Colorado

The State of Colorado is a located in the  of the. Colorado may also be considered to be a part of the and. The estimates that the state population was 4,753,377 in 2006, a 10.49% increase since. is the as well as the  of Colorado. Citizens of Colorado are known as.

Geography
The State of Colorado is defined as the geoellipsoidal rectangle that stretches from to  latitude and from  to  longitude ( to  from the ). Colorado is one of only three s (with and ) that have only lines of  and  for boundaries.

The summit of at 4401.2 m elevation in  is the state's highest point and the highest point in the entire. Colorado has more than 500 mountain peaks that exceed 4000 m elevation. Colorado is the only U.S. state that lies entirely above 1000 m elevation. The state's lowest elevation is 1010 m at the point on the eastern boundary of where the  flows into the.

East of the are the  of the, the section of the  within Colorado at elevations ranging from 3314 to 6562 feet (1010 to 2000 m). The states of and  border Colorado to the east. The plains are sparsely settled with most population along the and the  rivers. Precipitation is meager, averaging from 12 to 18 inches (300 to 450 mm) annually. There is some irrigated farming, but much of the land is used for or. is a typical crop and most small towns in the region boast both a and a.

The bulk of Colorado's population lives along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in the. This region is partially protected from prevailing storms by the high mountains to the west.

To the west lies the eastern slope of the with notable peaks such as, , , and the  near  in the south. This area drains to the east, is forested, and partially urbanized. During the drought of 2002 devastating s swept this area.

The stretches across the crest of the Rocky Mountains. To the west of the Continental Divide is the. Water west of the Continental Divide drains west into the via the.

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 is drained by the, which flows north into. Just south but on the west side of the Continental Divide is, drained by the Colorado River. is the s of the South Platte River. To the south lies the, the headwaters of the , which drains into. Across the to the east of the San Luis Valley lies the. These basins, particularly the San Luis Valley, lie along the, a major , and its branches.

The Rocky Mountains within Colorado contain 51 peaks that are 14000 ft or higher elevation, known as. The mountains are timbered with s and to the, at an elevation of about 12140 ft in southern Colorado to about 10500 ft in northern Colorado; above this only alpine vegetation grows. The Colorado Rockies are snow-covered only in the winter; most snow melts by mid-August with the exception of a few small glaciers. The, stretching from the in the southwest to  and  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, an extremely rugged mountain range, and to the west of the San Juans, the , a high desert bordering Southern. is the largest city on the. Grand Junction is served by Interstate Highway. To the southeast of Grand Junction is, the worlds largest flat-topped mountain. Further east are the s of, , , and. 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. The famous is just west of. Its lone peak is visible from near the border on clear days.

Colorado is also one of only four states in the to share a common border, along with ,  and. At this intersection, it is possible to stand in four states at once.

Climate
The climate of Colorado is best described as being cool and dry compared to the rest of the United States. While that is generally true throughout most of the state, the climate of Colorado is very complex. The typical south-north/cooler-warmer variation in other states is generally not applicable at all in Colorado. The location of mountain ranges and surrounding valleys affect local climate greatly. As a general rule, with an increase in elevation come a decrease in temperature and an increase in precipitation. A main climatic division in Colorado occurs where the Rocky Mountains begin with the Front Range cities and the plains to the east, the mountains and valleys to the west, and the foothills as a transitional zone in between the two.

Eastern Plains
The climate of the Eastern Plains is a  ( BSk) of low humidity and moderately low precipitation, usually from 10 to 15 inches (250 to 380 ) annually. The area is known for its abundant sunshine and cool clear nights, which give this area the highest average diurnal temperature range in the United States. In the summer, this area can have many days above 95 °F (35 °C) and sometimes 100 °F (38 °C) or more. Temperatures in excess of 115 °F (46 °C) in the northeast corner of the state are not uncommon, although 105 °F (41 °C) is the maximum in the front range cities above 5000 ft (1500 ). About 75% of the precipitation falls within the growing season, from April to September, but this area is very prone to droughts. Most of the precipitation comes in the form of thunderstorms which are often severe. Winters are cold and dry: in much of this region, March and April are the snowiest months. The Front Range cities closer to the mountains tend to be warmer in the winter due to winds which warm the area, sometimes bringing temperatures up to 60 °F (16 °C) or higher in the winter. The average July temperature is 57 degrees in the morning and 87 degrees in the afternoon.The average January temperature is 15 degrees in the morning and 43 degrees in the afternoon,although temperatures can be 60 one day and 0 the next.

