Capital: Denver State abbreviation/Postal code: Colo./CO Governor: Bill Ritter, D (to Jan. 2011) Lieut. Governor: Barbara O'Brien, D (to Jan. 2011) Senators: Wayne A. Allard, R (to Jan. 2009); Ken Salazar, D (to Jan. 2011) U.S. Representatives: 7 Historical biographies of Congressional members Secy. of State: Mike Coffman, R (to Jan. 2011) Treasurer: Cary Kennedy, D (to Jan. 2011) Atty. General: John W. Suthers, R (to Jan. 2011) Organized as territory: Feb. 28, 1861 Entered Union (rank): Aug. 1, 1876 (38) Present constitution adopted: 1876 Motto: Nil sine Numine (Nothing without Providence) State symbols: | flower | Rocky Mountain columbine (1899) | | tree | Colorado blue spruce (1939) | | bird | lark bunting (1931) | | animal | Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (1961) | | gemstone | aquamarine (1971) | | colors | blue and white (1911) | | song | “Where the Columbines Grow” (1915) | | fossil | stegosaurus (1991) |
Nickname: Centennial State Origin of name: From the Spanish, “ruddy” or “red” 10 largest cities (2005 est.): Denver, 557,917; Colorado Springs, 369,815; Aurora, 297,235; Lakewood, 140,671; Fort Collins, 128,026; Thornton, 105,182; Westminster, 105,084; Arvada, 103,966; Pueblo, 103,495; Centennial, 98,243 Land area: 103,717 sq mi. (268,627 sq km) Geographic center: In Park Co., 30 mi. NW of Pikes Peak Number of counties: 64 Largest county by population and area: El Paso 565,582 (2005); Las Animas, 4,773 sq mi. State forests: 1 (71,000 ac.) State parks: 44 (160,000 ac.) Residents: Coloradan, Coloradoan 2005 resident population est.: 4,665,177 2000 resident census population (rank): 4,301,261 (24). Male: 2,165,983 (50.4%); Female: 2,135,278 (49.6%). White: 3,560,005 (82.8%); Black: 165,063 (3.8%); American Indian: 44,241 (1.0%); Asian: 95,213 (2.2%); Other race: 309,931 (7.2%); Two or more races: 122,187 (2.8%); Hispanic/Latino: 735,601 (17.1%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.4; 65 and over: 9.7; median age: 34.3. See additional census data Area codes Tourism office | 
