COLORADO FUN FACTS

Hairstreak Butterfly

Colorado State Insect – Hairstreak Butterfly

Fortunately, the state insect of Colorado is a Butterfly (“Hypaurotis Cysalus”) and not the Tarantula Hawk Wasp, sorry New Mexico! The Hairstreak Butterfly is usually grey on the bottom with purplish wings on top. This colorful butterfly can frequently be found along the Western Slope or in the Southern Regions of Colorado and other surrounding states. “State Insect.” State Insect | Archives. Share Colorado State

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Colorado National Parks

National Parks In Colorado – 4 Parks

The Colorado National Parks List includes: 1) Black Canyon Of The Gunnison: Montrose, CO. Great Sand Dunes National Historic and Preserve: Mosca, CO. 3) Mesa Verde National Park: Cortez and Mancos, CO. 4) Rocky Mountain National Park: Estes Park and Grand Lake, CO. Despite what Google says, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are not located in Colorado. In fact, Google left out one

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Colorado Capitol – Denver

Originaly, the first Capitol Building of Colorado was actuallly in Old Colorado City near Colorado Springs. The City of Denver moved the Statehouse around 1894. Home to the “Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor”, the Capitol Building can be found at 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203. The City of Denver has a population estimate in 2018 of “716,492”. According to

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Colorado Big Horn Sheep - Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep – Colorado State Animal

Another iconic symbol of Colorado and the Poster Child of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Designated the State Animal of Colorado in 1961, the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep can often be seen along high elevation highways and Colorado Mountain Passes. In fact, it is very common to find Big Horn Sheep near Eisenhower Tunnel – The Highest Motor Vehicle

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Colorado State Cactus

Claret Cup Cactus – State Cactus of Colorado

COLORADO STATE CACTUS – CLARET CUP CACTUS In case you were wondering, the official cactus of Colorado is the Claret Cup Cactus, also know as the King Cup Cactus. It’s official scientific name is “Echinocereus Triglochidiatus“. (Try saying that three times fast!)      The Colorado State Cactus resembles a cluster of Barrel Cactus with red and orange tinted flowers and medium sized spines/thorns up-to

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colorado quarter

Colorado Quarter

The Colorado quarter was issued as part of the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. This program released commemorative quarters representing each of the 50 states in the United States, including the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. The Colorado quarter was released on June 14, 2006, and features unique designs on the reverse (back) sides of the coin. The obverse side of

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Palisade Peach – Unofficial State Fruit of Colorado

The official state fruit of Colorado is the famous Palisade Peach. Known for its extra delicious flavor, the Palisade Peach is truly one of the sweetest parts of Colorado. In fact, the fruit is so popular it even has its own Palisade Peach Festival.      Why Are Palisade Peaches So Sweett Palisade Peaches get their extra sweet flavor from the dramatic temprature swings along

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Colorado State Bird – Lark Bunting

COLORADO STATE BIRD – LARK BUNTING The state bird of Colorado is the Majestic Lark Bunting! Although Colorado is home to numerous species of birds, the State of Colorado thought the Lark Bunting was the most symbolic representation of the Centennial State. In their infinite wisdom, the Colorado General Assembly reviewed the Western Bluebird, Rufous Hummingbird, Peregrine Falcon, Mountain Blue Bird, Coopers Hawk, and an

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Yule Marble Found In Colorado

Colorado Rock – Yule Marble

STATE ROCK OF COLORADO – YULE MARBLE One of the most iconic symbols of the United State comes from Yule Creek Valley in Marble, Colorado. This white marble is only found in the Elk Mountains of Colorado at over 7,990 ft in elevation. If you have ever been to Washington D.C. then you have probably seen the White Marble National Monuments erected from the only White

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grand meas colorado

Largest Flat Top Mountain – Grand Mesa

The largest flat top mountain in the WORLD is the Grand Mesa. Located on the Western Slope of Colorado, near the city of Grand Junction, the Grand Mesa has an area of over 500 square miles (1,295 square kilometers) and is the largest flat top mountains in the world. It rises to an elevation of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) above sea level and is home

