Western United States, part of the Mountain West region. Bordered by Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona (at Four Corners), and Utah.
Capital and Largest City: Denver
Nickname: The Centennial State
Statehood: Admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876 (100 years after the Declaration of Independence)
Population (2024 est.): ~5.9 million
Area: 104,094 sq mi (8th largest state)
Time Zone: Mountain Time (MT)
Climate
- Mountainous regions: Alpine climate, heavy snow in winter.
- Eastern plains: Semi-arid with hot summers and cold winters.
- Known for 300+ sunny days per year.
Major Cities of Colorado
- Denver – Capital, largest city, cultural hub.
- Colorado Springs – Home to the U.S. Air Force Academy and military bases.
- Aurora – Large suburb of Denver, diverse population.
- Fort Collins – College town, CSU campus.
- Boulder – Progressive city with a lively arts and tech scene.
- Lakewood, Thornton, Pueblo, Greeley, Loveland
Top Universities in Colorado
- University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) – Flagship campus, major research university.
- Colorado State University (CSU) – Fort Collins; top in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and engineering.
- University of Denver (DU) – Private university with strong business and law programs.
- Colorado School of Mines – Top in engineering and applied sciences.
- Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) – Urban-focused education.
- University of Colorado Denver – Strong in health sciences and architecture.
Famous Personalities from Colorado
Politicians
- John Hickenlooper – Former Governor and current U.S. Senator.
- Ken Salazar – Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Senator.
- Jared Polis – Current Governor of Colorado (first openly gay man elected governor in the U.S.).
- Gary Hart – Former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate.
Scientists and Innovators
- Nikola Tesla – Conducted experiments in Colorado Springs in 1899.
- Temple Grandin – Professor at CSU; influential in animal science and autism advocacy.
- Scott Carpenter – One of NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts; born in Boulder.
- Frances Kelsey – Not born in Colorado, but worked closely with the University of Colorado; known for blocking thalidomide in the U.S.
