the name of the
Grand River to the
Colorado River on
1921-07-25 .)
11
On
1876-08-01 (28 days after
Centennial Of The United States ),
U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation admitting the State of Colorado to the
Union as the
38th State and earning it the moniker the "
Centennial State ". Colorado women were granted the
Right To Vote beginning on
1893-11-07 .
Three different ships have been named
USS Colorado in honor of the state.
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The state's largest city, and capital, is
Denver . The
Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area , home to 2,927,911 people, contains more than two-thirds of the state's population. Residents of Colorado are referred to as ''Coloradans'', although ''Coloradoans'' is sometimes used as an alternative, primarily by outsiders.
12 ''Coloradan'' refers to Colorado resident, ''Coloradoan'' is a newspaper in Ft. Collins.
13
As of 2005, Colorado has an estimated population of 4,665,177, which is an increase of 63,356, or 1.4%, from the prior year and an increase of 363,162, or 8.4%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 205,321 people (that is 353,091 births minus 147,770 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 159,957 people into the state.
Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 112,217 people, and
Migration within the country produced a net increase of 47,740 people.
According to estimates made in 2004, Colorado's population will increase to 7,150,000 by , especially in the
Denver Metropolitan Area .
As of 2004, 441,000 foreign-born persons (9.7% of the population) live in the state, including an estimated 144,000
Illegal Immigrants (3.1% of the state population).
The
Center Of Population of Colorado is located just north of the town of Critchell in
Jefferson County [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&formtype=address&latlongtype=decimal&latitude=39.500656&longitude=-105.203628 .
Colorado has one of the highest proportions of
Hispanic residents of any U.S. state; only five states have a higher percentage. Denver and some other areas have significant
Mexican populations, while southern Colorado has a large number of Hispanos, the descendants of early New Mexican settlers of colonial
Spanish origin. The
2000 U.S. Census reports that 10.52% of people aged 5 and over in Colorado speak
Spanish at home
{Link without Title} .
According to the 2000 Census, the largest ancestry groups in Colorado are
German (22%),
Irish (12.2%), and
English (12%). Persons reporting
German Ancestry are the largest group in the state and are especially strong in the Front Range and eastern Plains. People of
British extraction are the largest group in the western Rocky Mountains.
Colorado, specifically the city of
Colorado Springs , serves as the headquarters of numerous Christian groups, most of them
Protestant .
Focus On The Family is a major conservative Christian organization headquartered in the state.
Catholicism is popular among many Coloradans, and is becoming more so with the influx of Latino
Immigrants . Colorado is similar to other Western states, as it has a high percentage of religiously unaffiliated residents. The Denver area, meanwhile, is home to a large
Jewish population, and
Boulder and
Crestone feature some of the highest concentrations of
Tibetan Buddhists in North America.
According to the American Religious Identification Survey, conducted in 2001 by The Graduate Center at the
City University Of New York , Colorado's population is distributed among the following religious groups:
14
The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that the total state product in 2003 was $187 billion. Per capita personal income in 2003 was $34,561, putting Colorado eighth in the nation. To see a 2004 per capita personal income comparison table on a state basis [http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrel/spi_highlights.pdf]. The state's economy broadened from its mid-19th century roots in mining when irrigated agriculture developed, and by the late 19th century, raising livestock had become important. Early industry was based on the extraction and processing of minerals and agricultural products. Current agricultural products are
Cattle ,
Wheat ,
Dairy Product s,
Corn , and
Hay .
The
Federal Government is also a major economic force in the state with many important federal facilities including
NORAD and the
United States Air Force Academy in
Colorado Springs ;
NOAA and the
National Institute Of Standards And Technology in
Boulder ;
U.S. Geological Survey and other government agencies at the Denver Federal Center in
Lakewood ; the
Denver Mint and
10th Circuit Court Of Appeals in Denver; and a federal
Supermax Prison and other federal
Prisons near
Cañon City . In addition to these and other
Federal Agencies , Colorado has abundant
National Forest land and four
National Parks that contribute to federal ownership of 24,615,788 acres of land in Colorado, or 37% of the total area of the state.
15 Colorado Department of Agriculture: Land Ownership
In the second half of the 20th century, the industrial and service sectors have expanded greatly. The state's economy is diversified and is notable for its concentration of scientific research and high-technology industries. Other industries include
Food Processing , transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, minerals such as
Gold and
Molybdenum , and
Tourism . Denver is an important financial center.
Colorado has a flat 4.63% Colorado's state
Sales Tax is 2.9% on retail sales. Full-year Colorado residents can claim excess a sales tax refund on their individual state income tax return. Many counties and cities charge their own rates in addition to the base state rate. There are also certain county and special district taxes that may apply.
Real Estate and personal business property are taxable in Colorado. The state's senior property tax exemption was temporarily suspended by the Colorado Legislature in 2003. The tax break is scheduled to return for assessment year 2006, payable in 2007.
The special district taxes are:
- The Regional Transportation District (RTD), which affects the counties of Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, and portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, and Douglas Counties
- The Scientific And Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a special regional tax district with physical boundaries contiguous with county boundaries of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties
- ---It is a 0.1% retail sales and use tax (one penny on every $10).
- ---According to the Colorado statute, the SCFD distributes the money to local organizations on an annual basis. These organizations must provide for the enlightenment and entertainment of the public through the production, presentation, exhibition, advancement or preservation of art, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, natural history or cultural history.
- ---As directed by statute, SCFD recipient organizations are currently divided into three "tiers" among which receipts are allocated by percentage.
--Tier I includes regional organizations: the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Zoo, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. It receives 65.5%.
