COLORADO FROM A TO Z

A IS FOR AGRICULTURE & ARCHEOLOGY

• The Colorado Department of Agriculture The State Soil is Seitz. The farm industry is primarily concentrated in livestock. The primary crops are corn, hay, & wheat. The State Fair is held in Pueblo and there are several County Fairs. Colorado has 4-H Clubs and Future Farmers of America groups. The National Agriculture Statistic Service has agriculture information about the state.

• Colorado celebrates ARCHEOLOGY and Historic Preservation in May. The state protects archeological sites.

• Despite being landlocked, Colorado has BEACHES at State Parks and Lakes and Reservoirs.

• Many species of BIRDS are found throughout Colorado and birdwatching is popular and there are several Bird Watching Clubs. The State Bird is the Lark Bunting. Some birds are endangered.

• Colorado has many BRIDGES including Historic Bridges and has a Historic Bridge Program. Suspension Bridges, and Covered Bridges. The Royal Gorge near Canon City is the highest suspension bridge in the world & on the list of historic places.

• The state has many BYWAYS including Scenic & Historic Byways, Driving Tours, and Roadside Attractions. The Mt. Evans Scenic Byway climbs more than 7,000 feet in 28 miles.

• Denver is the CAPITOL of Colorado and is the 8th largest city in the country. ?Beulah red? is the name of the red marble that gives the State Capitol its distinctive color. All of this particular marble in the world went into the capitol and cannot be replaced. Dove Creek is the Pinto Bean capital of the world. Rocky Ford has been called the Sweet Melon Capital of the World.

• All forms of COMMUNICATIONS are available throughout Colorado including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, telephone, and Internet. The state has several telephone area codes. There are many Web Cams thoughout the state. Internet service is available throughout the state.

• Colorado has 64 COUNTIES. The largest county by population and area is El Pasoand Los Animas is the largest county by area. Denver is the largest city in the state. Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the country. A county is the level of local government below the state itself.

• Colorado has many DAMS including hydroelectric dams. The United States Society on Dams is located in Denver. The state has a Dam Safety Program. Alternate forms of are being investigated including Solar Power and Wind Power.

• The State Dance is the Square Dance. There are several Square Dance Festivals during the year. There are also many Callers, Clubs, & organizations in the state.

• The fossils of several DINOSAURS have been found in Colorado. The State Fossil is the Stegosaurus. The Dinosaur Depot Museum in Canon City has exhibits and tours.

• Colorado is considered an area of minor EARTHQUAKE activity. The first recorded quake occurred in 1870, the largest in 1882, and the most recent in 2008. FEMAprovides information about earthquakes.

• The Colorado Department of EDUCATION oversees public education in the state. It is provided free and is mandatory for any child age 7 to 16. The State also has private schools that are required to comply with state standards and regulations. Information about schools is available from GreatSchools and SchoolBug.

• A variety of EVENTS are held throughout Colorado during the year. The state observes State & Federal Holidays. Hundreds of thousands of valentines are re-mailed each year from Loveland.

• Many species of FISH are found in lakes, & rivers of Colorado, and fishing is a popular activity. The State Fish is the Greenback Cutthroat Trout. Colorado has over a dozen Fish Hatcheries and some have tours.
• The Colorado State FLAG. Some municipalities & counties have a flag, and the Southern Ute Tribehas a flag. The State Seal is an adaptation of the Territorial Seal & was adopted in 1877. The State Motto is Nil sine Numine (Nothing without Providence). The state colors are blue and white.

• Colorado has FOOD festivals, shows, and events. The food history of the state is a mixture of ethnic and cultural traditions. Colorado is number 1 in the country in lamb products and sugar beets. Shredded Wheat was invented in Colorado. The Colorado Food Bank Association's 5 member food banks distribute food to more than 1,500 nonprofit agencies that provide meals and services to people in need.

