Moving to Colorado - Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo,
Boulder, Grand Junction
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Colorado
is in the Rocky Mountain west of the United States and is the highest
state in the union, averaging in elevation 2070 m (6790 ft) above sea
level. It has 53 peaks of more than 4,268 m (14,000 ft) and over 250 peaks
higher than 3,963 m (13,000 ft). Colorado is bordered by Nebraska on the
northeast, Kansas on the east, Oklahoma on the southeast, New Mexico on
the south, Utah on the west, and Wyoming on the north. The name Colorado
is derived from the Spanish word meaning "colored" or "reddish" and describes
many of the colorful rock formations that can be seen in the mountains
and the western plateaus of the state.
LAND AND RESOURCES
Physiographic Regions
Colorado's physiographic regions are most commonly partitioned into five
geologic provinces: the high plains; the southern Rocky Mountains; the
Colorado Plateau; the Green River Basin; and the Uinta Range.
The high plains of Colorado are the westernmost extent of the Great Plains
of the United States. These flat to rolling expanses cover approximately
the eastern one-third of the state. They are underlain by thousands of
feet of mostly sedimentary rocks that are the remnants of the numerous
previous mountain systems that have formed to the west. These mountains
have uplifted and eroded many times over.
The southern Rocky Mountains are the hallmark geologic province in Colorado.
Covering central Colorado, the mountains now visible are merely the latest
in a long history of mountain systems that have come and gone. The present
mountain uplifts range in age from about 65 million years old to less
than 30 million years old. The rocks that comprise the mountains range
in type from granites and volcanic rock to sedimentary and metamorphic
rocks.
The Colorado Plateau to the west is a land of striking beauty where red
rock rises high above deep-cut canyons, and dry winds blow fine dust through
the sparse desertlike vegetation. This plateau country is the eastern
extension of the much more extensive plateau region that reaches to the
Grand Canyon area of Arizona.
The Green River Basin and Uinta Range are two small geologic provinces
in the far northwest of the state. They are best known for their wide
open sage landscapes and Dinosaur National Monument, home to one of the
world's best collections of dinosaur fossils.
Rivers and Lakes
Colorado, the mother of rivers, spawns four major rivers that contribute
water to 18 states. The Colorado River, the main river system for the
southwestern United States, originates among the high peaks of Rocky Mountain
National Park and flows west-southwest to the U.S.-Mexican border. The
Rio Grande begins in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado and
flows through New Mexico, eventually becoming the border between Texas
and Mexico. The Arkansas River beginning in the central mountains of Colorado,
flows through spectacular Royal Gorge and continues eastward to the Mississippi
River. The South Platte drains the northeastern mountains, eventually
joining the North Platte River to form, near Grand Island, Neb., the Platte
River, which empties into the Missouri River. Colorado contains few large
natural lakes; Grand Lake is the biggest in the state. Many large reservoirs
have been constructed, however, for recreation, irrigation, and flood
control. These include Blue Mesa Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Lake
Granby, Steamboat Lake, and Antero Reservoir. Much of the water caught
by reservoirs on the western slope of the mountains is transferred via
pipelines and tunnels to cities on the eastern edge of the mountains.
Climate
Colorado's climate is marked by stark contrasts and considerable variety.
The entire state lies in the semiarid, continental climate zone, but elevation
markedly affects the distribution of both temperature and precipitation.
The growing season on the eastern plains varies from 120 to 200 days.
The growing season in the mountains can be as short as 65 days in the
alpine regions above the tree line. Mean temperatures for the plains range
from a low of - 3 degrees C (26 degrees F) in winter to a high of 23 degrees
C (73 degrees F) in summer. Mountain temperatures are generally lower
for both seasons.
Although the precipitation regime is semiarid, the total amount received
in any given year varies. The lowest average precipitation for the state
is near Alamosa, where only 178 mm (7 in) falls. Precipitation increases
with elevation, and the high mountains can receive up to 1,067 mm (42
in) during a year. Heavy snow falls in the mountains from October to May,
and blizzards are not uncommon in any part of the state from November
to April.
