50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Colorado State to Know

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Colorado is well known for its mountains, ski resorts, and its capital city, Denver. The Centennial State is also known for being above an altitude of 3,000 feet and having more than half of the "fourteeners" in the US.

Moreover, Colorado has the highest low point in the United States, the highest paved road, and the highest incorporated city in the country. The state also has the highest suspension bridge in the world, The Royal Gorge Bridge.

Have the above facts piqued your interest in Colorado? This article has 50 interesting and fun facts about Colorado state that you should know, including scary and historical facts, and just plain random facts. Keep reading to learn more!

50 Colorado State Facts

Colorado Fun Facts

First up are some facts about the state of Colorado.

The highest point in Colorado is Mount Elbert's peak

Mount Elbert's peak is 14,440 feet high (4,401 meters). The mountain is in the western part of the state near Leadville, the highest city. Hiking is popular on the mountain. It has many false summits where you think you are at the top, but it just appears to be that way.

The tallest building in Colorado is the Republic Plaza

Built in 1984, Republic Plaza stands at 56 stories tall. Inside the building are a collaborative workspace, a fitness center, retail options, and a sizeable three-story lobby. The building has other amenities for its tenants, like a plaza, a park, conference facilities, a rooftop, and on-site dining.

Millions of people visit Colorado every year

In 2021, 84.2 million people visited Colorado from out of state. And 36.3 million stayed in the state for at least one night. The tourists who visit here bring the state billions of dollars in tourism revenue annually, with $21.9 billion in 2021. It is one of the largest industries in the state, and it supplies more than 1.1 million jobs.

The highest low point of all the US states is in Colorado

The Arikaree River is Colorado's lowest point, sitting at 3,315 feet above sea level. Despite being so high, no other state's low point is higher than Colorado's. It is even higher than the highest point in 18 other states.

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Glenwood Springs is home to the largest natural hot springs pool in the world

The mineral water runs in the pool for more than two city blocks, producing more than 3.5 million gallons of water every day. It is also one of the hottest springs in Colorado at a temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. But, the water used in the pools at the springs is cooled down to temperatures between 90 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

More than half of the U.S.' "fourteeners" are in Colorado

A "fourteener" is a mountain over 14,000 feet high at its peak. There are 91 of these mountains in the United States. Colorado is home to over 50 of these "fourteener" mountains.

Colorado has 117 peaks with over 3,000 meters of elevation

Colorado's mountainous area is six times larger than the country of Switzerland. Within this mountainous area, there are 2,850 lakes and around 117 peaks with an elevation of over 3,000 meters.

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The highest suspension bridge in the US is The Royal Gorge Bridge

This Colorado landmark sits by Canon City and goes over the Arkansas River. Over the river, the bridge is America's highest suspension bridge at 1,053 feet tall. It was the highest suspension bridge in the world until 2001, when Liuguanghe Bridge in China surpassed it.

More than four million people visit Rocky Mountain National Park every year

The record number of visitors was in 2019, with 4,670,054 people coming to Rocky Mountain National Park that year. And, nearly one million tourists visit in July alone, making it the most visited month by far. The number of visitors has increased significantly, with the 2019 record being a 44% increase from the number of visitors in 2012.

Part of Denver, CO, is exactly one mile above sea level

Denver sits at 5,280 feet above sea level. Although the whole city is not precisely at the same elevation, there are points where it is exactly one mile high. There are also a lot of places, foods, and more in the city that commemorate the name.

Interesting Facts About Colorado

Next up are some interesting facts and information about Colorado.

75% of the land in the US with an altitude over 10,000 feet is in Colorado

A lot of this land over 10,000 feet in altitude is mountainous, as there are more than 830 mountains in the state between 11,000 and 14,000 feet above sea level.

Denver has more than 300 days of sunshine every year

Three hundred days of sunshine is more sunshine than there is yearly in San Diego and Miami Beach. While some of those days in Denver are actually cloudy or partly cloudy, the sun shines for at least a little bit. So, while the sun comes out for over 300 days every year, they are not all warm days.

Denver is the capital of Colorado and has a population of over 700,000

It is at the base of the Rocky Mountains, where you can see 140 miles of the landscape from the city. The population of Denver is approximately 727,000, with a 21.2% increase in population between 2010 and 2019. There are around three million residents in the metropolitan area, more than half the state's population.

The population of Colorado is over 5.8 million people

Colroado's population of over 5.8 million continues to grow, with an increase of 0.7% between 2020 and 2021. Most of the population is white, with 67% identifying as white and not Hispanic or Latino. However, 9.5% of the population was foreign-born between 2016 and 2020.

The state motto of Colorado is "nil sine numine"

It is a Latin phrase that means "Nothing without Providence or Deity." The motto is on the state seal, which was created and adopted in 1876, one year after Colorado became a state.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has the tallest sand dunes in the country

The entire park of dunes covers an area of 150,000 acres, and the main field of dunes covers 30 square miles. The tallest of them all is Star Dune, which is 750 feet tall, making it the tallest dune in the US and all of North America. There is also the High Dune, which is 699 feet tall but higher than Star Dune.