• Colorado has several National Forests and a National Grassland. The State Tree is the Colorado Blue Spruce. The Colorado Tree Coalition maintains records of the largest trees in the state. Colorado has 3 National Champion Trees.

• The GEOLOGY of Colorado is composed of 3 major regions . The US Geological Survey has programs in Colorado and provides information about geology in the state. Several minerals are mined in Colorado. The State gemstone is the Aquamarine, the State Mineral is Rhodochrosite, and the state rock is Yule Marble. Colorado has one of the only working diamond mines in the country. The Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining & Saftey is responsible for regulating mines. The tallest sand dune in the country is in Great Sand Dunes National Monument outside of Alamosa.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of Colorado is approximately 37-41 degrees north and 102-109 degrees west. The geographic center of Colorado is in Park County. The state has 75% of the land area of the country with an altitude over 10,000 ft. The southwest corner of the state is the only place in the country where the corners of 4 states meet. NOAA provides information about the topography of the state. The highest point is Mt. Elbert and the Arikaree River is the lowest point. Geocaching is a popular game using a global positioning finder, and there are many geocaches in Colorado.

• Colorado has more than 500 GHOST TOWNS including 7 Historic Ghost Towns. The buildings at St.Elmo are privately owned & well preserved. Hancock was a mining community & railroad town, Vicksburg and Winfield have buildings. The Mary Murphy Mine has an intriging history. The largest silver nugget in the world was found in Smuggler Mine which is now a ghosttown.

• Colorado has many HISTORIC SITES, and some are on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Trust helps protect historic places in the state. The carousel in Burlington is the oldest wooden merry-go-round in the country.

• The HISTORY of Colorado dates back thousands of years. Mesa Verde has a 4-story city carved in the cliffs by the Ancestral Pueblo people between 600 & 1300 A.C. Recorded history began in the 1500s when Spanish explorers visited the area. Colorado participates in National History Day.

• Colorado has a variety of INDUSTRIES including scientific instruments, food process, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, gold and other mining, and tourism. The farm industry is also an important element of the states economy. Denver claims to have invented the cheeseburger & the trademark for the name was awarded to Louis Ballast in 1935. Trade Shows are held throughout the year.

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  A wide variety of INSECTS are found in Colorado including many species of butterflies. The official State Insect is the Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly. There is a Tropical Bug Museum in Colorado Springs.

• Colorado has ISLANDS in lakes, on rivers, & in a pond. Watson Island has a trail system AND Sentinel Island has a campground. Silver Dollar Island is a very small island on the Blue River arm of the Dillon Reservoir. The US Islands Programs has activated islands in Colorado including Fishhook Island on Lake Dillon. The US Geological Society provides the topography of islands in the state.

• JAZZ is popular in Colorado and Jazz Festivals are held in several places throughout the state. Colorado also has Jazz Clubs. Many other musical events are held each year. Many cities have Opera Companies and Bands & Orchestras.

Colorado has KARST and caves including 2 Show Caves. The Karst Waters Institute provides information about karst water systems. The National Speleological Society has chapters in Colorado that provide information about caving. The National Park Service has a Cave and Karst Program.
• Many aspects of life in Colorado focus on KIDS, and the Secretary of State has a Kids Page. The Colorado Bureau of Land Management has a Kids Page. NOAA has a Kids Page about the weather. AG in the Classroom has a Kids Page about agriculture in the state. The National Agriculture Statistic Service has a Kids Page about agriculture.

• Colorado has many LAKES and reservoirs. The largest lake in the state is Grand Lake. The largest reservoir is Blue Mesa.

• Public, Academic, & Special LIBRARIES are located throughout Colorado. Most of them have internet access & special programs, and some have bookmobiles. The State Library is in Denver.