Topography and atmospheric inversions cause relatively severe air pollution.
Denver, Colorado's capital and largest city, Colorado Springs, and several
small cities in the mountain valleys have a propensity for atmospheric
pollution caused by concentrations of carbon monoxide and particulate
matter from automobiles, woodstoves, and fireplaces.
Vegetation and Animal Life
The distribution of ecosystems in Colorado, much like the climatic variables,
is predominantly determined by elevation. A useful tool for describing
this phenomenon is the life zone. Colorado contains six life zones: the
plains, foothills, montane, subalpine, alpine, and upper Sonoran. The
plains life zone lies at an elevation below 1,676 m (5,500 ft); most of
this area is east of the mountains and is also called the short-grass
prairie or the high plains. At an elevation from 1,676 m to 2,438 m (8,000
ft) is the foothills life zone. Here the plains and mountain environments
overlap, with vegetation species found here from both zones. Ponderosa
pine and pinon pine/juniper ecosystems are often dominant. The wetter
montane life zone generally falls between 2,438 m and 2,896 m (9,500 ft).
True mountain vegetation such as Douglas fir and aspen are common here.
The subalpine life zone, up to 3,505 m (11,500 ft), is often referred
to as the snow forest zone. Majestic stands of spruce and fir capture
large snowfalls and windblown snow from the alpine above. The highest
life zone, above 3,505 m, is the alpine. Tundra vegetation similar to
that found in the Arctic thrives in this seemingly formidable landscape.
A sixth life zone occurring mainly in the Colorado Plateau is the upper
Sonoran life zone, which is similar to that found in desert and semidesert
regions of northern Mexico. It generally lies between 1,829 m (6,000 ft)
and 2,134 m (7,000 ft) and is the home of desert shrubs, succulents, and
pinon pine/juniper woodlands. In late spring and early summer, a profusion
of wildflowers can be found in all life zones of the state.
Game and nongame wildlife are diverse and plentiful throughout Colorado.
Large mammal wildlife in the mountains include black bear, Rocky Mountain
elk, mule deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mountain
lions, and bobcats. Beaver are making a big comeback in mountain streams
and rivers. Grizzly bear and wild bison, both plentiful in the 19th century,
are no longer found in the state. Plains mammalian wildlife include pronghorn,
white-tailed deer, badger, and some domesticated bison. Bird species are
extremely varied, with waterfowl using flyways throughout the state. Raptors
like golden eagles, prairie falcons, and several species of hawks are
abundant. Rare birds can also be found; the whooping crane passes through
the San Luis Valley during its yearly migrations, and bald eagles can
be seen along watercourses during their migrations. As in almost all areas
of the United States, the populations of songbirds are diminishing.
Natural Resources
The most valuable nonrenewable resources in Colorado are its mineral resources.
Most metal ores occur in a broad band across the mountains, stretching
from Boulder to the San Juan Mountains. Among the metallic minerals mined
in the state since the mid-19th century are gold, silver, iron, and copper.
Today, the main metallic ore mined is molybdenum, a hardening alloy for
steel. Nonmetallic minerals of importance include limestone, gypsum, perlite,
and aggregate. Mineral fuels--oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium--are
or have been significant contributors to the economy. Also found in Colorado
is one of the world's largest deposits of "oil shale," a rock that holds
solid, oillike substances that can be processed into crude oil. To date,
monetary and environmental costs have prohibited its development.
Colorado's most precious natural resource is water. All of the state's
major river systems distribute water from the state's mountains for use
elsewhere. For example, Colorado is part of the Colorado River Compact
(1922), whereby all water in the Colorado River is allocated to seven
states and Mexico.