The largest flat top mountain in the world is Grand Mesa

Grand Mesa is over 6,000 feet high, with an elevation of more than 11,000 feet. Despite being so tall, it is wider than it is tall. The name of the mountain comes from the Spanish word for table.

Colorado Western Slope has 33% percent of the state's land, but 10% of its population

Although the Western Slope covers a third of Colorado, it has quite a small population. This area sits to the west of the Continental Divide, with a population of around 560,000, just 10.7% of the state's population.

Most of the area is filled with busy tourist towns. They include skiing and resort towns like Breckenridge, Aspen, Telluride, Grand Junction, Vail, and Winter Park.

Denver has the most professional sports teams in Colorado

You will find six professional sports teams in Denver. The most well-known teams are the Denver Broncos in the NFL, the Colorado Rockies MLB team, the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL, and the Denver Nuggets NBA team. Denver is also home to the Colorado Rapids MLS team and an NLL box lacrosse team, Colorado Mammoth.

The Colorado Trail is over 500 miles long

The Colorado Trail is a 567 mile-long hiking trail that goes from Durango, CO, to Denver, CO. The trail goes through eight mountain ranges, seven national forests, and over five rivers.

Weird Facts About Colorado

Now we have some weird but fun Colorado facts.

Colorado backed out of hosting the 1976 Winter Olympics

They were awarded the games in 1970 and were supposed to host the Winter Olympics in 1976 as a way to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States.

But, there were many problems with the state's capacity to host the games and the logistics surrounding it. The residents of Colorado were not happy that the games might be a failure, so they voted against hosting them.

The Continental Divide splits the water flow in the United States

The Continental Divide goes through Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. Water west of the divide flows towards the Pacific Ocean, and the water to the east flows to the Atlantic.

Some of the western rivers include the Columbia and Colorado Rivers. The rivers to the east include the Rio Grande, the Missouri River, and the Mississippi River.

No US presidents or vice presidents have been born in Colorado

People from Colorado have run for president, like US Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, who both ran in 2020. But no presidential candidate born in Colorado has won. All 46 US Presidents have been born in just 21 states so far, meaning over half, including Colorado, have not had one yet.

The Colorado State Capitol's thirteenth step sits at one mile above sea level

This step sits 5,280 feet above sea level. The one-mile marker was placed in 2003 after two less accurate mile markers were placed on the fifteenth and eighteenth steps. The first but inaccurate measurement on the fifteenth step says, "One Mile Above Sea Level."

The cheeseburger may have been invented at the Humpty Dumpty Drive-in in Denver, CO

Some say this famous American food was invented by Louis Ballast, who owned the Humpty Dumpty Drive-in restaurant. Whether he created the snack or not, he was awarded the patent for it on March 5th, 1935.

Funny Facts About Colorado

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Below, you will find some funny facts about Colorado.

Mike, the Headless Chicken, lived in Colorado for 18 months

He was supposed to end up as dinner for the Olsen family in 1945. But, after they chopped off his head, the chicken ended up living, and he was a national phenomenon. He grew from just 2.5 pounds with a head to 8 pounds without. The chicken is celebrated at an annual festival.

Rocky Ford, Colorado, is called the Sweet Melon Capital of the World

The watermelons and cantaloupes that grow here in the Eastern Plains get extra sweet thanks to the climate in Rocky Ford. The temperature changes drastically from day to night, which is how they get their unique flavor. The town also has a high school with a melon mascot and a team called the Meloneers.

The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep is the biggest wild sheep in North America

The male bighorn sheep can weigh up to 300 pounds, and the females weigh half that much. These sheep live in one of the best national parks on the West Coast, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and they almost went extinct in the early 20th century. They started to come back when people stopped hunting them, and now between 300 and 400 of them live in the park.

The root beer float was inspired by Colorado

The soda and ice cream treat was invented by Frank J. Wisner, who saw the snowy peaks one night and thought up the treat. He said the snow on the Cow Mountain peaks looked like ice cream floating in soda. He started serving the Black Cow Mountain float to his customers at Cripple Creek Brewing Co., which he owned in August 1893.

Dove Creek, Colorado, is called the Pinto Bean Capital of the World

The land in Dove Creek has been thriving agriculturally since the Anasazi Indians started farming on the land thousands of years ago. They grew corn, squash, beans, and more. [

Pinto beans are still grown in large quantities by companies such as Adobe Milling in Dove Creek. The continued growth is where the Colorado nickname comes from.

Cool Facts About Colorado

There are also some cool things about Colorado to know.

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The United States Air Force Academy is in Colorado

The military community comprises 25,000 people and is based in El Paso Country, just north of Colorado Springs, CO. There are over 3,000 individuals who work there, and there is a 4,400-person cadet wing with a staff of over 300.

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Colorado has over 400 breweries

Colorado has the fourth most breweries per capita in the US at over 400 breweries total. Boulder, Colorado, has the most breweries per capita in the United States, with 13.3 breweries for every 100,000 people.

