Portal:Colorado
The U.S. State of Colorado Wikipedia Portal
Colorado is the state of the United States of America that encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the high western edge of the Great Plains. The state has more mountain peaks above 4000 m (13,123 feet) of elevation than any other state or province in North America. Admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876, Colorado became the 38th U.S. state. Colorado ranks 1st in mean elevation, 8th in total area, and 22nd in population among the 50 U.S. states. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Colorado was 5,116,796 on July 1, 2011, an increase of +1.74% since the 2010 United States Census. Denver is the state capital, the most populous city, and the heart of the most populous metropolitan area of the Rocky Mountain Region. Colorado Springs is the state's second most populous city. The population of the Front Range Urban Corridor now exceeds 4.4 million, while many rugged portions of the state remain pristine wilderness.
Colorado News
- Former US Sheriff of the Year jailed in drugs-for-sex case
- Rick Santorum sweeps three non-binding GOP presidential contests
- Smoke from Arizona fire spreads to other states
- Denver Broncos player Kenny McKinley found dead aged 23
- US food regulators recall 380 million eggs after salmonella outbreak
- Wikinews interviews Dr. Phil Klotzbach on upcoming hurricane season
- With US mid-term elections fast approaching, three prominent Democrats announce retirement
- American actor Charlie Sheen arrested
- 6-year-old boy in Colorado found alive, unhurt after runaway balloon allegedly carried him away
- Blake Griffin taken first in 2009 NBA Draft
Colorado Facts
State of Colorado
- Date admitted to Union: August 1, 1876 (38th State)
- Demonym: Coloradan
- Capital: Denver
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Elected state officers:
- Governor: John Hickenlooper (D) (2011–)
- Lieutenant Governor: Joseph A. Garcia (D) (2011–)
- Secretary of State: Scott Gessler (R) (2011–)
- Treasurer: Walker Stapleton (R) (2011–)
- Attorney General: John Suthers (R) (2005–)
- Colorado General Assembly:
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U.S. Senators:
- Mark Udall (D) (2009–)
- Michael Bennet (D) (2009–)
- U.S. Representatives:
- Diana DeGette (D) (1997–)
- Jared Polis (D) (2009–)
- Scott Tipton (R) (2011–)
- Cory Gardner (R) (2011–)
- Doug Lamborn (R) (2007–)
- Mike Coffman (R) (2009–)
- Ed Perlmutter (D) (2007–)
- Total area: 104,094 square miles (269,602 km2) (8th most extensive state)
- Highest elevation: Mount Elbert 14,440 feet (4,401 m) (3rd highest state)
- Mean elevation: 6,800 feet (2,073 m) (highest state)
- Lowest elevation: Arikaree River 3,317 feet (1,011 m) (highest state)
- Population (2011 Estimate): 5,116,796 (22nd most populous state)
- Number of counties: 64 counties (including two consolidated city and county governments)
- Number of municipalities: 271 municipalities, comprising 2 consolidated city and county governments, 73 cities, and 196 towns
- Time zone: MST=UTC-07, MDT=UTC-06
- USPS code: CO
- ISO 3166 code: US-CO
- Adjacent U.S. states: Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah
- State government website: Colorado.gov
- State tourism website: Colorado.com
Did You Know?
- Colorado is known as the Mother of Rivers because it holds the headwaters of the Colorado River, Arkansas River, Rio Grande, Canadian River, North Platte River, San Juan River, South Platte River, Smoky Hill River, Cimarron River, Yampa River, Gunnison River, White River, Dolores River, Laramie River, Little Snake River, Purgatoire River, Rio Chama, Cache la Poudre River, Huerfano River, Arikaree River, San Miguel River, Roaring Fork River, Animas River, Uncompahgre River, Apishapa River, Eagle River, Big Thompson River, Mancos River, Conejos River, Blue River, Piedra River, and many more.
- No point in Colorado is less than 466 miles (750 km) from the sea.
- The Continental Divide splits Colorado into a Western Slope draining to the Pacific Ocean and an Eastern Slope draining to the Atlantic Ocean.
