History of Colorado in Timeline

Colorado, a Mountain state in the Western U.S., is known for its diverse landscape encompassing mountains, forests, plains, mesas, canyons, and deserts. It borders Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Colorado encompasses a large portion of the Southern Rocky Mountains. As of July 1, 2024, its estimated population was 5,957,493, making it the 21st most populous and 8th largest state by area in the U.S.

1901: Hot Weather Record in Denver

In 1901, Denver established a record for consecutive days above 90 °F (32 °C).

1903: Western Federation of Miners Strike

In 1903, poor labor conditions and miner discontent led to clashes between strikers and the Colorado National Guard, including the 1903–1904 Western Federation of Miners Strike.

1904: Western Federation of Miners Strike

In 1904, the 1903–1904 Western Federation of Miners Strike continued, amidst poor labor conditions and miner discontent, leading to clashes with the Colorado National Guard.

1905: Holly Sugar was first milled

In 1905, Holly Sugar was first milled from beets in Holly, Colorado.

1906: Oscar Wilde wrote in his Impressions of America that Leadville was the richest city in the world

In 1906, Irish playwright Oscar Wilde visited Colorado on his tour of the United States in 1882, writing in his 1906 Impressions of America that Leadville was "the richest city in the world. It has also got the reputation of being the roughest, and every man carries a revolver."

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1908: Democratic Party Convention in Denver

In 1908, Colorado became the first western state to host a major political convention when the Democratic Party met in Denver.

1910: Colorado and Utah dominated radium mining

From 1910 to 1922, Colorado and Utah dominated radium mining, with uranium and vanadium as byproducts.

1910: Samsonite luggage originated

In 1910, Samsonite luggage, a well-known brand, originated in Denver factories and laboratories.

1911: Gates belts and hoses originated

In 1911, Gates belts and hoses, a well-known brand, originated in Denver factories and laboratories.

1913: Colorado Coalfield War

In 1913, the 1913–1914 Colorado Coalfield War occurred, resulting in federal troops intervening to end the violence.

1914: Colorado Coalfield War and Ludlow Massacre

In 1914, the 1913-1914 Colorado Coalfield War included the Ludlow massacre, which resulted in the deaths of a dozen women and children.

1920: CoorsTek industrial ceramics originated

In 1920, CoorsTek industrial ceramics originated in Golden, Colorado.

1920: Denver Streetcar Strike

In 1920, the Denver streetcar strike resulted in federal troops intervening to end the violence.

1921: The college was renamed Regis College

In 1921, Sacred Heart College was renamed Regis College.

1922: Colorado and Utah dominated radium mining

From 1910 to 1922, Colorado and Utah dominated radium mining, with uranium and vanadium as byproducts.

1923: Russell Stover Candies originated

In 1923, Russell Stover Candies, a well-known brand, originated in Denver factories and laboratories.

April 1, 1924: Armed students patrolled the campus after a burning cross was found

On April 1, 1924, armed students patrolled the Regis College campus after a burning cross was found, which was the climax of tensions between the college and the Ku Klux Klan.

1924: Ku Klux Klan Dominance

In 1924, the Ku Klux Klan Colorado Realm achieved dominance in Colorado politics, controlling local and state Democrat and Republican parties.

1927: Colorado Coal Strike

In 1927, the 1927-28 Colorado coal strike began, leading to a dollar a day increase in wages, although the Columbine Mine massacre resulted in six dead strikers.

1930: Colorado Population Exceeds One Million

By the U.S. census in 1930, the population of Colorado first exceeded one million residents.

1930: Swift packed meat evolved from Monfort of Colorado, Inc.

In 1930, the present-day Swift packed meat of Greeley evolved from Monfort of Colorado, Inc.

November 8, 1932: Approved the repeal of alcohol prohibition

On November 8, 1932, Colorado approved the repeal of alcohol prohibition, more than a year before the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified.

1935: The college was renamed the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts

In 1935, the Agricultural College of Colorado was renamed the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

1940: U.S. Census Bureau reported Colorado's population demographics

In 1940, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Colorado's population as 8.2% Hispanic and 90.3% non-Hispanic White.

1940: Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation Established

In 1940, the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation (Ute dialect: Wʉgama Núuchi) was established in Colorado.

1941: USS Colorado at Pearl Harbor

In 1941, at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the battleship USS Colorado was located at the naval base in San Diego, California, and thus went unscathed.