West of the plains and foothills
West of the plains and foothills, the weather of Colorado is much less uniform. Even places a few miles (kilometers) apart can experience entirely different weather, depending on the topography of the area. Most valleys also have a semi-arid climate, which becomes an alpine climate at higher elevations. Generally, the wettest season is in the winter in Western Colorado while June is the driest month, which is the opposite of the precipitation patterns in the east. The mountains have cool summers with many days of high temperatures around 60 °F (16 °C) and 70 °F (21 °C), although frequent thunderstorms can cause a sudden drop in temperatures. Summer nights are cool, and cold at the highest altitudes which can sometimes bring snow even in the middle of the summer. The winters bring abundant, powdery snowfall to the mountains which the skiers love, although even in the winter, there can be many days with abundant sunshine in between major storms. The Western Slope has high summer temperatures similar to those found on the plains while the winters tend to be slightly cooler due to the lack of any warming winds which are common in the plains and Front Range. Other areas in the west have their own unique weather. The is generally dry with little rain or snow, although the snow that falls tends to stay on the ground all winter. .

Extreme weather
Extreme weather is a common occurrence in Colorado. Thunderstorms are common east of the Continental divide in the spring and summer, and Colorado is one of leading states in deaths due to. Hail is a common sight in the mountains east of the divide and in the northwest part of the state. While not as common as some of the states to the east, much of the Eastern Plains are prone to tornadoes, and there have been some damaging tornadoes there. An example is the 1990  tornado which devastated the city. Floods are also a factor in the plains, not just from the thunderstorms, but also due to heavy snow in the mountains followed by a warm, dry period which swells rivers with melted snow.

Records
The highest temperature ever recorded in Colorado was 118 °F (48 °C) on, , at , while the lowest was -61 °F (-52 °C) on , , at.

History
The region that is today the State of Colorado has been inhabited by for more than 13 millennia. The region was acquired by the with the  from  in 1803 and the  in 1848. The region was divided among the organized in 1850, the  organized in 1850, the  organized in 1854, and the  organized in 1854.

On, from , settled , then in the , but now Colorado's first. was discovered along the in western  in July of 1858, precipitating the. The Provisional Government of the was organized on, but the new territory failed to secure federal sanction. The election of on, led to the secession of six  and the approach of. The led  admitted the eastern portion of the  to the  as the   on, leaving the western portion of the territory, and its gold fields, unorganized.

Thirty days later on, outgoing  signed an act of Congress organizing the. (The boundaries of the new territory were the same as the State of Colorado today.) The name Colorado was chosen because it was commonly believed that the  originated in the territory. Early explorers had named the  for the reddish-brown silt the river carried from the mountains. (In fact, the Colorado River did not flow through Colorado until House Joint Resolution 460 of the changed the name of the  to the  on .)

On (28 days after ),   signed a proclamation admitting the State of Colorado to the  as the  and earning it the moniker the "". Colorado women were granted the beginning on. By the, the population of Colorado exceeded one million residents, and by the , the population exceeded 4.3 million.

Three different ships have been named in honor of the state.

Demographics
The state's largest city, and capital, is. The, home to 2,927,911 people, contains more than two-thirds of the state's population. Residents of Colorado are properly referred to as Coloradans, although the archaic term Coloradoans is also sometimes used. Coloradan refers to a Colorado resident, while Coloradoan is a newspaper in Fort Collins.

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 (that is 353,091 births minus 147,770 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 159,957 people into the state. from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 112,217 people, and 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 in the, especially in the.

As of 2004, 441,000 foreign-born persons (9.7% of the population) live in the state, including an estimated 144,000 (3.1% of the state population).

The of Colorado is located just north of the town of Critchell in.

Colorado has one of the highest proportions of residents of any U.S. state; only five states have a higher percentage. Denver and some other areas have significant populations, while southern Colorado has a large number of Hispanos, the descendants of early New Mexican settlers of colonial  origin. The reports that 10.52% of people aged 5 and over in Colorado speak  at home.

According to the 2000 Census, the largest ancestry groups in Colorado are (22%),  (12.2%), and  (12%). Persons reporting are the largest group in the state and are especially strong in the Front Range and eastern Plains. People of extraction are the largest group in the western Rocky Mountains.

Religion
Colorado, specifically the city of, serves as the headquarters of numerous Christian groups, most of them. is a major conservative Christian organization headquartered in the state. is popular among many Coloradans, and is becoming more so with the influx of Latino. Colorado is similar to other Western states, as it has a high percentage of religiously unaffiliated residents.

