100 Facts About Colorado State: Interesting and Fun Facts

100 Facts About Colorado

1. Colorado is located in the western United States and is known as the "Centennial State."

2. It became the 38th state to join the Union on August 1, 1876.

3. The state's capital and largest city is Denver.

4. Colorado is bordered by seven states: Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

5. The state is home to the Rocky Mountains, including 53 peaks over 14,000 feet (known as "14ers").

6. The highest point in Colorado is Mount Elbert, which stands at 14,440 feet.

7. The state is known for its diverse geography, which includes mountains, plateaus, canyons, deserts, and plains.

8. Colorado is famous for its outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting.

9. Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado preserves the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people.

10. The state is rich in mineral resources and has a long history of mining, particularly for gold and silver.

11. Colorado is home to the United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs.

12. The Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world by passenger traffic.

13. Colorado is the only state in the United States to have ever turned down the opportunity to host the Olympic Games. Denver was awarded the 1976 Winter Olympics but later withdrew due to financial concerns.

14. The state has a population of approximately 5.8 million people.

15. Colorado has a diverse climate, ranging from arid desert in the southwest to alpine tundra in the Rocky Mountains.

16. The state's official nickname is the "Centennial State" in commemoration of the centennial of the United States Declaration of Independence.

17. Colorado is home to four national parks: Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

18. The Colorado River, one of the principal rivers in the southwestern United States, flows through the state.

19. The state flower of Colorado is the Rocky Mountain Columbine.

20. Denver, the capital of Colorado, is nicknamed the "Mile High City" because its elevation is exactly one mile above sea level.

21. The Colorado State Capitol building in Denver is made of white Colorado marble and features a gold-plated dome.

22. Colorado is the birthplace of the cheeseburger. The trademark for the name "cheeseburger" was awarded to Louis Ballast of Denver in 1935.

23. The state's official bird is the Lark Bunting.

24. Colorado has 26 ski resorts, making it a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts.

25. The Denver Broncos, an NFL team, have won three Super Bowls (in 1997, 1998, and 2015).

26. The world's largest flat-top mountain, the Grand Mesa, is located in western Colorado.

27. Colorado is home to the United States Olympic Training Center, located in Colorado Springs.

28. The state has a thriving craft beer industry, with over 400 breweries.

29. Colorado is the only state in history to turn down hosting the Olympics after being awarded the opportunity.

30. The famous song "America the Beautiful" was inspired by the view from Pike's Peak in Colorado.

31. The state animal is the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.

32. Colorado is the 22nd most populous state in the United States.

33. The Colorado State Fair, held annually in Pueblo, is one of the oldest state fairs in the country.

34. The state insect of Colorado is the Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly.

35. The Denver Mint, established in 1863, is the largest producer of coins in the world.

36. Colorado is home to the Denver Art Museum, which houses a vast collection of American Indian art.

37. The state is known for its hot springs, with popular destinations like Glenwood Springs and Pagosa Springs.

38. Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine per year on average.

39. The state's official fish is the Greenback Cutthroat Trout.

40. Colorado is one of the few U.S. states where you can legally purchase and consume recreational marijuana.

41. The state boasts a rich dinosaur fossil heritage, with numerous dinosaur discoveries and excavation sites.

42. The Eisenhower Tunnel, located in the Rocky Mountains, is the highest vehicular tunnel in the world, reaching an elevation of 11,158 feet.

43. Colorado is home to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee headquarters, located in Colorado Springs.

44. The state has a diverse wildlife population, including elk, mule deer, black bears, mountain lions, and bald eagles.

45. The world's largest natural hot springs pool, the Glenwood Hot Springs, is located in Colorado.

46. Colorado has a state dinosaur, the Stegosaurus, which was designated in 1982.

47. The state gemstone of Colorado is aquamarine.

48. The first license plate on a car in the United States was issued in Denver, Colorado in 1908.

49. Colorado has 58 "Fourteeners," mountains that reach over 14,000 feet in elevation.

50. The state reptile of Colorado is the Western Painted Turtle.

51. Colorado is home to the United States Air Force Academy, which trains officers for the Air Force.

52. The state's official tree is the Colorado Blue Spruce.

53. The Denver Zoo, located in Denver City Park, is home to over 3,500 animals from around the world.

54. Colorado has over 4,000 species of native plants.

55. The state sport of Colorado is skiing.

56. The Denver Botanic Gardens is one of the largest and most diverse botanical gardens in the United States.

57. Colorado has the highest average elevation of any state in the United States.

58. The state is known for its vibrant fall foliage, particularly in the Rocky Mountains.

59. The Colorado State Patrol is responsible for enforcing traffic laws and providing law enforcement services on state highways.

60. Colorado has over 200 named peaks that exceed 13,000 feet in elevation.

61. The state fossil of Colorado is the Stegosaurus.

62. The Colorado Plateau covers the western part of the state and extends into neighboring Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

63. Colorado has over 300 named lakes, including the largest natural lake in the state, Grand Lake.

64. The state's official gemstone is the aquamarine.

65. Colorado has a number of unique geological formations, including the Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs.

66. The state's official insect is the Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly.

67. Colorado is home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which conducts research on renewable energy technologies.

68. The state has a thriving film industry, with numerous movies and TV shows filmed in Colorado.

69. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is one of the largest natural history museums in the United States.

70. Colorado is known for its craft distilleries and has a growing reputation for producing high-quality spirits.

71. The state has a strong aerospace industry, with companies like Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace operating in Colorado.

72. Colorado has over 300 golf courses, making it a popular destination for golf enthusiasts.

73. The state's official reptile is the Western Painted Turtle.

74. Colorado has 13 national forests, encompassing over 14 million acres of land.

75. The state's official song is "Where the Columbines Grow."

76. The Colorado State University in Fort Collins is one of the nation's leading research universities.

77. Colorado has a rich Native American heritage, with various tribes historically residing in the region, including the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Apache.

78. The state's official dance is the square dance.

79. The Colorado State Capitol building is made of Colorado Rose Onyx, a rare stone found in Beulah, Colorado.

80. Colorado is home to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, where athletes train for international competitions.

81. The state's official grass is the Blue Grama Grass.

82. Colorado has numerous scenic byways and drives, including the iconic Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.

83. The state's official colors are blue and white.

84. Colorado is known for its vibrant music scene, with the Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver hosting renowned concerts and performances.

85. The state has a rich agricultural heritage, with major crops including corn, wheat, hay, and potatoes.

86. Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any state in the United States.

87. The state's official gemstone is the Yule Marble, which is used in many iconic buildings and monuments worldwide.

88. Colorado is home to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, located in Colorado Springs.

89. The state's official neckwear is the bolo tie.

90. Colorado is home to the Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rockies (MLB), and Denver Broncos (NFL).

91. The state's official fossil is the Colorado State Dinosaur, the Stegosaurus.

92. Colorado has a rich history of Native American cliff dwellings, including the famous dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park.

93. The state's official rock is the Yule Marble, known for its pure white color and fine texture.

94. Colorado has a significant aerospace industry, with companies like SpaceX and Sierra Nevada Corporation having operations in the state.

95. The state's official tartan is the Colorado State Tartan, designed in 1997.

96. Colorado is home to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), which conducts research on weather, climate, and the atmosphere.

97. The state's official grass is the Blue Grama Grass, which is well-adapted to Colorado's semi-arid climate.

98. Colorado has numerous hot air balloon festivals, including the Colorado Balloon Classic in Colorado Springs.

99. The state's official dinosaur is the Stegosaurus armatus.

100. Colorado has a diverse population, with a mix of cultures and ethnicities contributing to its vibrant communities.

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