- The waters of Colorado flow either to the Gulf of California (Mar de Cortés) via the Colorado River (Rio Colorado) or to the Gulf of Mexico (Golfo de México) via either the Mississippi River or the Rio Grande {Rio Bravo del Norte).
- The Sangre de Cristo Mountains divide the waters flowing to the Arkansas River from the waters flowing to the Rio Grande.
- Colorado has two Cimarron rivers. The eastern Cimarron River flows into the Arkansas River, while the western Cimarron River flows into the Gunnison River.
- The Rio Grande, known as the Rio Bravo del Norte in Mexico, is the longest river originating in Colorado at 1,896 miles (3,051 km).
- The Gunnison River is the longest river entirely within Colorado at 164 miles (264 km).
Featured Article
Grand Junction Regional Airport (IATA: GJT, ICAO: KGJT, FAA LID: GJT)[1] is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of the central business district of Grand Junction, a city in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. The airport covers 2,357 acres (9.54 km2) and has two runways.[2] It is the largest airport on the Colorado Western Slope.
The airport opened in 1930 as Grand Junction Municipal Airport. In 1942 it was renamed Walker Field for Walter Walker, a former publisher of The Daily Sentinel newspaper who helped obtain funds and business support for the airport. The airport and the airport authority were both renamed on May 15, 2007. Grand Junction Regional Airport is undergoing a $20 million renovation, of which $700,000 is designated to pay for signs containing the new name. The airport's terminal and fire building will continue to be named for Walker and a new $19 million roadway under construction will be called Walter Walker Blvd.
Featured Picture
The Continental Divide marker at Loveland Pass, Colorado, United States.
Photo credit: Christopher Morrison
Featured Biography
John Denver (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., was an American folk singer-songwriter and folk rock musician who was one of the most popular artists of the 1970s. He recorded and released some 300 songs, about half of which he had composed, and was named Poet Laureate of Colorado in 1977.
Categories
WikiProject Colorado
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State Symbols
| State flag: |
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| State motto: | Nil sine numine (Latin: Nothing without providence) |
| State nickname: | The Centennial State |
| State bird: | Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocoryus Stejneger) |
| State fish: | Greenback Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki somias) |
| State flower: | Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerules) |
| State grass: | Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) |
| State insect: | Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly (Hypaurotis cysaluswas) |
| State mammal: | Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) |
| State reptile: | Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) |
| State tree: | Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) |
| State fossil: | Stegosaurus (Stegosaurus armatus) |
| State dance: | Square Dance (Chorea quadra) |
| State gemstone: | Aquamarine |
| State mineral: | Rhodochrosite |
| State rock: | Yule Marble |
| State soil: | Seitz |
| State songs: | Where the Columbines Grow and Rocky Mountain High |
| State tartan: | Colorado State Tartan |
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Colorado Attractions
United States National Parks in Colorado:
- Arapaho National Recreation Area
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
- Colorado National Monument
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
- Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
- Hovenweep National Monument
- Mesa Verde National Park and World Heritage Site
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail
- Pony Express National Historic Trail
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
- Santa Fe National Historic Trail
- Yucca House National Monument
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| U.S. History | U.S. Roads | U.S. Streets |
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| Geology | Mountains | Rivers |
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| Education | Food | Music |
Related Portals
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| United States | Wyoming | Nebraska |
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| Utah | Geography | Kansas |
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| Arizona | New Mexico | Oklahoma |
Resources
- Colorado, U.S. state, United States, North America
- Outline of Colorado, Index of Colorado-related articles
- History of Colorado, Prehistory, Timeline
- Government of Colorado, Counties, Municipalities
- Geography of Colorado, High Plains, Colorado Plateau
- Rocky Mountains, Geology of the Rocky Mountains
- Rivers, Drainage basins, Continental Divide
- Colorado mountain ranges, Peaks, Passes
- Colorado cities and towns, Colorado places
- Category:Colorado, Commons:Category:Colorado
Collaborators
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