• The most important aspect of a lighthouse is the light that comes from the tower. Colorado has a unique Landlocked Lighthouse

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  Colorado has several MILITARY installations. The United States Air Force Academy is in Colorado Springs. The Colorado Army National Guard maintains 30 armories and is present in 24 communities. The Army Corps of Engineers has projects in Colorado. The state has many Forts, and Fort Garland is the first & oldest military post in the state. Pueblo is the only city in the country with 4 living recipients of the Medal of Honor.

• Colorado has MOUNTAINS and Mountain Ranges. The most famous is Pikes Peak which is a National Historic Landmark. They are part of the North American Cordillera. The largest flat-top mountain is Grand Mesa. Mt. Elbert is the highest mountain.

• MUSEUMS are located throughout Colorado including Art Museums & Art Centers and Historical Museums. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is one of the largest of its kind in the country. The Koshare Indian Museum is a registered state historic site and has the largest self-supporting log roof in the world.

• The NAME Colorado came from the Spanish, ruddy? or ?red? and means ?colored red?. The state has many nicknames including Centennial State, Silver State, Lead State, Buffalo Plains State, Switzerland of America, and Highest State. Denver is nicknamed the Mile High City. Fountain is named the millennium city because it is the most accurate representation of the American melting pot. Twin Lakes is so named because it lays adjacent to 2 natural lakes. The centerpieces of the 52 peaks in the Colorado Rockies are called Fourteeners.

• The 1st residents of Colorado were several NATIVE AMERICAN tribes. The state has Tribes and Reservations. Many Powwows are held during the year. There are several Casinos and several tribes have their own license plates.

• Colorado has several OBSERVATORIES and planetariums. Most offer classes as well as programs for the general public. Colorado also has several astronomical societies. Many places observe Astronomy Day.

• Colorado has a wide variety of PARKS including National Parks and State Parks. Denver has the largest city park system in the country ? 205 parks in city limits & 20,000 acres of parks in nearby mountains. Mesa Verde National Park is a World Heritage Site. The state also has Theme Parks and Amusement Parks.

• Colorado has a POPULATION of nearly 5 million people. Many well-known people have called Colorado their home including Tim Allen, actor/comedian; Scott Carpenter, astronaut; Lon Chaney, actor; Jack Dempsey, boxer; Ralph Edwards, entertainer; Douglas Fairbanks, actor; Eugene Fodor, violinist;a Mrs. J. Brown known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" . President Theodore Roosevelt signed his name in hotel registration books all over the state and the ?Teddy Bear? was said to have been invented in Glenwood Springs. People who live in Colorado are called Coloradans, or Coloradoans.

• A QUARTER was issued by the U.S. Mint for each state according to its admission date. Colorado was admitted to the union in 1876 and a quarter was issued in its honor in 2006. The U.S. Mint in Denver manufactures all denominations of circulating coins, coin dies, the Denver "D" portion of the annual uncirculated coin sets, and commemorative coins authorized by the U. S. Congress. It also stores gold and silver bullion. Free 20 minute tours are held on weekdays. The U.S. Mint has a special Kids Page.
• QUILTING is popular in Colorado and Quilt Guilds are located throughout the state. The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is in Golden. There are also Weaving & Spinning Guilds.
• Take a QUIZ about Colorado. Take a map quiz about the state.

• Colorado is home to many species of REPTILES and amphibians. The state has 2 poisonous snakes - the western & massasauga rattlers. Colorado Gators Reptile Park near Mosca, and Gators Reptilian Adventure in Colorado Springs offer visitors the opportunity to see and touch American alligators. Both operations have many other herps and exotic animals on display. The Reptile Park has alligator wrestling shows and even offers gator wrestling classes for adventurous souls.

• Colorado has hundreds of RIVERS including Wild & Scenic Rivers. There are nearly 20 rivers whose headwaters begin in Colorado, with the Continental Divide directing the course of each river. The Department of the Interior has Colorado River projects & programs in the state. Colorado is one of only 2 states in the country in which all the water in the state flows out and none flows in. American Rivers is an organization that protects and restores river systems in the country.