1945: Last Wild Wolf Shot

In 1945, the last wild wolf in Colorado was shot, following a process of extirpation by trapping and poisoning of the gray wolf from Colorado in the 1930s.

1947: Introduction of Mountain Goats

During the interval between 1947 and 1972, mountain goats were introduced to Colorado.

1948: Voted for the Democratic candidate

In 1948, Colorado voted for the Democratic candidate in the presidential election, marking an exception in the post-World War II era when it was a reliably Republican state.

1949: Jolly Rancher candy originated

In 1949, Jolly Rancher candy originated in Golden, Colorado.

1953: Banned the sale of motor vehicles on Sunday

Since at least 1953, Colorado has banned the sale of motor vehicles on Sunday via C.R.S. section 12-6-302.

April 1, 1954: President Eisenhower signed law creating U.S. Air Force Academy

On April 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a law to create a U.S. Air Force Academy.

September 11, 1957: Plutonium Fire at Rocky Flats Plant

On September 11, 1957, a plutonium fire occurred at the Rocky Flats Plant, resulting in the significant plutonium contamination of surrounding populated areas.

1957: Became Colorado State University

In 1957, the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts became Colorado State University.

1958: Last Electoral Victory for Native-Born Coloradan

Bill Ritter's election in 2007 marked the first electoral victory for a native-born Coloradan in a gubernatorial race since 1958.

1958: Estes model rockets were launched

In 1958, Estes model rockets were launched in Penrose, Colorado.

1962: Waterpik dental water jets and showerheads originated

In 1962, Waterpik dental water jets and showerheads originated in Fort Collins, Colorado.

1964: Voted for the Democratic candidate

In 1964, Colorado voted for the Democratic candidate in the presidential election, marking an exception in the post-World War II era when it was a reliably Republican state.

1965: Denver Flood

In 1965, the Denver Flood occurred.

1967: Colorado Loosens Abortion Restrictions

In 1967, Colorado was the first state to loosen restrictions on abortion when governor John Love signed a law allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest, or threats to the woman's mental or physical health.

March 1969: National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference

In March 1969, the National Chicano Youth Liberation Conference, which is widely considered to have begun in Denver, was held in Colorado.

1969: Celestial Seasonings herbal teas originated

In 1969, Celestial Seasonings herbal teas have been made in Boulder, Colorado.

May 12, 1970: Denver chosen as host city for 1976 Winter Olympics

On May 12, 1970, Denver had been chosen by the International Olympic Committee as the host city for the 1976 Winter Olympics, which were scheduled to be held in the state.

1972: Introduction of Mountain Goats

During the interval between 1947 and 1972, mountain goats were introduced to Colorado.

1972: Voters rejected a referendum proposal to fund the 1976 Winter Olympics

In 1972, Colorado voters rejected a referendum proposal to fund the 1976 Winter Olympics, which had been scheduled to be held in the state.

1973: Earthquake Records

As of June 2020, there were 525 recorded earthquakes in Colorado since 1973, a majority of which range 2 to 3.5 on the Richter scale.

1973: Vanderhoof Ascended from Lieutenant Governorship

John David Vanderhoof had ascended from the Lieutenant Governorship when John Arthur Love was given a position in Richard Nixon's administration in 1973.

1975: Last native born governor before 2007

From 1975 (when John David Vanderhoof left office) until 2007, Colorado did not have a native-born governor.

1976: Big Thompson River Flooding

In 1976, the Big Thompson River flooding occurred.

1976: Winter Olympics not held in Colorado due to lack of funding

The 1976 Winter Olympics were not held in Colorado, as in 1972 Colorado voters rejected a referendum proposal to fund them.

1981: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory made its first candy

In 1981, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory made its first candy in Durango, Colorado.

1984: Colorado Presidential Election

In presidential elections, it had not been won until 2020 by double digits since 1984 and has backed the winning candidate in 9 of the last 11 elections.

February 1, 1985: Lowest Air Temperature

On February 1, 1985, the lowest official air temperature recorded in Colorado was −61 °F (−51.7 °C) at Maybell.

1988: The Rio Grande was acquired

In 1988 the "Rio Grande" was acquired, but was merged into, the Southern Pacific Railroad by their joint owner Philip Anschutz.

July 11, 1990: Denver Hailstorm

On July 11, 1990, a severe hailstorm hit Denver.

1990: Limon F3 Tornado

In 1990, the Limon F3 tornado occurred in the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

1991: Regis College was renamed Regis University

In 1991, Regis College was renamed Regis University.

