States from A-Z: Colorado & Connecticut

Today, we will introduce you to the states of Colorado and Connecticut

Colorado - The Centennial State

From the vast prairies to the majestic Rocky Mountains, from rushing rivers to deserts, and from cosmopolitan cities to historic mining towns Colorado offers a variety of contrasts. The highest state in the US fascinates with a divers flora and fauna, with miracles of nature, and with a rich cultural heritage that can be found in forts, narrow gauge railroads, mining museums, dinosaur fossils and Indian art.

As the Centennial State, it was created in 1876, a century after the US Declaration of Independence (1776), from the Colorado territory. This had been established 15 years earlier - during the high time of the Front Range gold rush. The capital and at the same time the state's economic center is Denver, more than 4.8 million Coloradans live in the city's greater metropolitan area. Denver has an elevation of 5,000 feet (1525 meters) above sea level, which is approximately one mile. Drive one or two hours by car and you are right in the Rocky Mountains (http://www.rocky.mountain.national-park.com) where you will find the best hiking, mountain climbing and skiing areas in the US.

THE SPANISH EXPLORED COLORADO

Colorado was probably first explored by the Spanish in the early 17th century. It is still controversial whether the Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado already crossed the eastern plains of present day Colorado on his expedition from Mexico to present day Kansas and thus became the first European on the soil of what was later going to become Colorado. In this context, also Juan de Oñate is being mentioned, who was leading an expedition from New Mexico to Kansas around 1660. Even though more and more fur trappers ventured into present day Colorado after that, greater waves of settlers only began in the 1830s with the building of Bent's Fort. The fort at the Arkansas river (near present day La Junta), built in 1833 by William and Charles Bent quickly developed into a significant trading place on the Santa Fe Trail between the whites and the indigenous peoples. In the meantime, New Mexican settlers settled in San Luis Valley between the San Juan Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Range and earned their livelihoods with agriculture. On June 21, 1851, they established the first permanent settlement in Colorado with the founding of San Luis.

The founding of the Colorado territory in 1861 and increasing settlement near the Cherry Creek led to conflicts with the Cheyenne and the Arapho, who later were guaranteed the land around present day Denver in the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851). Their relocation to the river valley of the Arkansas was caused the natives to resist, their protests included robbing stage coaches as well as killing some of the settlers. From 1867 relocation was being conducted on a large scale, Indians were being moved from the Colorado plains to reservations in Oklahoma, the process was more or less finished by 1874.

Colorado has a population of 4,753,377, (last census: July 1, 2006), 82.8% of them white, 19.7% Hispanics, 3.7% blacks and African-Americans, 2.8% Asian, and 0.9% Natives. Colorado's population growth was above average with 8.4% (US: 5.3%) between the census in April 2000 and the census in July 2005. By 2030, Colorado is expected to have a population of more than 7 million.

Colorado is among the economically most successful US states. Real GDP per capita was $41,798 (national average of all 50 states: $37,714) in 2006, making Colorado number 7 in the national ranking.

For more information about Colorado, please refer to:
www.colorado.com/
www.colorado.gov/

Connecticut - The Land of Steady Habits

In Connecticut, metropolitan diversity mixes with rural charm. Since the state is less then 100 km (62 miles) form New York City, its cities offer a selection of great restaurants and cultural highlights and entertainment.

Hartford, the state's capital, has a number of historic and cultural attractions - the Connecticut Historical Society museum (CHS), the first house of settler Butler McCook, and the Wadsworth Atheneum, which was the first public art museum in America.

Connecticut is one of the smallest but most densely populated US states. Due to the proximity to New York, it has more industry than all other New England states. Especially the precision and arms industry is highly represented in Connecticut. The state is also called State of Steady Habits, because it is the state of the typical (conservative) Yankees. Connecticut's peaceful rural areas and traditional small towns form a sharp contrast to its industrial cities.

REBELLION AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN

The state's history dates back to Dutch trading posts that were established at the Charles River starting 1614. In 1633, Connecticut became a Dutch colony, and in 1635 a British colony. It passed its first written constitution in 1639 and in 1664, New Haven became part of the colony. Connecticut had a significant influence on the independence movement, since it had had the right to elect its own governors even before then. It was one of the 13 colonies rebelling against the British government during the War of Independence. In July of 1776, Connecticut, as one of the 13 original states, declared its independence form Great Britain and became the fifth state of the US on January 9, 1788. The state abolished slavery in 1848.

The state's official nickname is the Constitution State, adopted in 1959 by the General Assembly, in addition it is also called the Provision State. This name dates back to the American War of Independence, when Connecticut was supplying the continental army with provisions.

Connecticut has a population of 3,504,809, 79.9% white, 11.2 Hispanic, 9.5% black and African-American, 3.3% Asian, and 0.2% Native Americans.

In 2006, Connecticut had the second highest real GDP per capita in the US - $50,332 (national average of all 50 states: $37,714), only Delaware had an even higher GDP.

For further information, please refer to:
www.ct.gov/
www.town-usa.com/connecticut/ctmaps.html