PEOPLE
Colorado's population is mostly urban and is concentrated in a north-south
corridor along the eastern slope of the Rockies, especially the front
range. The eastern plains, at best, have remained steady in terms of population
level, with many towns and counties experiencing declining populations
over several decades. Mountain communities have grown somewhat, with major
increases in the ski centers such as Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Telluride,
and Steamboat Springs. Grand Junction, one of the few growing cities in
western Colorado, is becoming a mecca for retirees. After a slowing of
growth rates during the 1980s, the front-range communities are again growing
rapidly. While Denver has remained stagnant in terms of population growth,
its suburbs and nearby cities have boomed. Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado
Springs, and Jefferson County, as well as other front-range communities,
are leading the state to steady increases in population. Religious affiliation
is generally Protestant, and since about 1990, there has been a move toward
fundamentalist Christian sects.
Whites make up about 88% (1990 census) of Colorado's population, while
blacks comprise 4%, Asian Americans nearly 2%, and Native Americans nearly
1 percent. Hispanics occupy much of the southern portion of Colorado and
constitute 13% of the state's population.
Education
Public education in Colorado is administered through local school boards
and the Colorado Department of Education. It is funded by a mix of statewide
revenues and local property taxes. Colorado State University (1870) is
the land-grant school. The main state university system is the four-campus
University of Colorado, in Boulder (1876), Denver (1882 and 1912), and
Colorado Springs (1965). The Colorado School of Mines (1874) and the United
States Air Force Academy (1954) are specialized, world class institutions
of higher education. Private higher-education schools include Colorado
College (1874) in Colorado Springs, the University of Denver (1864), and
Regis University-Teikyo Loretto Heights branch (formerly Loretto Heights
College; 1891), in Denver. (See also Colorado, state universities and
colleges of.
Cultural Institutions
Denver has historically been the focus of cultural activity in the state.
In the metropolitan area, cultural institutions abound, including the
Denver Museum of Natural History, the Denver Art Museum, Museum of Western
Art, Turner Museum, Children's Museum of Denver, and the Colorado History
Museum. Cultural facilities include Boettcher Concert Hall, a unit of
the Denver Performing Arts Complex, and Red Rocks Park amphitheater. Colorado
Springs has a Fine Arts Center, Pioneers Museum, and Pikes Peak Ghost
Town. Boulder has the annual Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Aspen
is renowned for its music school and festival. Many ski-area cities are
becoming cultural nuclei. Places such as Steamboat Springs, Telluride,
and Breckenridge have summer music and art festivals for every taste.
Historical Sites
The history of Colorado spans several thousand years. Folsom points, stone
artifacts that are nearly 10,000 years old, have been found throughout
the state. The ruins from the Anasazi at Mesa Verde National Park and
Hovenweep National Monument attest to the advancements and stability of
these early people. Nomadic native Americans roamed the plains and mountains
of what became Colorado for centuries but left little in the way of artifacts.
With the migration west of the white population, other examples of human
habitation were built. Bent's Old Fort, a national historic site along
the lower Arkansas River, lies as a testament to the Santa Fe Trail. Mining
equipment and buildings in places like Silverton, Crested Butte, and Cripple
Creek give life to the history of mining during the late 19th and early
20th centuries. Sand Creek, on the far eastern plains of the state, stands
in solemn silence to the massacre there of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians
by soldiers in 1864. More modern structures such as Falcon Air Force Base
(home of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization) and the United States
Air Force Academy, both near Colorado Springs, and the Rocky Flats munitions
plant, near Denver, are examples of the landscape of the military-industrial
complex and its role in shaping Colorado.
Recreation Areas
Colorado has two national parks (Rocky Mountain National Park and Mesa
Verde National Park), several national monuments (including Black Canyon
of the Gunnison, Colorado National Monument, Great Sand Dunes, and Dinosaur
National Monument), and dozens of national and state recreation areas
and state parks. Skiing is a dominant winter pastime and a boost to the
economy. Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, and Steamboat Springs are premier
winter-sports havens. Fishing, mountain biking, hiking, rafting, and kayaking
are popular summertime activities.
