America at 250: Colorado Uncovered: 20 High-Altitude Facts About the Centennial State — Born in 1876, the Same Year America Turned 100

America at 250: Colorado Uncovered: 20 High-Altitude Facts About the Centennial State — Born in 1876, the Same Year America Turned 100

As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, a state-by-state journey — from the Rocky Mountains and mile-high Denver to legal cannabis, ski resorts and a booming economy — through the numbers, the history and the emergency lifelines every traveler should carry.

As the United States marks the landmark 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 — its semiquincentennial — our state-by-state journey reaches Colorado, and the timing could hardly be more fitting. Colorado is nicknamed the “Centennial State” precisely because it joined the Union in 1876, exactly one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence. In this anniversary year, its own history and America’s are especially entwined.

A state defined by the Rocky Mountains, high plains and a fast-growing, highly educated population, Colorado blends outdoor adventure with a modern economy in aerospace, technology and energy. What follows is a fact-checked portrait drawn from official sources — the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, state agencies and federal registries — followed by the safety information every visitor to the Centennial State should keep close at hand.

How Big Is Colorado? Nearly 6 Million People Across 104,000 Square Miles

Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the American West. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population at about 5,957,493 in 2024, ranking it 20th nationally after a 3.2 percent increase since the 2020 census. It covers roughly 104,094 square miles, the eighth-largest state by area, with a land area of about 103,637 square miles.

The population is concentrated along the Front Range Urban Corridor, where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains. The capital and largest city is Denver — the “Mile High City,” so named because its official elevation is exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level — anchoring a metro area of nearly three million. Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins and Boulder round out the major population centers.

Colorado’s geography is famously high: it has the highest mean elevation of any state, and contains 58 peaks over 14,000 feet (the celebrated “fourteeners”), including Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet. The eastern half is high plains; the west is a spectacular jumble of mountain ranges, mesas and canyons, drained by the headwaters of the Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas and Platte rivers.

A Centennial History: The 38th State, Admitted in 1876

Long home to the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho and other Native peoples, the region that became Colorado passed through Spanish, French and Mexican claims before large parts were acquired by the United States through the Louisiana Purchase and the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The Pike’s Peak Gold Rush of 1858–59 brought a flood of prospectors and the slogan “Pike’s Peak or Bust.”

On August 1, 1876 — just weeks after the nation’s centennial Fourth of July — President Ulysses S. Grant signed the proclamation admitting Colorado as the 38th state, earning it the enduring nickname the “Centennial State.” Mining booms in gold and silver built towns such as Leadville, Aspen and Cripple Creek, while ranching and farming spread across the plains.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Colorado transformed into a hub of federal installations, aerospace and defense (including NORAD and the U.S. Air Force Academy), energy, and a magnet for outdoor-loving migrants. Denver has become a major regional capital of the Mountain West.

The Economy: a $557 Billion GDP Powered by Aerospace, Tech and Tourism

Colorado’s economy is diverse, modern and high-performing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state’s GDP reached roughly $557 billion in 2024. Colorado consistently ranks among the states with the most educated workforces, which has helped attract high-value industries.

Aerospace and defense are central — Colorado has one of the largest aerospace economies in the country, home to major military commands, the Air Force Academy and the newer U.S. Space Command, along with companies such as Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace. Technology, financial services, and a large energy sector (oil and gas on the plains, plus fast-growing renewables) add further strength. Agriculture — cattle, wheat, corn and dairy — remains important on the eastern plains.

Tourism is a pillar of its own: Colorado’s world-famous ski resorts (Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge and others), national parks and outdoor recreation draw tens of millions of visitors and support communities across the mountains.

Schools and Universities: 881,000 Pupils and Flagship Campuses

The Colorado Department of Education reported a public-school membership of about 881,065 K-12 students in October 2024, spread across the state’s districts. Colorado is notable for its strong school-choice tradition, including one of the country’s more developed charter-school sectors.

Higher education is anchored by the University of Colorado system — with its flagship in Boulder, a major research university, plus campuses in Denver, Colorado Springs and the Anschutz Medical Campus — along with Colorado State University in Fort Collins, the University of Denver, the Colorado School of Mines (a globally respected engineering and earth-sciences institution) and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Together with a robust community-college system, these institutions educate hundreds of thousands of students.

