100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Colorado (CO) is located in the western United States, and thanks to the Rocky Mountains it is an ideal destination for nature lovers and outdoor activities. The state is home to the national parks Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Tourism plays an important role in Colorado’s economy, complemented by agriculture and mineral extraction. The capital and largest city 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 16:43 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 sqmi (#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 James William Denver, the then governor of the Kansas Territory. The area already had Montana City and other gold mining settlements that later merged into the city of Denver.
🏙️ Largest City in Colorado
The largest city in Colorado is the capital, Denver, with a population of 716,577 in 2023. The second largest city is Colorado Springs with 488,664 people, and the third is Aurora with 395,052 residents.
🕒 Time in Colorado
The current time in Denver is 16:43. The entire state observes the Mountain Standard Time zone (MST, UTC-7) and switches to daylight time MDT (UTC-6) from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Colorado
According to 2023 data, Colorado had 5,773,707 residents, which ranked it 21st among U.S. states by population.
📍 Area of Colorado
Colorado’s total area is 104,184 sqmi, of which 103,813 sqmi is land and only 371 sqmi is water. This makes Colorado the 8th largest U.S. state.
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Fun Facts About Colorado
🧩 Which States Border Colorado
Colorado borders six U.S. states. To the west is Utah, to the north Wyoming, to the northeast Nebraska, to the east Kansas, to the southeast it has a short border with Oklahoma, and to the south it borders New Mexico.
📅 Date of Colorado Statehood
Colorado entered the Union on August 1, 1876 as the 38th state, formed on the foundations of the original Colorado Territory.
📛 Colorado State Nickname
Colorado’s nickname is “The Centennial State,” which refers to the fact that Colorado joined the Union one hundred years (and fourteen days) after the Declaration of Independence of the United States was signed.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Colorado
The highest mountain in Colorado is Mount Elbert in the Rocky Mountains at 14,440 ft. Mount Elbert was named in honor of statesman Samuel Hitt Elbert, who served as governor of the Colorado Territory from 1873 to 1874.
🏞️ Rivers in Colorado
The longest river in Colorado is the Rio Grande with a total length across all states of 1,896 mi. It is followed by the Arkansas River (1,469 mi), the Colorado River (1,450 mi), the Canadian River (906 mi), and the Green River (727 mi).
🎓 Universities in Colorado
The largest university in the state is the University of Colorado Boulder with approximately 35,000 students. It was founded in 1876 and opened to students a year later. The second largest is Colorado State University in Fort Collins with around 28,000 students. The third largest is the University of Colorado Denver with approximately 20,000 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Colorado
Colorado is assigned the ZIP code range 800xx–816xx. You can find more details in the article ZIP Codes in the USA, and you can look up a ZIP code for a specific address on the USPS website.
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Weather in Colorado
The best time to visit Colorado for hiking is fall, when temperatures are pleasant and nature turns every shade. For winter sports fans, December through February is ideal, when ski resorts offer excellent conditions for skiing and snowboarding.
Spring in Colorado starts at higher elevations later than in most other U.S. states. Freezing temperatures usually ease only in April, when temperatures range from 34 °F to 61 °F. Snowmelt in the mountains often causes flooding in the lowlands, which is also aided by relatively frequent rain.
Summer in Colorado brings temperatures from 72 °F to 90 °F, with warmer conditions in the lowlands. Mountain areas stay cooler. July and August are great months for hiking and other outdoor activities, although you should expect occasional afternoon thunderstorms.
Fall in Colorado is among the most beautiful and photogenic seasons as national parks turn yellow, orange, and red. From the second half of September, temperatures drop noticeably from pleasant 54 °F to 73 °F, and the first freezes usually arrive in November. Rainfall tends to be light.
Winters in Colorado are long and harsh, and in the mountains you need to be prepared for severe cold. In Denver, December and January temperatures usually range between 18 °F and 45 °F.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Colorado
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What to See in Colorado
1️⃣ Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited U.S. National Parks, covering a total area of 415 sqmi. The park is known for its massive mountain peaks that stay snow covered for most of the year. There are more than 348 mi of hiking trails throughout the park, and it includes Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest-elevation roads in North America. You may see bears, moose, or elk in the park.
2️⃣ Aspen Ski Resort
Aspen is a world-famous ski resort with a total of about 147 mi of runs and many luxury hotels and restaurants. Conditions are ideal for beginners and advanced skiers alike. In summer, Aspen is popular for its wide network of hiking and mountain biking trails.
3️⃣ Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park lies in the southwest of the state. It was established in 1904 to better protect more than 600 cliff dwellings carved into the rock. The remains of cliff dwellings from the 11th to 13th centuries are complemented by other archaeological sites. The most famous place in the park is Cliff Palace, which consists of 150 rooms and 23 kivas, and at its peak housed around one hundred people.
