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Colorado is a state in the western United States. Denver is the capital and largest city. As of 2000, the state's population was 4,301,261. The state is in the Mountain, Southwestern and Central regions of the country.

Geography

Colorado is one of only three states (the others are Wyoming and Utah) that have only lines of latitude and longitude for borders. It stretches exactly from 37°N to 41°N, and 102°W to 109°W. The Four Corners Monument at its southwestern-most point is at 37°N and 109°W.

East of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains are the Colorado Eastern Plains, the section of the Great Plains within Colorado at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 7,000 feet (1,000 to 2,000 m). Kansas and Nebraska border Colorado to the east.

The plains are sparsely settled with most population along the South Platte and the Arkansas rivers and the I-70 corridor. Rainfall is meager, averaging about 15 inches (380 mm) 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 major cities and towns lie just east of the Front Range, in the I-25 corridor. The majority of the population of Colorado lives in this densely urbanized strip.

To the west lay the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with notable peaks such as Long's Peak, Mount Evans, Pike's Peak, and the Spanish Peaks near Walsenburg in the south. This area drains to the east, is forested, and partially urbanized.

With urbanization, utilization of the forest for timbering and grazing was retarded, which resulted in accumulation of fuel. During the drought of 2002 devastating forest fires swept this area.

To the west of the Front Range lies the Continental Divide. To the west of the Continental Divide is the Western Slope. Water west of the Continental Divide drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Colorado River.

Digital elevation model relief map of Colorado — much of the state is flat, despite stereotypes.

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 headwaters 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 fourteeners. The mountains are timbered with conifers 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.

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, a large flat-topped mountain. Further east are the ski resorts 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. Mount Elbert is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains within the continental United States. The famous Pikes Peak is just west of Colorado Springs. Its lone peak is visible from near the Kansas border on clear days.

The state was named after the Spanish word "Colorado," which means "reddish colored" that presumably refers to the red sandstone formations in the area or reddish brown color of the Colorado River.

The territory that ultimately became Colorado was added to the United States by the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and the 1848 Mexican Cession. The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 (see also Fifty-Niner) brought many settlers to the Denver area, though the population collapsed following an initial mining boom.

The Colorado Territory was organized as a United States territory on February 28, 1861, and Colorado attained statehood August 1, 1876, (earning it the moniker the "Centennial State"). Colorado women were granted the right to vote starting on November 7, 1893.

Three different ships have been named USS Colorado in honor of this state.

"Colorado" is pronounced many different ways. Those born and raised in Colorado commonly pronounce it "Call-uh-rad-oh" (in IPA, /?k?l?'rζdo/), and this is also generally true for those on the West Coast. Meanwhile, people from the eastern and northern United States and eastern Canada commonly say "Call-oh-rod-oh"
, and in the South it is usually "Call-uh-rad-uh"

Demographics

The state capital and largest city is Denver, Colorado; the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area contains over half of the state's population (2.5 million out of 4.3 million).

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 2030 [1]. The largest increases are expected along the Front Range, especially in the Denver-Aurora 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 aliens (3.1% of the state population).

The racial makeup of the state and comparison to the prior census:

Census year: 2000 1990
White 82.8% 88.2%
Black 3.8% 4.0%
Asian 2.2% 1.8%
Native American 1.0% 0.8%
Other race 7.3% 5.1%
Mixed race 2.8% *

White, non-Hispanic 74.5% 80.7%
Hispanic‡ 17.1% 12.9%
Notes:
* Not available; mixed race was first reported in the census of 2000.
‡ Hispanics may be of any race and are included in applicable race categories.
Religion
Christian – 75%
Protestant – 48%
Baptist – 9%
Methodist – 5%
Lutheran – 5%
Episcopal – 3%
Presbyterian – 3%
Other Protestant or general Protestant – 23%
Roman Catholic – 24%
Latter-Day Saint (Mormon) – 2%
Other Christian – 1%
Jewish – 2%
Other Religions – 1%
Non-Religious/Atheist/Agnostic – 22%

Colorado - specifically the city of Colorado Springs— serves as the headquarters of numerous Christian groups. Focus on the Family is among the most prominent of these. At the same time Colorado, like many other Western states, 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.

Economy

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 [2].

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 products, 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 Caρon City.

There are of course various other federal agencies and federally owned lands in the state, especially with Colorado's abundant National Forests and four National Parks. There are also numerous private companies that have operations in Colorado that deal with the governmental agencies in the state.

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.

The Colorado income tax rate is a flat 4.63% of your federal taxable income regardless of income level. 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. The most common special district taxes are:

Regional Transportation District (RTD), which affects the counties of Denver, Boulder, Jefferson and portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield and Douglas
Cultural Facilities District (CD)
Football Stadium District (FD or FTBL), approved by the voters to pay for and help build the Denver Broncos' stadium
Local Improvement District (LID) within designated areas of southeast Jefferson and Boulder counties
Regional Transportation District (RTA) taxes at varying rates in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison County
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.

Census year: 2000 1990 White 82.8% 88.2% Black 3.8% 4.0% Asian 2.2% 1.8% Native American 1.0% 0.8% Other race 7.3% 5.1% Mixed race 2.8% * White, non-Hispanic 74.5% 80.7% Hispanic‡ 17.1% 12.9%

Notes: * Not available; mixed race was first reported in the census of 2000. ‡ Hispanics may be of any race and are included in applicable race categories.

