Adsactly Education - Colorado Part 2
Adsactly Education: Colorado Part 2
Colorado
The Centenial State
Capital: Denver
Largest City: Denver
104,094 sq. mi. 269,837 sq. Km
8th Largest State
Admitted to US: 1876 (38th)
Population: 5,600,000 (21st)
Highest Point: 14,440 ft (4401 m)
Lowest Point: 3317 ft (1011 m)
State Bird: Lark Bunting
State Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine
Motto: Nothing Without Providence
Bordered By: Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah.
Colorado
In the first part of this series we covered the History, Geography and Weather of the state of Colorado.
Fauna and Flora
Colorado’s huge differences in altitude and weather make for an interesting array of plants. The plains grasslands contain over 500 species of wildflowers. The mountains offer heavy forest on the west and shrubs and berries on the east.
The state boasts 700 nongame mammal species and over 100 game species including Antelope, Black Bear, Cougar, Rocky Mountain Sheep, Mountain Goats, Moose, two species of deer and Elk.
Birds abound in Colorado including the endangered Spotted Owl, White Pelican and Bald Eagle. Grouse and Dove are common to the whole state, and 28 species of Ducks have been sighted there.
The multitude of lakes and rivers are home to over 100 species of fish including the iconic Golden Trout which is being supplanted by non native fish.
The People
In the last 40 years Colorado has become much more diversified. In the most recent census Whites are listed at 81% (all totals rounded) but that includes a Hispanic/Latin population of 21%. Blacks make up 4% of the population, Asians 3% and Native Americans 1%.
Most of the Hispanic population is Mexican American with a significant fraction tracing their heritage back to the Spanish/Mexican rule. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the state after English and their is one Native language still spoken here. There was a significant number of German immigrants to the Front Range and the Great Valley from the 1850s to the 1900s. Many of today’s farmers in Colorado claim German or Mexican ancestry.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Photo Courtesy the Author
Colorado has the lowest rate of obesity in the US, and the longest life span of over 80 years on the average.
The state became the second state to legalize recreational marijuana use (Washington) and so called ‘Cannabis Tourism’ has become a thing. Colorado is carefully scrutinized for it’s pot usage with many studies done and under way. Colorado also became the first state in the union to legalize assisted suicide.
Government
Colorado follows the standard three part state government structure: Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches.
The elected members of the Executive Branch include Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor.
The Legislative branch includes the typical House and Senate. All terms are 4 years with half the legislature up for election every two years.
The judicial branch is topped by the Colorado Supreme Court that can overturn or reinforce the results from any of the various Appeals, Criminal, Civil and local courts.
The Economy
Mining drove the opening act for the State of Colorado. The extraction of Silver and Gold populated the state. Then came irrigation water to the fertile soil of eastern and western Colorado starting in the 1850s. By the dawn of the 20th century the state was a powerhouse in agriculture and mining.
Farming and Mining are still major assets to Colorado. It’s a hydrocarbon rich area with coal, oil and natural gas. But the real driver of today’s economy is government and tech. Colorado has so many Government agencies headquartered here it is a little like Washington DC west.
NORAD, NOAA, NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), National Bureau of Standards, USGS (Geologic Survey), the Air Force Academy, the Denver Mint, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and a Federal Supermax Prison are all based in Colorado. Add in 3 Air Force Bases, 4 National Parks, National Forests, and BLM ground and 37% of Colorado is Federally controlled and managed.
Median Household income is just over $70,000 good for 8th in the nation while per capita income was almost $52,000 good for 11th place in the nation. Colorado is rare in that it has a 4.63% flat tax for state income tax regardless of income.
Education
Education
Colorado funds and administers Kindergarten through 12th grade education and there are more than 50 public and private colleges and universities in the state.
The State funded University system is extensive and (relatively) inexpensive for state residents, particularly the junior college system which offers tech and job training as well as transferable college credits.
Grand Hotel Leadville, CO Photo Courtesy the Author
Transportation
Most people move in Colorado by car. The state is served by two major freeways: I-70 runs east and west and I-25 runs north and south. The state highway system is extensive and very good. Colorado could write the book on winter time snow removal and road conditioning. They get lots of practice.
Denver International Airport is the 5th busiest in the nation and is a ‘hub’ airport for several major carriers.
Railroads in Colorado are extensive and very good. It is a very central key in the movement of rail freight in the northern tier of the US. Amtrack has two trains that serve Colorado.
Public transportation is primarily under the jurisdiction of Cities and Counties, under the state’s direction. Public transportation in the major cities is quite good.
Special Law
One may not mutilate a rock in a state park.
It is illegal for liquor stores to sell food or grocery stores to sell any alcohol except beer that is at most 3%.
I hope you enjoyed this synopsis of Colorado. Next up in the series is Connecticut.
The words and ideas are mine but I used Wikipedia Colorado as the source for the information.
All images in this post are properly licensed and used. Unsourced photographs are courtesy of the author.