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colorado map

Size Of Colorado – 104,185 Miles^2

The State of Colorado is approximately 104,185 mi^2 making it the 8th largest state in the United States. By distance, the Centennial State is approximately 380 miles wide by 280 miles long. In comparison, the State of Colorado is almost the same size as New Zealand. By geographic area, the State of Colorado is larger than over 118 Countries around the world! Share Size of

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state of colorado map

Where Is Colorado

Colorado is a state located in the western region of the United States. It is bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, Oklahoma to the southeast, New Mexico to the south, Utah to the west, and Arizona to the southwest. The capital and largest city of Colorado is the City of Denver. Where is Colorado on Map Facebook

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central city colorado richest square mile on earth

Richest Square Mile on Earth – Central City

Central City Colorado Central City, located approximately 38 miles west of Denver, is known as “The Richest Square Mile On Earth”. During the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in 1859, the town earned its nickname when it became the wealthiest square mile in the United Sates due to its abundance of gold and silver mines. In the late 1800s, Central City was home to over 30,000

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Arkansas River – Longest River In Colorado

By geographic distance, the longest river across the State of Colorado is the Arkansas River. Although the Rio Grande River is longer in total length (1890-miles), the Arkansas River covers a larger surface area within the State of Colorado (324+ miles). Headwaters of the Arkansas River From its headwaters near the City of Leadville, the Arkansas River spans over 1,470 miles and is the 6th

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when did colorado become a state

When Did Colorado Become A State – 1876

Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876. It was the 38th state to join the United States. The road to statehood was a long one for Colorado, as it had been a territory since 1861. However, it was not until the discovery of gold in 1858 and the subsequent influx of settlers that statehood became a more pressing issue. Today, Colorado is known for

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Native Tribes in Colorado

Colorado was originally home to numerous Native American Tribes including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Ute, Navajo, Apache, Shoshone, Comanche, and Pueblo Indians. Today, only “the Southern Ute Tribe and the Mountain Ute Tribe” are Federally recognized in the State of Colorado. Across the Centennial State, several towns, cities, and counties are named after the tribes and chiefs that once inhabited Colorado including the City of

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mount evans colorado

Mount Evans Road – Highest Paved Road

The highest paved road in America is the Road to Mount Evans, also known as Colorado State Highway 5. The road leads to the summit of Mount Evans, which is one of Colorado’s highest peaks, with an elevation of 14,271 feet (4,350 meters) above sea level. The Road to Mount Evans starts in Idaho Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) in just

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Tallest Mountain in Colorado

Tallest Mountains In Colorado

Mount Elbert Colorado is home to many towering peaks, with the highest mountains reaching elevations over 14,000 feet (4,267 meters). The five tallest mountains in Colorado include – Mount Elbert – 14,440 feet (4,401 meters) Mount Massive – 14,429 feet (4,396 meters) Mount Harvard – 14,421 feet (4,394 meters) Blanca Peak – 14,345 feet (4,372 meters) La Plata Peak – 14,336 feet (4,369 meters) These

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What does Colorado mean

What Does Colorado Mean

In simple translation, Colorado is a Spanish word that means colored red. It is derived from the Spanish word rojo, meaning red. The name Colorado was given because of the reddish tint of the Colorado River, caused by sedimentation. After several name changes, the name Colorado was later chosen for the Centennial State in 1861 by the U.S. Congress. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email More Fun

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Coeur d'Alene Mine Central City

Pikes Peak Gold Rush

Idaho Springs and Central City Colorado The Pikes Peak Gold Rush was a major event and milestone in Colorado and American history. It was triggered by the discovery of gold in the Colorado Territory in 1858, which led to a rush of prospectors and settlers to the Pikes Peak region. The first discovery of gold in Colorado is credited to William Greeneberry Russell, who found

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Nil Sine Numine Meaning - State of Colorado Motto

Colorado State Motto – Nil Sine Numine

On the official State Seal of Colorado, the Latin Phrase “Nil Sine Numine” can be found on a white banner just above the date “1876”.  Because the phrase Nil Sine Numine is Latin in origin, the translation has two meanings in the English language. The first translation means “Nothing Without Providence” and the second interpretation means “Nothing Without God”. The state seal and phrase was