Hospitals and Health Care: Roughly 100 Hospitals Statewide

Colorado’s health-care network includes on the order of 100 hospitals when all types are counted, ranging from major academic and referral centers to small rural and critical-access hospitals. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus is the state’s leading academic medical center, and Children’s Hospital Colorado is a nationally ranked pediatric institution. The Colorado Hospital Association represents more than 100 hospitals and health systems statewide.

As in much of the Mountain West, delivering care across vast rural and mountainous distances is a persistent challenge, addressed through regional hospitals, telemedicine and air-ambulance services. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment coordinates statewide public health.

Getting Around: 1 Giant Hub Airport and 13 Commercial Fields

Colorado’s aviation gateway is Denver International Airport (DEN) — one of the busiest airports in the United States and the world, serving more than 200 nonstop destinations and acting as the air hub of the Mountain West. Statewide, Colorado has around 14 airports offering commercial service, including Colorado Springs, and roughly 430 aviation facilities in total when general-aviation and private fields are counted.

On the ground, Colorado sits at the crossroads of the interstate system, where I-25 runs north–south along the Front Range and I-70 crosses the Rockies east–west through spectacular (and challenging) mountain terrain. Mountain highways and passes are lifelines for the ski economy and demand respect in winter.

Culture: 223 Museums and a World-Famous Red-Rocks Stage

Colorado is home to about 223 museums, which together employ thousands of people and hold nearly a billion dollars in assets. Highlights include the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the History Colorado Center, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs — fitting for a state that is a training center for Team USA.

Perhaps Colorado’s most iconic cultural venue is Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a stunning natural concert hall carved among towering sandstone formations near Morrison, considered one of the greatest live-music venues in the world. Add the mountain arts scenes of Aspen and Telluride, the Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde’s ancient cliff dwellings, and Colorado offers culture set against extraordinary landscapes.

Sport and the Outdoors: 5 Major Pro Teams and 58 Fourteeners

Denver is one of the smaller U.S. markets to host teams in all major leagues: the Denver Broncos (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA champions in 2023), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rockies (MLB) and Colorado Rapids (MLS). The state’s thin, mile-high air is itself famous for giving home teams an edge and visiting athletes a challenge.

But Colorado’s true arena is the outdoors. With 58 peaks above 14,000 feet, four national parks (including Rocky Mountain National Park), and world-renowned ski resorts, the state is a mecca for hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing and whitewater rafting. Outdoor recreation is not just a pastime here — it is a core part of the state’s identity and economy.

Faith and Places of Worship: Hundreds of Congregations

Colorado’s religious landscape is diverse and relatively secular by national standards, with a large share of religiously unaffiliated residents typical of the Mountain West. Christian traditions — Catholic, evangelical, mainline Protestant and Latter-day Saint — remain the largest, and Colorado Springs in particular is a well-known hub for evangelical Christian organizations. Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and other communities add to the mix, especially in the Denver metro area.

Because no single official registry counts every congregation, the closest reliable measures come from religious censuses and the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns data on religious organizations, which together point to well over a thousand congregations statewide.

The Justice System: Around 18,000 People Incarcerated

The Colorado Department of Corrections was responsible for roughly 17,500 to 18,000 people in its prisons in 2024, a population that has been rising again after declining during the pandemic and that state forecasters expect to keep growing. The department operates a network of state prison facilities across the plains and mountains, and works with county jails, parole and community-corrections programs.

Colorado has been active in criminal-justice reform in recent years, including on sentencing and drug policy, even as officials warn of potential future capacity shortfalls if the incarcerated population continues to climb.

5 Colorado Laws and Policies That Set It Apart

Colorado has often been a national policy pioneer, and several of its laws stand out:

1. Legal cannabis: In 2012 Colorado voters (with Washington) became the first in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana, launching a regulated industry that many states later copied.

2. TABOR: The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, embedded in the state constitution, limits how much revenue the state can keep and requires voter approval for tax increases — a uniquely strict fiscal rule.

3. Elections by mail: Colorado runs its elections almost entirely by mail, with ballots sent to every registered voter, and is frequently cited as a national model for turnout and security.

4. Aid in dying: Colorado’s End-of-Life Options Act allows terminally ill adults to request medical aid in dying under strict conditions.

5. Firearms: In recent years Colorado has enacted a series of gun-safety laws, including red-flag provisions and expanded background checks, distinguishing it from many of its Mountain West neighbors.

Famous Coloradans: Notable Talent From the Centennial State

Colorado has produced a colorful range of notable figures. In entertainment, comedian and actor Tim Allen and “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker were both born in the state (Denver and Conifer, respectively), and silent-film superstar Douglas Fairbanks was a Denver native. In literature, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” author Ken Kesey was born in La Junta.

