Encyclopedia
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 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 .
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 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
Longs Peak,
Mount Evans,
Pikes 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.
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 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 in southern Colorado to about 10,500 feet 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.
History
The word "Colorado" was selected by Congress in 1861 as the name for the territory that is today a state. The name has its origins in the
Spanish language, where it is directly translated as "colored," and is often taken to mean "reddish colored."
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 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, . 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.
Pronunciation
"Colorado" is pronounced many different ways. Those born and raised in Colorado commonly pronounce it "Call-oh-rod-oh" ) or "Call-uh-rad-oh" ), based on the Spanish pronunciation. Meanwhile, people from the eastern and northern United States and eastern
Canada commonly say "Call-oh-rad-oh"
Demographics
| Historical populations |
|---|
Census
year | Population |
|---|
|
| 1860 | 34,277 |
| 1870 | 39,864 |
| 1880 | 194,327 |
| 1890 | 413,249 |
| 1900 | 539,700 |
| 1910 | 799,024 |
| 1920 | 939,629 |
| 1930 | 1,035,791 |
| 1940 | 1,123,296 |
| 1950 | 1,325,089 |
| 1960 | 1,753,947 |
| 1970 | 2,207,259 |
| 1980 | 2,889,964 |
| 1990 | 3,294,394 |
| 2000 | 4,301,261 |
The state's capital and largest city is
Denver, Colorado; the
Denver-Aurora metropolitan area, home to 2.5 million people, contains over half of the state's population. Residents of Colorado are often referred to as
Coloradans or
Coloradoans.
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 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 . The largest increases are expected along the Front Range, especially in the
Denver-Aurora metropolitan area.
As of 2004, 441,000 foreign-born persons live in the state, including an estimated 144,000 illegal aliens .
Colorado has one of the highest proportions of Hispanic residents of any U.S. state; only five states have a higher percentage. Denver and some other areas have significant Mexican populations, while southern Colorado has a large number of Hispanos, the descendants of early New Mexican settlers of colonial Spanish origin.
According to the 2000 Census, the largest ancestry groups in Colorado are German , Irish , and English . Persons reporting German ancestry are the largest group in the state and are especially strong in the Front Range and eastern Plains. People of British extraction are the largest group in the western Rocky Mountains. |
Religion
- Christian – 75%
- Protestant – 48%
- Roman Catholic – 24%
- Latter-Day Saint – 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, most of them Protestant.
Focus on the Family is a major conservative Christian organization. Catholicism is popular among many Coloradans, and is becoming more so with the influx of Latino immigrants. Colorado in general, is similar to other Western states, as it 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
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 . 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 Cañon 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.
Colorado has a flat 4.63%
income tax, regardless of income level. Unlike most states, which calculate taxes based on federal
adjusted gross income, Colorado taxes are based on
taxable income - income after federal exemptions and federal itemized deductions. 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 , which affects the counties of Denver, Boulder, Jefferson and portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield and Douglas
- Scientific & Cultural Facilities District The SCFD is a special, regional tax district that has physical boundaries contiguous with county boundaries for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson Counties. It is a 0.1% retail sales and use tax . According to the Colorado statute, the SCFD distributes the money to local organizations on an annual basis. These organizations must provide for the enlightenment and entertainment of the public through the production, presentation, exhibition, advancement or preservation of art, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, natural history or cultural history. As directed by statute, SCFD recipient organizations are currently divided into three "tiers." Tier I includes regional organizations: the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Zoo, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. It receives 65.5%. Tier II currently includes 26 regional organizations. Tier II receives 21%. Tier III has over 280 local organizations such as small theaters, orchestras, art centers and natural history, cultural history and community groups. Tier III organizations apply for funding to the county cultural councils via a grant process. This tier receives 13.5% An eleven-member board of directors oversees the distributions in accordance with the Colorado Revised Statutes. Seven board members are appointed by county commissioners and four members are appointed by the Governor of Colorado.
- Football Stadium District , approved by the voters to pay for and help build the Denver Broncos' stadium INVESCO Field at Mile High
- Local Improvement District within designated areas of southeast Jefferson and Boulder counties
- Regional Transportation District taxes at varying rates in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison County
- Occupational Privilege Tax Denver and Aurora both levy an OPT on Employers and Employees. If any employee performs work in the city limits and is paid over $500.00 USD for that work in a single month the Employee and Employer are both liable for the OPT regardless of where the main business office is located or headquartered. In Denver the Employer is liable for $4.00 USD per employee per month and the Employee is liable for $5.75 USD per month. In Aurora both Employer and Employees are liable for $2.00 USD per month. It is the Employers responsibility to with hold, remit and file the OPT returns. If an Employer does not comply, they can be held liable for both portions of the OPT as well as penaties and interest.
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.
Transportation
- Main article: List of Colorado State Highways
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Law and government
Presidential elections results
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
|---|
| 2004 | 51.69% 1,101,255 | 47.02% 1,001,732 |
| 2000 | 50.75% 883,745 | 42.39% 738,227 |
| 1996 | 45.80% 691,848 | 44.43% 671,152 |
| 1992 | 35.87% 562,850 | 40.13% 629,681 |
| 1988 | 53.06% 728,177 | 45.28% 621,453 |
| 1984 | 63.44% 821,818 | 35.12% 454,974 |
| 1980 | 55.07% 652,264 | 31.07% 367,973 |
| 1976 | 54.05% 584,367 | 42.58% 460,353 |
| 1972 | 62.61% 597,198 | 34.59% 329,980 |
| 1968 | 50.46% 409,345 | 41.32% 335,174 |
| 1964 | 38.19% 296,767 | 61.27% 476,024 |
| 1960 | 54.63% 402,242 | 44.91% 330,629 |
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. . 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 . Republicans are strongest in the rural plains region,
Colorado Springs, the Western Slope , 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 , and
Ken Salazar . The governor heads the state's executive branch. The current governor of Colorado is Bill Owens . 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 and has not elected one since 1958, in the person of Stephen L.R. McNichols. Bill Owens is a native of
Fort Worth, Texas. Owens is term-limited, and his successor will be elected in November 2006.
