Colorado Waterfront Properties for Sale

The state of Colorado is 22nd in population and 8th in size at 104,100 square miles. It is bordered by seven other states, most notably forming the Four Corners in the southwest with Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, and Oklahoma to the southeast. Colorado's nickname is "The Centennial State" because it became a state the same year as the centennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence. The capital is Denver, which is also the most populous city in the state. Other large cities are Colorado Springs and Aurora.

As with any large state in the United States, Colorado's geography is very diverse. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, with more than 1,000 peaks over 10,000 feet high and 54 above 14,000 feet; Pike's Peak is one of the most famous. In addition to mountains, the state also has large plains and deserts, canyons, lakes and rivers, and thick forests. There are many destinations for outdoor recreation, including several areas for world-class fishing and several luxurious mountain ski resorts. Thirty-seven percent of Colorado's land area is federally owned, with four national parks and a large area of national forest.

The economy of Colorado historically was based on mining, but when irrigation was developed in the 19th century, agriculture also became a large part of the economy. Products are primarily cattle, dairy products, wheat, corn, and hay. The U.S. government is also a source of economic stability, with many important facilities in the state including the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the U.S. Air Force Academy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and several other scientific centers and air force bases. Other industries are food processing, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, and the extraction of metals.