Colorado
“The Centennial State”
What Makes Colorado Beautiful
Colorado's Rocky Mountain peaks pierce the sky above 14,000 feet, sheltering alpine meadows ablaze with wildflowers, rushing whitewater rivers, and pristine mountain lakes. From the red sandstone formations of Garden of the Gods to the vast sand sea of Great Sand Dunes, the state is an outdoor cathedral.
Key Metrics
5.9M
Population
$468.2B
GDP
+7.2%
GDP Growth (5yr)
$87.6K
Median Income
9.8%
Tax Burden
History
Pikes Peak Gold Rush brings settlers to the Denver area
Admitted as the 38th state during the centennial year
U.S. Mint in Denver begins producing coins
NORAD established inside Cheyenne Mountain
Colorado becomes one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis
Top Cities
Denver
713K
Mile High City; state capital; booming tech hub
Colorado Springs
490K
Military hub; Garden of the Gods; Olympic Training Center
Aurora
395K
Diverse suburb; Buckley Space Force Base
Fort Collins
170K
Colorado State University; craft beer capital
Boulder
105K
University town; outdoor recreation mecca
Economy & Industry
Core Industries
Natural Resources
Energy Portfolio
Budget & Fiscal Health
$42.8B
State Budget
$41.5B
State Revenue
$-1.3B
Fiscal Balance
Social Indicators
9.1%
Poverty Rate
43.5%
College Degree
6.3%
Uninsured
424/100K
Crime Rate
Where is Colorado Headed?
GDP Projections ($B)
| Scenario | 1yr | 5yr | 10yr | 25yr | 50yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic | $477B | $514B | $564B | $744B | $1184B |
| Baseline | $475B | $503B | $540B | $669B | $957B |
| Pessimistic | $472B | $489B | $510B | $581B | $720B |
Political Landscape
D+5