Colorado (CO) is located in the west of the USA, the state is an ideal destination for nature lovers and outdoor activities thanks to its Rocky Mountains. The state is home to Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Tourism plays an important role in Colorado’s economy, complemented by agriculture and mineral extraction. The capital and largest city of Colorado is Denver.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Colorado Abbreviation CO Capital Denver Largest city Denver (Population: 716 577) Current time 7:12 Time zone MST (UTC-7), the state observes Daylight Saving Time MDT (UTC-6) Population 5,773,707 (#21 most populous US state) Area 104,184 mi² (#8 largest US state) Admitted to the Union August 1, 1876 (#38 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Colorado
The capital of the state of Colorado is Denver, named after the then governor of the Kansas Territory, James William Denver. The area already had Montana City and other gold mining settlements, which later merged into the city of Denver.
🏙️ Largest City in Colorado
The largest city in Colorado is the capital city of Denver, with a population of 716,577 in 2023. The second largest city is Colorado Springs (488,664 inhabitants), and the third is Aurora (395,052 inhabitants).
🕒 Time in Colorado
The current time in Denver is 7:12. The entire state of Colorado recognizes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) and transitions to Daylight Saving Time MDT (UTC-6) from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Colorado
As of 2023, Colorado had a population of 5,773,707, ranking it as the 21st most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Colorado
The total area of the state of Colorado is 104,184 mi², of which 103,813 mi² is land and only 371 mi² is water. Colorado is the 8th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About Colorado
🧩 Colorado Neighboring States
Colorado is bordered by six American states. It has Utah to the west, Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, a short border with Oklahoma to the southeast, and a border with New Mexico to the south.
📅 Date of Colorado Statehood
Colorado entered the Union on August 1, 1876, as the 38th state to do so, forming on the foundations of the original Colorado Territory.
📛 Nickname of the State of Colorado
Colorado is nicknamed “The Centennial State”, which translates to Centennial State. This refers to the fact that Colorado entered the Union one hundred years (and fourteen days) after the United States Declaration of Independence was signed.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Colorado
The highest mountain in Colorado is with 14,440 ft Mount Elbert in the Rocky Mountains. Mount Elbert was named in honor of the statesman Samuel Hitt Elbert, who was the governor of the Colorado Territory from 1873 to 1874.
🏞️ Rivers in Colorado
The longest river in Colorado is the Rio Grande, with the total length of flow in all states 1,896 mi. This is followed by the Arkansas River (1,469 mi), Colorado River (1,450 mi), Canadian River (906 mi), and Green River (727 mi).
🎓 Universities in Colorado
The largest university in the state is the University of Colorado Boulder, with approximately 35,000 students, founded in 1876 with students opening a year later. The second largest is Colorado State University in Fort Collins, attended by around 28 thousand students. The third largest is the University of Colorado Denver with approximately 20 thousand students.
✉️ Colorado ZIP Codes
Colorado has an assigned zip code range of 800xx-816xx. For more detailed information, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA The ZIP code for a specific address can be found on the USPS website.
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Weather in Colorado
The best time of year to visit Colorado for hiking is fall, when temperatures are pleasant and nature is turning all colors. For winter sports enthusiasts, the ideal months are December through February, when skiing and snowboarding conditions are ideal in ski resorts.
Spring in Colorado starts later at higher altitudes than in most other US states, with freezing temperatures in April, when temperatures range from 34°F to 61°F. Snowmelt in mountainous areas often causes flooding in lowland areas, with relatively frequent rainfall contributing to this.
Summer in Colorado brings temperatures ranging from 72°F to 90°F, with warmer temperatures in the lowlands. Temperatures stay lower in the mountainous areas. July and August are good times for hiking and other outdoor activities, but occasional afternoon thunderstorms should be expected.
Autumn in Colorado is one of the most beautiful and photogenic seasons, when the national parks turn yellow, orange and red. Starting in the second half of September, it begins to cool down considerably from pleasant 54°F to 73°F, with the first frosts usually occurring during November. Rainfall tends to be moderate.
Winter in Colorado is long and hard, especially in mountainous areas, heavy frosts are to be expected. Temperatures in Denver in December and January usually range between 18°F and 45°F.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Colorado
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Things to Do in Colorado
1️⃣ Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited national parks in the USA, covering a total area of 415 mi². The park is known for its massive mountain peaks, which are covered in snow for most of the year. There is a network of more than 348 mi hiking trails throughout the park, and it is home to Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest roads in North America. Bears, elk and deer can be seen in the park.
2️⃣ Aspen Ski Resort
Aspen is a world-famous ski resort with a total length of slopes around 147 mi and many luxury hotels and restaurants. The conditions are ideal for beginners and advanced skiers alike. In the summer season, Aspen is popular for its wide range of hiking and mountain biking trails.
3️⃣ Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwest of the state, established in 1904 to better protect more than 600 dwellings carved into the rock. The remains of 11th to 13th century cliff dwellings complement other archaeological sites. The most famous site in the park is the Cliff Palace, which consists of 150 rooms, 23 chambers and at one time housed around 100 people.
4️⃣ Park Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is a nature park near Colorado Springs, known for its massive red sandstone formations. The park has over 15 mi hiking trails, the most beautiful of which is the Siamese Twins Trail. At its end is a rock window overlooking Pikes Peak.