4️⃣ Garden of the Gods Park
Garden of the Gods is a natural park near Colorado Springs, known for its massive red sandstone formations. The park has more than 15 mi of hiking trails, and the most scenic is the Siamese Twins Trail. At its end, a rock window frames a view of Pikes Peak.
5️⃣ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park features one of the deepest and steepest canyons in North America. Very little light reaches some parts, which is reflected in the park’s name. The area is a favorite destination for hikers and climbers, and the park also offers great conditions for camping, fishing, and rafting. The most accessible section is the park’s South Rim.
6️⃣ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Riding the historic train on the narrow-gauge railroad between Durango and Silverton is a unique experience. The line winds through the wild landscape of southwestern Colorado, and from the windows you can watch canyons and high peaks. Some passenger cars are open air, which makes for excellent photo opportunities.
7️⃣ Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, some of which rise more than 700 ft high. You can sled down the dunes or try sandboarding, and thanks to low light pollution the night sky is perfect for stargazing.
8️⃣ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
The natural Red Rocks Amphitheatre is near the town of Morrison, and thanks to its excellent acoustics it often hosts concerts by world-famous artists. Massive sandstone formations that surround the entire amphitheater create a one of a kind atmosphere during performances. There are several hiking trails in the area, and some offer beautiful views of the mountains with Denver’s suburbs in the distance.
9️⃣ The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is one of the highest-elevation roads in North America, and cars can climb it all the way to the summit of Mount Blue Sky at 14,140 ft. The road is 49 mi long and leads through stunning alpine scenery that cyclists love as well.
The road is closed by snow outside the summer months. While driving you may spot wildlife or mountain goats. The road was formerly known as Mount Evans Byway.
🔟 Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is one of the most famous mountains in the United States, with a summit elevation of 14,115 ft. Because of its elevation, Pikes Peak is on the Fourteeners list, which includes 96 U.S. peaks with summits of at least 14,000 feet above sea level. Interestingly, 53 of the 96 Fourteeners have their summits in Colorado.
You can reach the top on foot via a hiking trail, by car, or on the cog railway. Your reward is a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape and the nearby city of Colorado Springs.
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Largest Cities in Colorado
The table shows the ten largest cities in the state of Colorado in 2023. The source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose main task is the census.
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
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
The only NHL team is the Colorado Avalanche, whose colors are burgundy, blue, silver, and black. The club plays its home games at Ball Arena in Denver and belongs to the Central Division of the Western Conference.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
Colorado’s sole representative in the NFL since the 1970 season is the Denver Broncos. The club is in the AFC West Division and its colors are orange, navy blue, and white. The Broncos play 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 is in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference and plays home games at Ball Arena in Denver. Team colors are midnight blue, yellow, red, and dark blue.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
In Major League Baseball, the state is represented by the Colorado Rockies, who have been part of the National League West Division since 1993. The team colors are purple, black, silver, and white, and the Rockies play home games at Coors Field in Denver.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Since the 1996 season, the Colorado Rapids have played in Major League Soccer. They belong to the Western Conference and their colors are burgundy, blue, and silver. All home matches are played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
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Colorado State Symbols
Colorado has adopted dozens of official symbols, and only some are listed below.
Colorado State Flag
The current flag was adopted on June 5, 1911. It consists of a blue, white, and blue stripe with a large red letter C that encloses a golden circle. The colors refer to the blue sky, the white Rocky Mountains, and the abundant golden sunshine.
Colorado State Seal
Colorado’s state seal in its current form was adopted on March 15, 1877. The dominant element is a shield with snow-capped mountains, a red sky, and mining tools.
State Amphibian
The official amphibian of Colorado since 2012 is the barred tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium), which is common for example in the Rocky Mountains.
State Bird
Colorado’s bird symbol since 1931 is the lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys), which nests in prairie habitats.
State Flower
Colorado’s state flower since 1899 is the Rocky Mountain columbine (Aquilegia coerulea), native to the Rocky Mountains.
State Mammal
Since 1961, Colorado’s official state mammal has been the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), whose home has always been the Rockies.
State Tree
The official tree since 1939 is the blue spruce (Picea pungens glauca), many of which grow in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado.
State Mineral
Rhodochrosite became one of Colorado’s official symbols in 2002. Deposits of this pink to red mineral are found for example around the town of Alma southwest of Denver.
State Dance
In 1992, square dance was adopted among Colorado’s state symbols. This dance for four couples or eight dancers is also a symbol of several other U.S. states.
State Reptile
Colorado’s state reptile since 2008 is the Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), which inhabits areas such as the Colorado River basin.
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