Communications
Colorado's largest newspapers are The Denver Post and the state's oldest
newspaper, the Rocky Mountain News (1859), also in Denver. The Gazette
Telegraph in Colorado Springs and Pueblo's Chieftain are the main newspapers
for the southeastern portion of the state. More than a dozen television
stations cover the entire state, and cable television now makes available
many viewing channels. Cellular telephones, fiber optic networks, and
information systems are providing strong support to the national information
network.
Health Care
Colorado has one of the world's major centers for the study of respiratory
ailments at the University of Colorado medical center's Webb-Waring Lung
Institute in Denver. Strong regional medical centers exist in Colorado
Springs and Pueblo.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Colorado's early economic history was written by the exploiters and extractors
of the state's natural-resource wealth. Beaver pelts, bison hides, gold,
silver, and timber were all important in the 19th century. More recent
economic activity centered around agriculture and smokestack industries
like coke production, steel manufacturing, and rubber production. The
current mainstays of the Colorado economy are the service industry, tourism,
and "clean" manufacturing.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector of Colorado's economy makes up almost 25% of
the total employment in the state. Traditional areas of manufacturing,
such as metal production, machinery, chemicals, and transportation equipment
are gradually being replaced by high-technology manufacturing. Electronic
equipment, computer hardware, and telecommunications devices are rapidly
becoming the core of manufacturing. Food processing is also important.
Agriculture
While agriculture contributes significantly to the total value of production
in Colorado, employment in agriculture is quite small. Cattle and meat
production remain important to the state's economy. Produce has always
been crucial, especially for irrigated regions along the Arkansas and
South Platte rivers and in the San Luis Valley. These areas, however,
are losing significant acreage because much of the water used for irrigation
is being diverted to cities.
Mining and Energy Extraction
Mining in Colorado is locally important but has decreased to less than
2% of the total employment in the state. In the early 1990s, Colorado
was a major producer of such industrial minerals as helium, lead, and
molybdenum. Energy extraction follows boom and bust cycles. With the demise
of oil-shale development, this part of Colorado's economy is at a very
low level.
Federal Government Employment
The federal government expends more than $3,900 per capita on military
and nonmilitary federal programs, pumping more than $13 billion into Colorado's
economy every year. Even with defense reductions, the federal government
will continue to be a major economic force in Colorado for many years
to come.
Services and Tourism
The service industry and tourism provide well over 50% of employment in
Colorado. This trend follows that found in most other states. Tourism,
especially, is becoming an important magnet for investment and spending.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Colorado became known as the centennial state upon entering the Union
on August 1, 1876; it operates under a state constitution adopted at that
time that provides for a strong executive branch run by the governor,
who is elected for a four-year term. The constitution also has established
a seven-member Supreme Court, where judges serve ten-year appointments.
Other courts include a court of appeals, district courts, and various
lower-level courts. The constitution is a detailed document that is easily
amended, causing some extreme fluctuations in constitutional law. Laws
are enacted by a bicameral legislature that includes state senators elected
for four-year terms and state representatives elected for two-year terms.
Term limits for most statewide elected officials except for federal positions
were established in 1990.
There is a tenuous balance between Republican and Democratic officeholders.
The state legislature has been dominated by Republicans for the last decade
or more, while the governorship has been solidly Democratic since the
mid-1970s. U.S. senators and representatives are almost equally split
between the two parties. Denver, Boulder, Pueblo, and some western slope
cities such as Aspen are predominantly Democratic; rural areas, Denver
suburbs, and Colorado Springs are mostly Republican and becoming more
conservative.
HISTORY
Artifact evidence from various locations around Colorado indicates that
nomadic hunters roamed the area at least 10,000 years ago. This evidence
includes many examples of Folsom age projectile points that are very distinctive
in design. People known as the Basket Makers inhabited the plateaus of
the southwestern part of the state by the 1st century AD. This culture
eventually merged with the "ancient ones," or Anasazi, by the year AD
800. The Anasazi became what are now called the cliff dwellers of the
mesa country, probably in response to threats from nomadic tribes of the
region. Between AD 1000 and 1300, magnificent stone dwellings were developed
into entire cities that clung precipitously to the cliff walls of the
deep canyons. By 1300 this culture had disappeared for unknown reasons.
