Your J-1 guide to
Colorado
The Centennial State
Climbing Colorado’s 58 “Fourteeners,” mountains taller than 14,000 feet, is a genuine point of pride here, reflecting a culture built around a deep, active bond with the outdoors. The state’s nickname, “Centennial State,” marks the year it joined the country, 1876, exactly one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence.
Mesa Verde National Park preserves stone homes built into cliffs by Ancestral Puebloans more than 700 years ago, a direct link to Native history that predates the state itself. Denver, the “Mile High City,” anchors the state’s modern identity as a center for craft beer and outdoor gear.
Green chile, bison, and Palisade peaches connect back to Colorado’s ranching and farming roots.
Quick Facts about Colorado
Population
5.9 million
2023 estimate
Capital
Denver
Seat of state government
Largest City
Denver
Approx. 716,500 residents
Highest Point
Mount Elbert
4,401 meters
BECAME A U.S. STATE IN
1876
38th State
Learn more about Colorado
Visit the USA: Colorado
Rocky Mountain trip ideas from Brand USA
Colorado Travel Guide
Ski country, hot springs, and scenic byways
Things to do in Colorado
Red Rocks concerts and Mesa Verde cliff dwellings
Colorado Sports
Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, and mountain hiking
Iconic Colorado Foods
Green chile, Palisade peaches, and trout