--Tier II currently includes 26 regional organizations. Tier II receives 21%.
--Tier III has over 280 local organizations such as small theaters, orchestras, art centers, and natural history, cultural history, and community groups. Tier III organizations apply for funding to the county cultural councils via a grant process. This tier receives 13.5%.
- ---An eleven-member board of directors oversees the distributions in accordance with the Colorado Revised Statutes. Seven board members are appointed by county commissioners (in Denver, the Denver City Council) and four members are appointed by the Governor of Colorado.
- The Football Stadium District (FD or FTBL), approved by the voters to pay for and help build the Denver Broncos ' stadium INVESCO Field At Mile High
- Local Improvement Districts (LID) within designated areas of southeast Jefferson and Boulder counties
- Regional Transportation Districts (RTA) taxes at varying rates in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison County
- Occupational Privilege Taxes (OPT or Head Tax) Denver and Aurora both levy an OPT on Employers and Employees
- ---If any employee performs work in the city limits and is paid over US$500.00 for that work in a single month, the Employee and Employer are both liable for the OPT regardless of where the main business office is located or headquartered.
- ---In Denver, the Employer is liable for US$4.00 per employee per month and the Employee is liable for US$5.75 per month.
- ---In Aurora, both Employer and Employees are liable for US$2.00 per month.
- ---It is the Employer's responsibility to with hold, remit, and file the OPT returns. If an Employer does not comply, they can be held liable for both portions of the OPT as well as penalties and interest.
See Also: List of Colorado state highways
List of airports in Colorado
Amtrak
See Also: Law and Government of Colorado
Like the majority of heads the state's executive branch. The
Colorado Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the state. The state legislative body is the
Colorado General Assembly , which is made up of two houses, the
House Of Representatives and the
Senate . The House has 65 members and the Senate has 35. Currently,
Democrats are in control of both chambers of the General Assembly. The 2005 Colorado General Assembly is the first to be controlled by the Democrats in forty years.
The current governor of Colorado is
Bill Ritter (D).
Colorado is made up primarily of transplanted citizens, and this is illustrated by the fact that the state has not had a native-born governor since 1975 (when
John David Vanderhoof left office) and -- until
Bill Ritter's Election In November 2006 -- had not elected one since 1958, in the person of
Stephen L.R. McNichols . Vanderhoof ascended from the Lieutenant Governorship when
John Arthur Love was given a position in
Richard Nixon 's administration in 1973.)
Bill Ritter (D), a humanitarian missionary worker in Africa and former Denver District Attorney, defeated former congressman and banker
Bob Beauprez (R) in the
2006 Gubernatorial Election .
The two U.S.
Senators from Colorado are
Wayne Allard (R), and
Ken Salazar (D). The state has seven
U.S. Congressional Districts , based on the
2000 Census .
Colorado is considered a very independent state politically in both state and federal elections. Coloradans elected 17 also gained in every open seat race in the state, picking up a seat in the
U.S. Senate and the
U.S. House Of Representatives . Democrats are strongest in
Metropolitan Denver , the college towns of
Fort Collins , and
Boulder , southern Colorado (including
Pueblo ), and a few western ski resort counties. Republicans are strongest in the Eastern Plains,
Colorado Springs , the
Western Slope (including
Grand Junction ), and some of the Denver suburbs, especially south and west of Denver City-County. The fastest growing parts of the state, particularly
Douglas ,
Elbert , and
Weld counties in the
Denver Metropolitan Area , are strongly Republican.
''See also:
United States Presidential Election, 2004, In Colorado
''See also:
Colorado's Congressional Elections, 2006
''See also:
Colorado Gubernatorial Election, 2006
See Also: Colorado counties
The State of Colorado is divided into 64
Counties , including two counties with
Consolidated City And County Governments .
16
See Also: Colorado municipalities
See Also: List of cities and towns in Colorado
The State of Colorado has 270
Incorporated Municipalities and 83 active
United States Census Designated Place s.
1718
See Also: Colorado metropolitan areas
See Also: Colorado census statistical areas
The
United States Census Bureau has defined seven
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), seven
Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs), and one
Combined Statistical Area (CSA) in the State of Colorado.
1920
in
Mesa Verde National Park .]]
National Parks in Colorado:
.]]
.]]
Colleges and universities in Colorado:
at
Coors Field in
Denver .]]
Colorado is the least populous state with a franchise in each of the
Major Professional Sports League s. As of the 2000 census, Colorado was also the least populous state to have more than one major league team. The state is able to support the teams because it contains a large
Metropolitan Area with a much higher population than any other city within 550 miles (885 kilometers). Therefore, many of the residents in the surrounding states support the
Teams In Denver , as shown by the reach of the Broncos' radio network.
{Link without Title}
- Explore Colorado, A Naturalist's Handbook, The Denver Museum of Natural History and Westcliff Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1-56579-124-X for an excellent guide to the ecological regions of Colorado.
- The Archeology of Colorado, Revised Edition, E. Steve Cassells, Johnson Books, Boulder, Colorado, 1997, trade paperback, ISBN 1-55566-193-9.
- Chokecherry Places, Essays from the High Plains, Merrill Gilfillan, Johnson Press, Boulder, Colorado, trade paperback, ISBN 1-55566-227-7.
- The Tie That Binds , Kent Haruf , 1984, hardcover, ISBN 0-03-071979-8, a fictional account of farming in Colorado.
- Railroads of Colorado: Your Guide to Colorado's Historic Trains and Railway Sites, Claude Wiatrowski, Voyageur Press, 2002, hardcover, 160 pages, ISBN 0-89658-591-3
