Colorado Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location…: Located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, Colorado hosts celebrated mountains and rivers and may also be considered to be part of the western and southwestern regions of the U.S.
Cities: Denver is the capital of Colorado and the state’s most populous city.
Behind the Name: Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State.”
A Closer Look: Colorado is a popular location for vacationers in search of either the pleasant summer climate or the bountiful powdered snow in the winter.
Did You Know? Rocky Mountain High: Colorado is the most elevated state and has more mountains reaching 14,000 feet than any other state.
Colorado Careers and Employment:
Population: 4,939,456 (14.8% increase since 2000) – 49.6% Female, 50.4% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 6th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) administrative and support and waste management and remediation service; (2) retail trade; (3) accommodation and food services; (4) health care and social assistance; and (5) construction.
Taxes: Income Tax, 4.63% and Sales Tax, 2.9% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 105.7 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 10th of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 23.71; Apr: 43.06; July: 67.60; Oct: 46.64 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 18th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Colorado Economics
In General: Once a mining state, Colorado has grown to include service industries as well as tourism and manufacturing.
Service Industry: The service industry holds the largest share (37%) of the workforce, while other notable industries include wholesale and retail trades (19%), military and government services (13%) and manufacturing (9%).
Agriculture: Colorado’s agricultural production is dominated by livestock and livestock products, driven by the cattle industry. Over 60% of the state’s agricultural revenues are provided by the growth of cattle and calves.
Manufacturing: The state’s leading manufactured products are scientific instruments (medical instruments, devices for measuring electric current). Computers and communications equipment represent the leading types of machinery that are manufactured. The state’s food processing manufacturing industries (beer brewing, soft drink bottling, meat-packing, and production of animal feed) are also important to Colorado’s economy. [Ed. Note: Did anyone say Coors?]
Mining: Oil, coal, and natural gas are Colorado’s major mined products.
Did You Know? The Colorado economy is divided into categories by the state’s landscape. Farming takes place mostly in the flat eastern plains, between the eastern plains and the western mountains many urban areas serve as home to service and manufacturing activity, and the Rocky Mountains in the west provide both recreation areas and significant deposits of coal and petroleums.
Colorado Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in Colorado, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