In sport, boxing champion Jack Dempsey — the “Manassa Mauler” — was born in the tiny town of Manassa, and NBA Hall of Famer and Denver native Chauncey Billups starred for the University of Colorado before his professional career. From frontier legends like “Unsinkable” Molly Brown to modern athletes and entertainers, Colorado’s cultural footprint reaches well beyond the Rockies.

Who Runs Colorado? Governor Jared Polis and His Cabinet

Colorado’s executive branch is led by Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat who took office in January 2019 and won re-election in 2022. A successful technology entrepreneur before entering politics, Polis served in the U.S. House of Representatives and, as governor, became the first openly gay man elected governor of any U.S. state.

As governor, Polis has emphasized cutting taxes and fees, expanding free preschool and kindergarten, renewable energy, and reducing the cost of living. He works with a cabinet of executive directors who lead the state’s departments, alongside Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. Key members of his administration include:

As listed by the Office of the Governor (governorsoffice.colorado.gov), key members of the Governor’s cabinet include:

Source: Office of the Governor of Colorado (governorsoffice.colorado.gov). Cabinet appointments change over time; this lists principal executive directors of the Polis administration.

Traveling to Colorado? 1 App for Every Emergency Number

Whether you are exploring Colorado during this 250th-anniversary year, following its history, or simply passing through, one piece of preparation matters more than any other: knowing who to call in an emergency. The free InfoCons app puts that information in your pocket. Its dedicated SOS section gathers the essential emergency and consumer-protection numbers for the United States and for the individual states, so travelers and residents alike can reach the right service instantly — without searching, without roaming confusion, and without wasting the precious minutes that matter most in a crisis.

Nationwide Emergency Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

Across the United States, the single universal emergency number is 911, which connects callers to police, firefighters, and ambulance services alike. For non-emergency municipal services and information in many cities, 311 is available. The app also lists 1-800-342-3377 for telecommunications complaints and 202-326-2180 for consumer-protection matters at the federal level.

Colorado Emergency and Assistance Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

For Colorado specifically, the InfoCons SOS section provides a detailed directory. The core lifelines are:

Police, Ambulance, and Firefighters: 911. State Patrol: 303-239-4501. Electricity emergency: 303-894-2528. Gas emergency: 1-800-883-3181. Water emergency: 303-893-2444.

Consumer protection: 1-800-222-4444. Department of Regulatory Agencies — Banking: 303-894-7575; Insurance: 303-894-7499 or 1-800-930-3745. Public Utilities Commission: 303-894-2000 or 1-800-456-0858.

Support: Child abuse reporting: 1-844-264-5437. Sexual assault: 970-472-4200. Addiction hotline: 866-210-1303. Animal cruelty: 1-800-249-5121. (The nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached at any time by dialing 988.)

These numbers are provided for convenience and may change over time; in any life-threatening situation, always dial 911 first.

The InfoCons Travel Passport: 1 App, 33 Languages, Every Destination

The InfoCons app is more than an emergency directory — it is designed to function as a genuine “travel passport” for the modern consumer. Available free of charge and offered in 33 internationally spoken languages, it gives users access to accurate, transparent, and independent information wherever they go. For a traveler moving between states — or between countries — that means the emergency numbers, consumer-protection contacts, and practical guidance for each destination are all gathered in a single place, ready before you even land.

The idea is simple but powerful: your safety information should travel with you as reliably as your passport does. Whether you are exploring Colorado during this 250th-anniversary year or planning a trip abroad next month, the InfoCons app aims to be the first thing you check when you arrive somewhere new — helping you make informed decisions, protect your rights as a consumer, and know exactly whom to call if something goes wrong. Download the free InfoCons app and let your phone become your travel passport for a safer, smarter 250th-anniversary year and beyond.

A Fitting Way to Celebrate 250 Years of Independence

Colorado’s story is unusually intertwined with the nation’s: born as the “Centennial State” in 1876, it now celebrates its own history alongside America’s 250th birthday. From gold-rush camps to mile-high Denver, from silver mines to space commands, Colorado has always looked upward — to its fourteeners and, increasingly, to the stars.

To visit Colorado is to breathe rarefied air and stand among some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. And to visit it prepared — with the InfoCons app and its emergency lifelines close at hand, especially given high altitude, sudden mountain weather and remote terrain — is simply to travel wisely. Here is to the next 250 years — happy semiquincentennial, America.

InfoCons Communication Department