Authored by: @bigtom13
Click on the coin to join our Discord Chat
Witness proposal is here:
Go To Steem Witness Page
In the bottom of the page type: adsactly-witness and press vote.
Use small letters and no "@" sign. Or, click here to vote directly!
Thank you!
Well written! Thanks for sharing your information about this great State, It's nice to learn about other geography especially I don't lived in Colorado . Looking forward for more
Thank you. It is my pleasure to share the information, and I take great joy in it. I'm glad you liked it.
This is an interesting one here, I totally have no atom of idea about this place called COLORADO. speaking about there governments system, it's almost related to that of my country which a person is given 4 years. Now straight to the interesting part or should I say the part I always look forward to, which is the law. Well, it's not like here in my country, a liquor store can sell foods too depends on your capacity and please I'll like you to make more inquiries on the laws and it's punishment next time. Thanks alot @bigtom13.
This law is in respect to a 2008 repeal of the blue laws. Liquor in any form could not be sold on Sunday. Colorado is home to Coors brewing and they are a huge consideration in the state. The separation of liquor and food sales is fairly rare but not unknown here in the US. Many, if not most states once only sold liquor in state run liquor stores. A monopoly that collected taxes for the state...
I like Colorado! I've once visit this place and it's true a very nice place, I like the view of the mountain, those wild animals in that picture reminds me of the Elk I once saw for the first time.
The Elk herd in Rocky Mountain National Park are particularly handsome and accessible to people. They are truly a magnificent animal.
So he informs us in his documented post, friend @bigtom13, Colorado shows aspects of great interest and multifaceted. I am attracted to the fact that in their fauna there appears that king that is the moose, in addition to the owl and the white pelican, truly beautiful animals. My attention is drawn to the preponderance that the Hispanic population has acquired, as well as that German presence (I imagine their contributions to agriculture are of importance). I also find it extremely attractive that he was one of the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana and that he has the legalization of assisted suicide. Very advanced, no doubt! Finally, how marvelous that railway network possesses. Grateful for your dosed information and also to @adsactly.
The moose and mountain goat were both introduced in Colorado. Both species are doing very well indeed and have plenty of population to allow hunting of both.
Both the races have left their mark indelibly on Colorado. In his epic book Centennial, James Michner had a German Immigrant farmer in the Great Valley named Potato Brumbaugh.
It is a very advanced state in many ways.
The fact that it is one of the states that has legalized the use of marijuana and euthanasia speaks to the progress of its society. I remember reading the case of a girl who moved to Denver because she was suffering from a degenerative disease and was asking for assisted death and was not legalized in her state. The way out was to move. I remember that year, that story went viral. I have also read of the good beer of the locality and who has not heard of Stranahan's Colorado Whisky, which also gives it a reputation outside its boundaries. I like that our Latino culture also comes to life in that state and that Spanish is the second language spoken. That's great. I enjoy reading these posts, @bigtom13. Nothing like being educated and knowing about other countries. Thanks to you for the nice post and to @adsactly for sharing it
Thanks Nancy. When I was a young man my father got a contract to grow some 2 row barley (not the 6 row feed grade barley that we normally grew). They were mighty fussy about their contract and their product but they paid really well. It was for Coors in Colorado :)
It is a pretty progressive state, and the people that I know that live there just love it. Thanks for all the kind words Nancy!
ENLIGHTEMENT POST..
We live far away from Colorado, far away from your continent, but I like you share about may countries. By your explanation and description we know that our planet has many interesting places. I like your describing is completed by picture so we can see clearer. you also write the description all the segment from history, resource people etc. They make me have more completly drawing in my mind. For me who never come to America, of course it 's a new vision and make me have a dream someday will visit it. I like colorado where the animal and the natural resource is kept by the law. I hope the people also support the conservation.
in other way, the mining also must be watched, because from our experience in my country mining make much pollution and disturb the ecosystem balance
Thank you @bigtom who always give education
Thank you @adsactly for sharing valuable information
Thank you steemit
warm regard from Indonesia
Colorado is pretty careful about their mining operations, generally speaking. There are some old mines that are now 'superfund' sites (It's a National Clean Up Fund) but mostly they have protected their land and water.
I'm glad you enjoyed the post, thanks for stopping in!
I am really happy that their mining stil give attetion the the protection to the land and water so the people will get many beneffit from all they do.
Nice bro 👍
ESOS venados están mejor en mi parrilla...
Estoy de acuerdo. Muy sabroso por cierto.
Hi, @adsactly!
You just got a 1.09% upvote from SteemPlus!
To get higher upvotes, earn more SteemPlus Points (SPP). On your Steemit wallet, check your SPP balance and click on "How to earn SPP?" to find out all the ways to earn.
If you're not using SteemPlus yet, please check our last posts in here to see the many ways in which SteemPlus can improve your Steem experience on Steemit and Busy.
To listen to the audio version of this article click on the play image.
Brought to you by @tts. If you find it useful please consider upvoting this reply.