Our state today is the great state of Colorado. The state of Colorado is known as the “Centennial State” because it joined the union in 1876, the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It is also called the Silver State, and because of its mountainous terrain it is quite often referred to as the “Switzerland of America.”
Colorado is a state of unusual natural beauty. I am pleased to say that I have been to this state on three separate occasions: first to go mule deer hunting, next to attend an International Gideon Convention, and the last one I have already told you about, a goodwill tour with the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. Great memories.
The scenic wonders of this Rocky Mountain state and the cool, pleasant climate make the state a center for summer tourists. In winter, the deep powdery snow of Colorado attracts skiers to their world-famous resorts. However, most Coloradans live and work on the dry, flat plains that make up the eastern two-fifths of the state. Tunnels bored through the mountains bring water to the plains for busy cities and prosperous farms.
The state of Colorado is bordered on the south by New Mexico and Oklahoma, on the west by Utah, on the north by Wyoming, and on the east by Nebraska and Kansas. The state has 63 counties, with a surface area consisting of 104,247 square miles, which makes it the 8th largest in our nation. The 2023 population is 5,868,555 people, with an estimated 55,000 more arriving this year. The capital and largest city is Denver, known as the “Mile High” city because its elevation is 5,280 feet above sea level. Other important trade centers in Colorado include Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood and Pueblo.
Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876, as the 38th state, and the state was named for the Colorado River. The word “Colorado” is a Spanish word meaning “Colored Red” as the river flows through canyons of red stone, giving it a reddish color. The state flower is the Rocky Mountain Columbine, the state tree is the Blue Spruce, the state bird is the Lark Bunting, and the official state motto is “Nothing Without Providence.”
A visitor to this beautiful state may wish to tour the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs; see Pikes Peak, the states most famous landmark; the Royal Gorge and the world’s highest suspension bridge that sways 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River; or travel through the “Eisenhower Tunnel” west of Denver. This tunnel is the highest tunnel for motor vehicles in the world. It extends about 1.7 miles at an altitude of 11,000 feet.
On a personal note, as we were driving along the highway and came by the Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge, I vowed that I was never going to cross it. Can you imagine being out on this bridge, swaying in the air on a windy day? Friend, that is not for me. In closing, let me say that we have such a beautiful country, from mountain top to mountain top and shore to shore, and I hope you have or can see much of it.
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(Jim Davidson is an author, public speaker, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. Since its inception in the Log Cabin Democrat in 1995, Jim’s column has been self-syndicated in over 375 newspapers in 35 states. For a personalized copy of “Your Future Begins Today” send $20, which includes postage and handling, to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)