Colorado Trivia For Newbies and Natives

· Nov. 1, 2017, 2:23 pm

With our Colorado roots planted in 1970, Colorado Public Radio has amassed a lot of information about the Centennial state in the last four decades. Our marketing team went through the archives to highlight some of the Colorado trivia CPR News has uncovered over the years.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Colorado’s population is just over 5.5 million

There are 271 municipalities in 64 counties, with Denver being the largest and Bonanza in Saguache County being the smallest. The Secretary of State’s office almost deemed Bonanza abandoned in 2014. Here’s a look at how some other Colorado towns got their names.

The Rocky Mountain big horn sheep is the state’s official animal

Also the mascot of Colorado State University, you’ll see these animals dotting the cliffs along I-70. While the big horn sheep have the official designation, Colorado is home to a variety of wildlife. From alligator wrestling in the San Luis Valley, to pack burro racing (the state’s official summer heritage sport) in Fairplay, there’s no shortage of interesting and usual wildlife in Colorado.

There are 25 national historic landmarks in Colorado.

From Durango to Colorado Springs and Morrison to Leadville, Colorado towns have a rich and vibrant history. Read about some of these iconic places, including the Durango-Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad, Pikes Peak, Colorado Chautauqua, Red Rocks Park and Bent’s Old Fort.

At 14,439 feet, Mt. Elbert is the highest point in the state.

And Coloradans are enthralled by the state’s reputation for high altitude. Whether it’s summiting 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks or calling the highest town in the country home, people feel a strong sense of pride around “Rocky Mountain High.”