Colorado State Song
Where the snowy peaks
gleam in the moonlight, above
the dark forests of pine, And
the wild foaming waters dash
onward, toward lands where
the tropic stars shine; Where
the scream of the bold
mountain eagle, responds to
the notes of the dove Is the
purple robed West, the land
that is best, the pioneer land
that we love.
Colorado has an interesting history. During a blizzard in 1806, Zebulon M. Pike tried
to climb to the top of the best-known Rocky Mountain peak in Colorado. It was
14,110 feet above sea level. However, his crew didn't have enough warm clothing or
rations and was forced to turn back. The mountain's peak was named "Pike's Peak"
after him and was described as unscalable by Pike. Fourteen years later, in 1820, Dr.
Edwin James accomplished what Pike couldn't; he reached the top.
"Pikes Peak or Bust!" Prospectors wrote that on their wagons in 1859 as they headed
for gold mines in Colorado. The state's mountains and plateaus are filled with gold,
silver, and other minerals. Today, however, petroleum, is the state's most important
mineral product.
Colorado is named after the Colorado River. Its name means "colored red" in
Spanish. The river was named this because of the many colorful rock formations
seen in the state's mountains and western plateaus. Colorado's nickname is the
"Centennial State" because it joined the Union on the 100th anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence. The abbreviation for Colorado is CO.
Colorado is a Rocky Mountain state
bordered by Wyoming to the north, Kansas
to the east, Mexico to the south, and Utah to
the west. The state is famous for its
elevation. Its average elevation, at over one
mile above sea level, is the highest in the
nation. Denver, the capital and largest city,
is known as the "Mile High City." The
Denver Broncos, a National Football League
team, play in Mile High Stadium. This forces
football players to use oxygen masks
because the stadium's air is so thin.
Speaking of heights, Colorado has 51 of the 80 highest North American peaks. The
Rocky Mountains run through the state. The Continental Divide, which separates
rivers that flow into the Gulf of Mexico from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean,
cuts through Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. The sources of many rivers,
including the Rio Grande, Colorado, Arkansas, and South Platte rivers, are in
Colorado. And in the state, one can travel across the world's highest suspension
bridge and gaze down more than 1,000 feet at the state's spectacular canyon, Royal
Gorge.
Even though, the state is known for its great elevations, it's not all mountains. The
eastern third of the state is part of the Great Plains. Hay, wheat, potatoes, corn, and
sugar beets are all grown in this section of Colorado. Colorado's Rocky Mountain
mines are the nation's leading producer of molybdenum, which is used to harden
steel.
Colorado is a main transportation and
distribution center for the Rocky Mountain
region. This is because it is located about
halfway between the major cities in
California and the Midwest. Because of its
location, many large banks and
manufacturing companies have established
branch offices in the state. The United
States Government owns more than a third of Colorado's land, where it controls
grazing, mining, and logging.
If you like war planes, Colorado could be the state for you. The United States Air Force
Academy and defense headquarters are located in the state. The North American Aerospace
Defense Command is located 1,200 feet underground in Cheyenne Mountain, near Colorado
Springs.
The beautiful scenery of the Rockies and the state's cool, pleasant summer climate have made
Colorado a favorite of tourists. Aspen is a world famous ski resort. Estes Park, Steamboat
Springs, Vail, and Colorado Springs, are also popular resorts. And for any fan of the movie
"Jurassic Park," Colorado shares Dinosaur National Monument with Utah. It has thousands of
dinosaur bones from the Jurassic period. And one can also see prehistoric cliff dwellings built by
the Anasazi, an early Indian tribe, in Mesa Verde National Park.
"Use of materials with permission from sheppardsoftware.com"
Colorado State Flag
Random Fact
Some 2000 feet below ground in
Cheyenne Mountain is the
Cheyenne Mountain Operations
Center. It served as the command
center for both NORAD and
USNORTHCOM, with the purpose
of defending the US against
nuclear attacks.
Colorado State Seal
Colorado at a Glance
Capital...Denver
Largest City...Denver
Population...4,301,261
Statehood...1876 (38th)
Area...ranked 8th
Motto...Nothing without God
Nickname...The Centennial State