The first rodeo ever was held in Colorado

The first rodeo occurred on July 4th, 1869, in Deer Trail, Colorado. The local ranchers came to the rodeo to compete to see who was the best cowboy and who had the best horse. The winner lasted on his horse for 15 minutes and won a suit of clothes.

Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the US by area

The airport in Denver covers 53 square miles, making it more than twice the size of Manhattan. It is also the second largest airport in the world, with the largest being King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. The third largest airport in the world is Dallas Fort Worth, which is 26.9 square miles, just half the size of Denver's airport.

Colorado is one of the states that makes up the Four Corners Monument

As the name suggests, the monument is where four states meet at one point, with a corner of all four states touching. The other three states are Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.

Random Facts About Colorado

Here are some random fun facts on Colorado.

Leadville is the highest elevated incorporated city in the US

Leadville has an elevation of 10,200 feet above sea level. This elevation is nearly double that of Denver, which is a mile or 5,280 feet above sea level. Leadville is also the highest-elevated incorporated city on the North American continent.

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Colfax Avenue is the longest street in the United States

It runs east to west through downtown Denver and is 49.5 miles or 79.7 kilometers long, making Colfax Avenue the longest continuous commercial street in the US. The road is part of a few major highways, including US Highway 40, I-70, US Highway 287, and State Highway 36.

One of the oldest wooden carousels in the country is in Burlington, Colorado

The Kit Carson County Carousel was built in 1905. It is one of under 150 wooden carousels left in the country of the 2,500 that there used to be. The Philadelphia Toboggan Company made it, and it is a three-row, stationary carousel.

Denver has over 250 parks

There are more than 250 parks within Denver city limits. If you include the parks in the mountains in the Denver metro area, 20,000 acres of parks exist in the state.

Colorado Springs is the largest city in Colorado based on square mileage

The land area of Colorado Springs is 194.54 square miles. It is 40 square miles bigger than the second-largest city of Aurora, CO. It is also the second-largest city in Colorado, with a population of nearly 500,00 residents.

Historical Facts About Colorado

This section has some facts about Colorado history.

The Spanish were the first settlers in Colorado

Native Americans and tribes lived on the land until Spanish explorers landed and started making settlements in Colorado in the 1690s. Colorado eventually became part of the United States due to the Mexican-American War in the 1840s.

The Colorado Gold Rush was from 1858 to 1859

Gold was discovered in 1858 near present-day Denver. This started the Gold Rush, also called the "Pikes Peak Gold Rush," even though there was little mining near Pike's Peak.

Most mining was done near Central City, discovered during the rush in 1859. Over two years, the lift brought thousands of people to the state in search of riches.

The Colorado Silver Boom started in 1879

The mining started in Leadville in 1879. The Colorado Silver Boom produced over 82 million dollars worth of silver. The Silver Boom lasted longer than the state's gold rush. It ended in 1893 when silver prices declined.

Pikes Peak in Colorado inspired the song "America the Beautiful"

Katherine Lee Bates wrote "America the Beautiful" while in Colorado Springs in 1893 and got to the top of Pikes Peak. The view inspired her to write the piece now sung in Samuel A. Ward's "Materna."

Mesa Verde National Park protects the lands of the Ancestral Pueblo people

The Ancestral Pueblo people lived in the area for over 700 years. The World Heritage Site protects its history and teaches people today about the importance of the land. There are 26 Pueblos and Tribes represented at the ark and more than one thousand species of plants and animals.

Scary Facts About Colorado

Finally, there are some scary Colorado facts to know.

There is a set of preserved dinosaur tracks in Colorado

The tracks are at the PicketWire Canyonlands, and they were discovered in 2021 after flooding unearthed them. There are 130 tracks with over 1,900 dinosaur prints, which are estimated to date back 150 million years.

The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in North America

North America's highest paved road, Mount Evans Scenic Byway spans over 28 miles between Idaho Springs and the top of the mountain. There is an elevation change of more than 7,000 feet along the road. The road is at an altitude of 14,130 feet at the highest point.

The Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel is the highest auto tunnel in the world

The highest point of the tunnel is at an elevation of about 11,000 feet high, which goes through the Continental Divide. The entire tunnel is 8,960 feet long, and as many as 26,000 pass through the tunnel every day.

Colorado hosts the highest elevation rodeo

It takes place in Cripple Creek, CO, at an elevation of 9,640 feet. The rodeo is called the Top of the World Rodeo, and the town has been hosting rodeos since the early 20th century. There are around 300 individuals who participate in the rodeo every year, and thousands come to watch.

The state of Colorado is entirely above an elevation of 3,000 feet

Colorado's lowest point is around 3,300 feet. The state's average elevation is 6,800 feet above sea level, and it is the highest elevation state in the contiguous United States. The state has an elevation range of over 11,000 feet from its lowest point to its highest.

Conclusion

This fun facts for Colorado list covered many interesting things to know about The Centennial State, including cool, random, and scary facts, and so much more.

From the mile-high city of Denver and its more than 300 days of sunshine every year to having more than 400 breweries in the state, this list should have definitely prepared you for your next Colorado trivia night!

This article was edited by Henry Grahame.

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