50 Years of 50 States: Colorado

Nickname: The Centennial State
Date Ratified: August 1, 1876 (38th)
Capital: Denver

Map of Colorado

• Colorado was the first U.S. state to grant universal suffrage by popular vote, when they did so in 1893.
• Colorado is the only state in history, to turn down the Olympics. At the last minute, 62% of voters elected not to host the 1976 Winter Olympics because of the potential negative impact on the state.
• The world’s largest flat-top mountain is in Grand Mesa.
• The highest paved road in North America is the Road to Mt. Evans off of I-70 from Idaho Springs. The Road climbs up to 14,258 Ft. above sea level.
• Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,430 feet elevation. The town actually got its name because the founders wanted to distinguish it from all of the towns named after silver.
• Denver has the largest city park system in the U.S. There are 205 parks within the city limits and 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains.
• The world’s first rodeo was held in Deer Tail in 1869. Coincidentally, the world’s largest rodeo, the Western Stock Show, is held annually in Denver.
• Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state.
• The Colorado state flag was adopted in 1911, and is incorporated into the state highway markers.

Flag of Colorado

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