• RODEOS are held in Colorado. The first rodeo in the world was held in Deer Trail. Denver hosts the largest rodeo in the world ? the National Western Stock Show.

• Colorado offers a wide variety of SPORTS and has many sports teams including college, high school, league, & professional. The state has private & public golf courses. Fishing and skiing are popular sports. Many great sports figures have come from the state. The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame is in Denver.

• Colorado has a State TARTAN and participates in National Tartan Day. Highland Games and Scottish Festivals are held throughout the state.

• Colorado has many types of TRAILS including Horse & Mule Trails and celebrates National Trails Day. There are over 300 trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.

• Colorado has many forms of TRANSPORTATION. The State Department of Transportation maintains highways, bridges, tunnels, and has an Adopt-A-Highway Program. The Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel is the highest auto tunnel in the world. The Federal Highway Administration provides information on traffic and road closures in Colorado. The highest paved road in North America is the Road to Mt. Evans from Idaho Springs. Colfax Avenue in Denver is the longest continuous street in the country. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been in continuous operation since 1881. A variety of license plates are available. To celebrate its 50th birthday, Matchbox cars issued a car for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the union. The car for Colorado was the snowmobile.

• Colorado has many public UNIVERSITIES and Colleges. It also has Community and Technical Colleges and private colleges.

• Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Colorado. The 1st USS Colorado, a screw steam frigate, saw action in the American Civil War. The 2nd USS Colorado (ACR-7), a Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser, patrolled the South Atlantic during World War I. The 3rd USS Colorado was the lead ship of her class of battleship

• Colorado has a variety of VEGETATION including rare & endangered plants. The State Flower is the Rocky Mountain Columbine. The State Grass is Blue Gamma Grass. The state is part of the USGS NPS Vegetation Mapping Program and Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in the state. The state has a wide range of Plant Zones

• Evidence of VOLCANOES exists in Colorado, including the Dotsero Volcano. The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is in the one-time shadow of the Guffey Volcano. Federal Emergency Management Agency has information about volcanoes.

• Abundant rain and rugged terrain produce a variety of WATERFALLS in Colorado. Bridal Veil Falls is the largest waterfall in the state. Rainbow Falls is outside of Manitou

• Colorado experiences a wide variety of WEATHER. The Colorado Climate Center monitors the climatein the state over time scales of weeks to years. The Colorado Department of Transportationprovides information about current weather conditions in the state. The state provides information about Global Warming.

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  Colorado has a great diversity of WILDLIFE and state wildlife areasand Wildlife Refuges. There are also National Wildlife Refuges/Marine Sanctuaries and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers. The State Animal is the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. The Colorado Division of Wildlife tracks animal species. Some species are endangered. The Nature Conservancy protects lands & water needed for plants & animals to survive. The state has Wildlife Viewing Areas. Colorado participates in the Wildlife Protection Program.

• XMAS is the common abbreviation for Christmas and it is celebrated in Colorado much like the rest of the country and around the world. The National Christmas Tree Association has information about Christmas trees. Colorado has many Christmas Tree Farms & Lots.

• YMCA organizations are located throughout Colorado. The YMCA of the Rockies has family vacations, conferences & group, reunions, & camps.

• There are several YOUTH HOSTELS in Colorado. Hostels of the Rockies in Denver has many amenities. The state also has Elder Hostels. The Elderhostel at the University of Northern Colorado offers field trips to the Rocky Mountains & Centennial Village.

• The use of ZIP CODES began in 1963. Zip codes in Colorado all start with the number 8. The postal code is CO.

• Colorado is in the Mountain Time ZONE U.S. Department of Agriculture lists Colorado in zones for plant hardiness.

• Colorado has several ZOOS. The Denver Zoo has exhibits and is home to nearly 4,000 animals. The Downtown Aquariumin Denver has special events and interactive exhibits.