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PACK BURRO RACING

Official Sport Of Colorado – Pack Burro Racing

Believe it or not, Pack Burro Racing is the official sport of Colorado.  The sport originated in Colorado during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in mid 1800’s. Today spectators can still experience this unique Colorado Sport during the Pack Burrow Race Days at the Town of Fairplay.  The Pack Burrow Race Days are a annual event that take place around mid-to-late July. Share Official Sport

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colorado blue spruce

Blue Spruce – Colorado State Tree

The State Tree of Colorado is the Colorado Blue Spruce. This Symbol of Colorado can grow anywhere from 50 to 130 feet tall with a width up to 30+ feet at the base. In the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Blue Spruce can live over 200 years. Naturally growing at high elevations between 6,000 and 11,500 ft, this Giant Christmass Tree is easy to distinguish across

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Palisade Peach – Unofficial State Fruit of Colorado

The official state fruit of Colorado is the famous Palisade Peach. Known for its extra delicious flavor, the Palisade Peach is truly one of the sweetest parts of Colorado. In fact, the fruit is so popular it even has its own Palisade Peach Festival.      Why Are Palisade Peaches So Sweett Palisade Peaches get their extra sweet flavor from the dramatic temprature swings along

Read More »
What does Colorado mean

What Does Colorado Mean

In simple translation, Colorado is a Spanish word that means colored red. It is derived from the Spanish word rojo, meaning red. The name Colorado was given because of the reddish tint of the Colorado River, caused by sedimentation. After several name changes, the name Colorado was later chosen for the Centennial State in 1861 by the U.S. Congress. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email More Fun

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What to Do and See in Denver Co

Biggest City In Colorado

Denver Colorado By population, the biggest city in Colorado is the City of Denver. The population of Denver is approximately 733,114 residents. The population of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as the Denver Metro Area, was 2,998,982 in 2020. In addition to being the biggest city in Colorado, the City of Denver is also the State Capital and central economic hub for domestic/international

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central city colorado richest square mile on earth

Richest Square Mile on Earth – Central City

Central City Colorado Central City, located approximately 38 miles west of Denver, is known as “The Richest Square Mile On Earth”. During the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in 1859, the town earned its nickname when it became the wealthiest square mile in the United Sates due to its abundance of gold and silver mines. In the late 1800s, Central City was home to over 30,000

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colorado area code

Colorado Area Code – 720, 970, 303, 719, 983

720 Area Code – Denver The 720 area code includes the cities of Denver, Brighton, Henderson, Aurora, Longmont, Littleton, and other nearby municipalities. Both the 720 and 303 area codes cover the smallest geographic area but contain the densest population within the State of Colorado. 303 Area Code – Denver The 303 area code primarily includes the Denver Metro Area. This includes the cities of

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Colorado River Headwaters

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado are the headwaters to over seven major rivers, including the Colorado River. The headwaters of the Colorado River are found at La Poudre Pass Lake located on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.   From this small lake directly north of the Town of Grand Lake, the Colorado River begins its nearly 1,500-mile journey to the Gulf of California.  Along

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air force academy graduation flyover

Air Force Graduation – June 1st

Air Force Academy (USAFA) graduation and flyover will take place on Thursday June 1st 2023. The main ceremony goes from 9:30 am until approximately 1:15 pm. The Air Force Falcons flyover is directly at the end of the graduation ceremony. The guest speaker for Air Force Graduation is Lieutenant General Richard Milo Clark, the 21st superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Air Force Graduation

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colorado quarter

Colorado Quarter

The Colorado quarter was issued as part of the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. This program released commemorative quarters representing each of the 50 states in the United States, including the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. The Colorado quarter was released on June 14, 2006, and features unique designs on the reverse (back) sides of the coin. The obverse side of

Read More »
Colorado State Cactus

Claret Cup Cactus – State Cactus of Colorado

COLORADO STATE CACTUS – CLARET CUP CACTUS In case you were wondering, the official cactus of Colorado is the Claret Cup Cactus, also know as the King Cup Cactus. It’s official scientific name is “Echinocereus Triglochidiatus“. (Try saying that three times fast!)      The Colorado State Cactus resembles a cluster of Barrel Cactus with red and orange tinted flowers and medium sized spines/thorns up-to

Read More »
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