When European exploration began, Native American culture was dominated
by wandering tribes such as the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho.
Exploration and Acquisition by the United States
The earliest European explorers were the Spaniards. Francisco Coronado
probably came north into the San Luis Valley (1541). The goal, never attained,
of these conquistadors was to find the Seven Cities of Cibola, with their
vast stores of gold and silver. The main material impact of the Spaniards
was the introduction of the horse to the region.
With the Louisiana Purchase (1803), the United States, under President
Thomas Jefferson, obtained from France the northern and eastern parts
of Colorado. Almost immediately exploration by the United States began.
Zebulon Montgomery Pike led a party into Colorado in 1806. Other explorations
and surveys of the region followed, led by Stephen H. Long (1820), John
C. Fremont (1842-43, 1845), and Ferdinand V. Hayden (1873-75). The area's
first semipermanent white inhabitants were the mountain men, who were
trappers and fur traders.
The southern and western parts of Colorado were acquired by the United
States under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) at the conclusion
of the Mexican War. A decade later, gold was discovered in Cherry Creek
near Denver, and the region's population exploded nearly overnight. Not
only did miners come to Colorado, but the "Great American Desert," so
described by Stephen Long, attracted ranchers and farmers to help feed
the mining boom. Ignoring Indian claims to the area, the settlers proclaimed
it the Territory of Jefferson (see Jefferson, Territory of), a move not
recognized by the U.S. Congress. Colorado became an official United States
territory in 1861.
Statehood
By the time Colorado became a state in 1876, the early gold-mining boom
was over, and the economy was being built upon silver. From the early
1870s until the single gold standard was established in 1893, silver was
king. That single act of Congress crippled the silver industry and sank
Colorado into a deep depression. The gold discovery in Cripple Creek the
next year, however, helped revive the economy.
With the signing of a treaty with the Ute chief Ouray in 1880, the Indian
wars (with the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and later the Ute) ended. In 1881 the
Ute were removed to a reservation in Utah.
Recent History
The Great Depression of the 1930s created an economic setback in Colorado,
with eastern Colorado much affected by the Dust Bowl droughts, during
which millions of tons of topsoil were blown away and millions of acres
of farmland ruined. Not until after World War II did the economy fully
recover, as military spending expanded in the state. Economic and population
growth rates in the 1940s and 1950s exceeded national averages, and Colorado--with
improved roads, airports, and other transportation facilities--rapidly
became a center for tourism. Today important issues in the state revolve
around the ownership of water rights needed to support both population
and irrigated agriculture, environmental protection of the state's resources,
education funding, and social change. Colorado's beauty and its natural
resources remain great attractions for people; a balance between stewardship
for the wonders of the state and economic-development needs is necessary
to maintain an attractive and vibrant Colorado.
Thomas Huber
Bibliography: Chronic, Halka, Roadside Geology of Colorado (1980); Dallas,
Sandra, Colorado Ghost Towns and Mining Camps (1985); Griffiths, Mel,
and Rubright, Lynnell, Colorado: A Geography (1983); Hogan, Richard, Class
and Community in Frontier Colorado (1990); Huber, Thomas, Colorado: The
Place of Nature, the Nature of Place (1993); Lorch, Robert S., Colorado's
Government, 5th ed. (1991); Mutel, Cornelia, et al., From Grassland to
Glacier, rev. ed. (1992); Sprague, Marshall, Colorado (1976); Ubbelohde,
Carl, et al., A Colorado History, 6th ed. (1988); Walton, Roger A., Colorado:
A Practical Guide to Its Government and Politics, 6th rev. ed. (1991).
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