Transportation

Interstate 25 Interstate 70 Interstate 76 U.S. Route 6 U.S. Route 24

U.S. Route 34 U.S. Route 36 U.S. Route 40 U.S. Route 50 U.S. Route 85 U.S. Route 87 U.S. Route 285

Law and government

Like the majority of the states, Colorado's current constitution provides for three branches of government: the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The legislative body is the General Assembly made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives 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.

Colorado is considered a very independent state politically, having elected 17 Democrats and 12 Republicans to the governorship in the last 100 years.

The state supported Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992, and the Republican presidential nominees in 1996 and 2000. Recently, the state appears to be going more towards the center. George W. Bush won the state's 9 electoral votes in 2004 by a margin of 5 percentage points with 51.7% of the vote, considerably less than the 9% margin Bush won by in 2000, however this can be largely attributed to the 5% of the vote Ralph Nader won in 2000.

Nearly all of these votes went to Democrat John Kerry in 2004. [3]. Democrats also gained in every open seat race in the state, picking up a seat in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Democrats are strongest in metropolitan Denver, Boulder, and southern Colorado (including Pueblo, and a few western ski resort counties). Republicans are strongest in the rural plains region, Colorado Springs, the Western Slope (including Grand Junction), and some of the Denver suburbs. The fastest growing parts of the state, particularly Douglas, Elbert and Weld counties in metro Denver, are strongly Republican.

The two U.S. Senators from Colorado are Wayne Allard (R), and Ken Salazar (D). The governor heads the state's executive branch. The current governor of Colorado is Bill Owens (R). See: List of Colorado Governors

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 has 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 Owens is a native of Ft. Worth, Texas.

Owens is term-limited, and will be replaced by a new governor in November 2006. Bob Beauprez, considered a highly conservative politician, is running for the governor's seat in 2006 on the Republican ticket. He grew up in Boulder County, Colorado. A socially conservative Democrat named Bill Ritter will also be on the ballot to replace Governor Owens in the 2006 gubernatorial election. He is also a Colorado native.

Important cities and towns

Each grouping represents a U.S. Census metropolitan or micropolitan area, headed by its principal city (or cities). Each city named in bold has a population greater than 100,000.

Denver-Aurora
Arvada
Brighton
Broomfield
Castle Rock
Centennial
Commerce City
Englewood
Federal Heights
Golden
Greenwood Village
Lakewood
Littleton
Northglenn
Parker
Thornton
Westminster
Wheat Ridge
Colorado Springs
Fountain
Fort Collins -Loveland
Pueblo
Boulder
Lafayette
Longmont
Louisville
Nederland
Superior
Greeley
Windsor
Grand Junction
Canon City
Montrose
Durango
Fort Morgan
Silverthorne
Sterling


Other notable cities (population under 10,000)

Alamosa
Aspen
Glenwood Springs
Leadville
Trinidad
Vail
Walsenburg

25 Richest Places in Colorado
Ranked by per capita income:

Cherry Hills Village – $99,996
Genesee CDP – $79,180
Columbine Valley – $71,758
Castle Pines CDP – $70,456
Greenwood Village – $69,189
Bonanza – $66,857
Bow Mar – $53,558
Heritage Hills CDP – $50,041
Perry Park CDP – $47,574
Lone Tree – $46,287
Meridian CDP – $46,031
The Pinery CDP – $43,065
Eldorado Springs CDP – $42,908
Vail – $42,390
Foxfield – $40,970
Aspen – $40,680
Niwot CDP – $39,943
Mountain Village – $39,920
Edwards CDP – $39,784
Pitkin – $39,182
Telluride – $38,832
Woodmoor CDP – $38,758
Castlewood CDP – $37,891 (now a part of Centennial)
Vona – $37,802
Eagle-Vail CDP – $37,260

Education
Colleges and universities in Colorado:

Adams State College
Colorado Christian University
Colorado College
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University System
Colorado State University
Colorado State University - Pueblo
Colorado Technical University
Denver Seminary
Fort Lewis College
Heritage College & Heritage Institute
Iliff School of Theology
Jones International University
Mesa State College
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Naropa University
National Technological University
Nazarene Bible College
Regis University
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
United States Air Force Academy
University of Colorado System
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University of Colorado at Denver
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
University of Denver
University of Northern Colorado
Western State College

Professional sports teams
As of 2005, Colorado was the least populous state with a franchise in each of the major professional sports leagues. In fact, 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 500 miles (800 km). Therefore, many of the residents in the surrounding states support the teams in Denver, as shown by the reach of the Broncos' radio network[4].

The Canadian province of Alberta is the only less populous jurisdiction in North America besides the District of Columbia to have more than one major league team.

Major league teams
Colorado Avalanche, National Hockey League
Colorado Mammoth, National Lacrosse League
Colorado Rapids, Major League Soccer
Colorado Rockies, Major League Baseball
Denver Broncos, National Football League
Denver Nuggets, National Basketball Association
Denver Outlaws, Major League Lacrosse
Other teams
Aurora Cavalry, International Basketball League
Colorado Chill, National Women's Basketball League
Colorado Crossover, International Basketball League
Colorado Crush, Arena Football League
Colorado Eagles, Central Hockey League
Colorado 14ers, NBA D-League
Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Minor League Baseball (AAA)
Rocky Mountain Rage, Central Hockey League


Reading Material
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 0030719798, 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