According to the American Religious Identification Survey, conducted in 2001 by The Graduate Center at the, Colorado's population is distributed among the following religious groups:
 * Self-Identifications – 68%
 * – 23%
 * Christian – 9%
 * – 8%
 * – 5%
 * – 5%
 * – 3%
 * – 3%
 * – 2%
 * – 2%
 * – 2%
 * – 2%
 * – 1%
 * – 1%
 * – 1%
 * Non-denominational – 1%
 * Non-Religious// – 21%
 * – 1%
 * – 1%
 * Other Religions – 3%
 * Refused To Answer – 6%

Economy
The Bureau of Economic Analysis 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, , s, , and.

The is also a major economic force in the state with many important federal facilities including  and the  in ;  and the  in ;  and other government agencies at the Denver Federal Center in ; the  and  in Denver; and a federal  and other federal  near. In addition to these and other, Colorado has abundant land and four  that contribute to federal ownership of 24615788 acre of land in Colorado, or 37% of the total area of 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, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, minerals such as and , and. Denver is an important financial center.

Colorado has a flat 4.63%, 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 (or standard) deductions. Colorado's state is 2.9% on retail sales. When state revenues exceed state constitutional limits, full-year Colorado residents can claim 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.

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.

Special district taxes
The special district taxes are:
 * The (RTD), which affects the counties of Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, and portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, and Douglas Counties
 * The (SCFD), a special regional tax district with physical boundaries contiguous with county boundaries of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties
 * It is a 0.1% retail sales and use tax (one penny on every $10).
 * 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" among which receipts are allocated by percentage.
 * 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 (in Denver, the Denver City Council) and four members are appointed by the Governor of Colorado.
 * The Football Stadium District (FD or FTBL), approved by the voters to pay for and help build the ' stadium
 * Local Improvement Districts (LID) within designated areas of southeast Jefferson and Boulder counties
 * Regional Transportation Districts (RTA) taxes at varying rates in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison County
 * Occupational Privilege Taxes (OPT or Head 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 US$500.00 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 US$4.00 per employee per month and the Employee is liable for US$5.75 per month.
 * In Aurora, both Employer and Employees are liable for US$2.00 per month.
 * It is the Employer's 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 penalties and interest.

Transportation
Federal Highway Routes through the State of Colorado



State government
Like the majority of, Colorado's current provides for three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The heads the state's executive branch. The is the highest judicial body in the state. The state legislative body is the, which is made up of two houses, the and the. The House has 65 members and the Senate has 35. Currently, 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.

The incumbent Governor of the State of Colorado is (D).

Many Coloradans are transplanted citizens, and this is illustrated by the fact that the state has not had a native-born governor since 1975 (when left office) and -- until  -- had not elected one since 1958, in the person of. Vanderhoof ascended from the Lieutenant Governorship when was given a position in 's administration in 1973.)  (D), a humanitarian missionary worker in Africa and former Denver District Attorney, defeated former congressman and banker  (R) in the.

Federal representation
The two U.S. from Colorado are  (R), and  (D). The state has seven, based on the.

Election politics
Colorado is considered a very independent state politically in both state and federal elections. Coloradans elected 17 and 12  to the  in the last 100 years. In presidential politics, Colorado supported Democrat in, and the Republican presidential nominee  in  and  in. won the state's 9 electoral votes in 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 won in 2000. . also gained in every open seat race in the state, picking up a seat in the and the.

Colorado politics has the contrast of conservative cities such as Colorado Springs and liberal cities such as Boulder. Democrats are strongest in, the college towns of , and , southern Colorado (including ), and a few western ski resort counties. Republicans are strongest in the Eastern Plains,, the (including ), and some of the Denver suburbs, especially south and west of Denver City-County. The fastest growing parts of the state, particularly, , and counties in the , are strongly Republican.

''See also: ''See also: ''See also:

Counties
The State of Colorado is divided into 64, including two counties with.

Cities and Towns
The State of Colorado has 271 and 83 active  s.

Metropolitan Areas
The has defined seven  (MSAs), seven  (μSAs), and one  (CSA) in the State of Colorado.

Protected areas
National Parks in Colorado:
 * and
 * and
 * and
 * and
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Education
Colleges and universities in Colorado:

Professional sports teams
Colorado is the least populous state with a franchise in each of the s. As of the 2000 census, Colorado was also the least populous state to have more than one major league team. The state is able to support the teams because it contains a large with a much higher population than any other city within 550 miles (885 kilometers). Therefore, many of the residents in the surrounding states support the, as shown by the reach of the Broncos' radio network.