1992: Voted for the Democratic candidate

In 1992, Colorado voted for the Democratic candidate in the presidential election, marking an exception in the post-World War II era when it was a reliably Republican state.

1992: Voters approved Amendment 2 to the state constitution

In 1992, by a margin of 53 to 47 percent, Colorado voters approved an amendment to the state constitution (Amendment 2) that would have prevented any city, town, or county in the state from taking any legislative, executive, or judicial action to recognize homosexuals or bisexuals as a protected class.

1993: Mountain Goats Declared Native Species

In 1993, despite being an artificially-introduced species, the state declared mountain goats a native species.

September 11, 1996: Anschutz sold the combined company to the Union Pacific Railroad

On September 11, 1996, Philip Anschutz sold the combined company to the Union Pacific Railroad, creating the largest railroad network in the United States.

1996: U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Amendment 2 in Romer v. Evans

In 1996, in a 6–3 ruling in Romer v. Evans, the U.S. Supreme Court found that preventing protected status based upon homosexuality or bisexuality did not satisfy the Equal Protection Clause, effectively overturning Amendment 2.

1999: Columbine High School Massacre

In 1999, the Columbine High School massacre occurred, where two gunmen killed 12 students and one teacher before committing suicide.

November 7, 2000: Colorado voters passed Amendment 20

On November 7, 2000, 54% of Colorado voters passed Amendment 20, which amends the Colorado State constitution to allow the medical use of marijuana.

2000: Most Coloradans Native to Other States

According to the 2000 census, nearly 60% of Coloradans are native to other states.

2000: Largest ancestry groups in Colorado

According to the 2000 census, the largest ancestry groups in Colorado are German (22%), Mexican (18%), Irish (12%), and English (12%).

2000: Colorado legalized marijuana for medicinal use

In 2000, Colorado legalized marijuana for medicinal use.

2000: Hispanic population of Colorado

Per the 2000 census, the Hispanic population is estimated to be 918,899, or approximately 20% of the state's total population.

2001: Uranium price increases prompted companies to revive uranium mining

From 2001 to 2007, uranium price increases prompted several companies to revive uranium mining in Colorado.

2002: Hayman Fire

In 2002, the Hayman Fire occurred in Colorado.

2003: Senior property tax exemption was temporarily suspended

In 2003, the Colorado Legislature temporarily suspended the state's senior property tax exemption.

2004: Obesity percentage in Colorado in 2004

In 2004, 17% of Colorado's population was considered medically obese, which increased to 24% by 2018.

2005: Real ID Act established

The Real ID Act was established in 2005, and in line with this act, state-issued digital identifications in Colorado will be considered valid when Real ID enforcement begins in 2025.

2006: Voters passed Amendment 43 banning same-sex marriage

In 2006, voters passed Amendment 43, which banned same-sex marriage in Colorado.

2006: Senior property tax break was scheduled to return

The senior property tax break was scheduled to return for the assessment year 2006, payable in 2007.

2006: Total number of births

There were a total of 70,331 births in Colorado in 2006, which was a birth rate of 14.6 per thousand.

2007: Uranium price increases prompted companies to revive uranium mining

From 2001 to 2007, uranium price increases prompted several companies to revive uranium mining in Colorado.

2007: Election of Bill Ritter

In 2007, Bill Ritter, a native-born Coloradan, took office as governor.

2007: Non-Hispanic Whites were involved in 59.1% of all births

In 2007, non-Hispanic Whites were involved in 59.1% of all births in Colorado. Some 14.06% of those births involved a non-Hispanic White person and someone of a different race, most often with a couple including one Hispanic. A birth where at least one Hispanic person was involved counted for 43% of the births in Colorado.

2007: Senior property tax break was payable

In 2007, the senior property tax break was payable, after being assessed in 2006.

2008: New Hot Weather Record in Denver

During the summer of 2008, Denver's record from 1901 for consecutive days above 90 °F (32 °C) was broken, with a new record of 24 consecutive days.

2008: Voted for Barack Obama

In 2008, Colorado voted for Barack Obama in the presidential election, signaling a shift towards the Democratic Party.

2008: Windsor EF3 Tornado

In 2008, the Windsor EF3 tornado devastated a small town in the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

2008: Price drops and financing problems forced companies to cancel or scale back uranium-mining project

In late 2008, price drops and financing problems forced companies to cancel or scale back the uranium-mining project in Colorado.