5️⃣ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is home to one of the deepest and steepest canyons in North America. Very little light penetrates these places, which is reflected in the park’s name. The area is a popular destination for hikers and climbers, and the park also offers great conditions for camping, fishing, and rafting. The most accessible part is the southern edge of the park.
6️⃣ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Ride a historic train on the narrow gauge railroad between Durango and Silverton for a unique experience. The line winds through the wild countryside of southwestern Colorado, with canyons and high mountains visible from the train window. Some of the passenger cars are windowless, creating excellent conditions for photography.
7️⃣ Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, some of which measure more than 700 ft in height. The sand dunes can be ridden down on sleds or sandboarded, and the low light smog makes stargazing possible after dark.
8️⃣ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a natural amphitheater located near the town of Morrison, thanks to its excellent acoustics it is a frequent venue for concerts of world stars. The massive sandstone formations that surround the amphitheater create a unique atmosphere for performances. There are several hiking trails around the amphitheater, some of which offer beautiful views of the mountains with the Denver suburbs in the distance.
9️⃣ The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is one of the highest highways in North America, with cars ascending to the top of Mount Blue Sky at an elevation of 14,140 ft. The 49 mi long road passes through beautiful mountain scenery that is also popular with cyclists.
Due to snow, the road is only accessible during the summer months, and you may see wildlife or chamois while driving along it. The road was formerly known as the Mount Evans Byway.
🔟 Pikes Peak Mountain
Pikes Peak is one of the most famous mountains in the USA, its peak lies at an altitude of 14,115 ft. Due to its height, Pikes Peak ranks among the Fourteeners, a list of 96 mountains in the USA with a peak at least 14,000 feet above sea level. Interestingly, 53 of the 96 mountains on the Fourteeners list have a peak in Colorado.
You can reach the summit by hiking trail, car, or cog railway. You’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and the nearby town of Colorado Springs.
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Largest Cities in Colorado
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of Colorado in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Denver Denver 716,577 Map of Denver 2 Colorado Springs El Paso 488,664 Map of Colorado Springs 3 Aurora Arapahoe, Adams, Douglas 395,052 Map of Aurora 4 Fort Collins Larimer 170,376 Map of Fort Collins 5 Lakewood Jefferson 155,961 Map of Lakewood 6 Thornton Adams, Weld 144,922 Map of Thornton 7 Arvada Jefferson, Adams 121,414 Map of Arvada 8 Westminster Jefferson, Adams 114,875 Map of Westminster 9 Greeley Weld 112,609 Map of Greeley 10 Pueblo Pueblo 111,077 Map of Pueblo -
Sports Teams in Colorado
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
The only team in the NHL is the Colorado Avalanche, whose colors are maroon, blue, silver and black. The club plays its home games at the Ball Arena in Denver, falling in the Central Division in the Western Conference.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
Colorado’s only representative in the NFL since the 1970 season is the Denver Broncos. The club is ranked in the Western Division of the AFC Conference and has chosen orange, navy blue and white as its symbolic colors. The Broncos play their home games at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Colorado’s only representative in the NBA is the Denver Nuggets, who played their first season in 1976. The club falls in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference, playing its home games at Ball Arena in Denver. The team colors are midnight blue, yellow, red, and navy blue.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
The state is represented in MLB baseball by the Colorado Rockies, who have been part of the Western Division in the National League since 1993. The club colors are purple, black, silver, and white, and the Rockies play their home games at Coors Field in Denver.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
The Colorado Rapids have been playing in the MLS since the 1996 season.The club belongs to the Western Division and has chosen burgundy, blue and silver as its colors. The venue for all home matches is Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
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Colorado State Symbols
Colorado has adopted dozens of different symbols as its state symbols, below are just a few of them.
State Flag of Colorado
The flag was adopted in its current form on June 5, 1911. It consists of a blue, white and blue stripe with a large red letter C filling a golden circle. The colors used refer to the blue sky, the white Rocky Mountains, and the gold to the abundant sunshine.
Great Seal of Colorado
Colorado’s state seal was adopted in its current form on March 15, 1877. The dominant element of the seal is a shield with snow-capped mountains, a red sky, and mining tools.
State Amphibian
Colorado’s official amphibian since 2012 is the western tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium), which is abundant in places such as the Rocky Mountains.
State Bird
Colorado’s state bird has been the lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) since 1931, whose breeding habitat is the prairies.
State Flower
Colorado’s state flower since 1899 has been the Colorado blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea), which is native to the Rocky Mountains.
State Mammal
Since 1961, Colorado has had an official state mammal, which is the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), whose home has always been the Rocky Mountains.
State Tree
The official state tree since 1939 has been the Colorado spruce (Picea pungens glauca), many of which grow, for example, in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.
State Mineral
Rhodochrosite became one of the official symbols of Colorado in 2002, and deposits of this pinkish-red mineral can be found, for example, in the area around the town of Alma southwest of Denver.
State Dance
In 1992, the square dance was adopted as one of Colorado’s state symbols. The dance, designed for four couples or eight dancers, is one of the symbols of several American states.
State Reptile
Colorado’s state reptile since 2008 has been the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), and its habitat includes habitats such as the Colorado River Basin.
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