2009: Colorado Population Exceeds Five Million

In 2009, the United States Census Bureau estimated that the population of Colorado exceeded five million.

2010: Largest Christian denominations by the number of adherents

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, in 2010 the largest Christian denominations by the number of adherents in Colorado were the Catholic Church with 811,630 adherents, multi-denominational Evangelical Protestants with 229,981, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 151,433.

2010: Colorado had the seventh highest percentage of Hispanics

As of the 2010 census, Colorado has the seventh highest percentage of Hispanics (20.7%) in the U.S.

2010: Boulder was named America's Foodiest Town

In 2010, Boulder was named America's Foodiest Town by Bon Appétit.

2010: Per capita personal income

In 2010, Colorado's per capita personal income was $51,940, ranking 11th in the nation.

2010: Fourmile Canyon Fire

In 2010, the Fourmile Canyon Fire occurred in Colorado.

2010: Population increase in Denver-Aurora-Centennial Metropolitan Statistical Area since 2010 census

Since the 2010 census, there was an increase of +15.29% in the Denver–Aurora–Centennial, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010: Population increase in Front Range Urban Corridor since 2010 census

Since the 2010 census, there was an increase of +16.65% in the Front Range Urban Corridor.

2010: Population increase in Denver-Aurora-Greeley Combined Statistical Area since 2010 census

Since the 2010 census, there was an increase of +17.23% in the Denver–Aurora–Greeley, CO Combined Statistical Area.

August 22, 2011: Earthquake near Trinidad

On August 22, 2011, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake occurred 9 miles (14 km) west-southwest of the city of Trinidad.

2011: Percentage of minority population under one year old

In 2011, 46% of Colorado's population younger than the age of one were minorities, meaning that they had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic White.

June 2012: Waldo Canyon Fire and High Park Fire

In June 2012, the Waldo Canyon Fire and High Park Fire occurred in Colorado.

July 20, 2012: Aurora Movie Theater Shooting

On July 20, 2012, a gunman killed 12 people in a movie theater in Aurora, leading to tighter restrictions on firearms in the state.

November 6, 2012: Voters amended the state constitution to protect personal use of marijuana

On November 6, 2012, Colorado voters amended the state constitution to protect "personal use" of marijuana for adults, establishing a framework to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol.

2012: Voted for Barack Obama

In 2012, Colorado voted for Barack Obama in the presidential election, signaling a shift towards the Democratic Party.

2012: Voters amended state constitution protecting marijuana use

In 2012, voters amended the Colorado state constitution, protecting the "personal use" of marijuana for adults and establishing a framework to regulate cannabis like alcohol.

2012: Colorado became the first state in the union to legalize marijuana for industrial and recreational use

In 2012, with the adoption of the 64th state amendment, Colorado became the first state in the union to legalize marijuana for industrial (referring to hemp) and recreational use.

January 2013: RTD rail system had 170 light-rail vehicles, serving 47 miles of track

As of January 2013 the RTD rail system in the Denver Metropolitan Area had 170 light-rail vehicles, serving 47 miles (76 km) of track.

June 2013: Black Forest Fire

In June 2013, the Black Forest Fire occurred in Colorado.

2013: Pronghorn Population Increase

By 2013, conservation efforts succeeded in bringing the stable population of pronghorn in Colorado back up to roughly 66,000.

2013: Mountain Goat Kid Illness

In 2013, an unknown illness killed nearly all mountain goat kids, leading to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigation.

2013: Colorado Floods

In 2013, the Colorado floods occurred.

January 1, 2014: First recreational marijuana shops opened

On January 1, 2014, the first recreational marijuana shops in Colorado, and by extension the United States, opened their doors.

April 4, 2014: Senate Bill 14-184 was first introduced

On April 4, 2014, Senate Bill 14–184 addressing oversight of Colorado's industrial hemp program was first introduced.

May 31, 2014: Senate Bill 14-184 was signed into law

On May 31, 2014, Senate Bill 14–184 addressing oversight of Colorado's industrial hemp program was signed into law by Governor John Hickenlooper.

August 2014: Colorado began to issue driver licenses to aliens

In August 2014, Colorado began to issue driver licenses to aliens not lawfully in the United States who lived in Colorado.

September 2014: 524 non-citizens were issued Colorado driver licenses

In September 2014, KCNC reported that 524 non-citizens were issued Colorado driver licenses that are normally issued to U.S. citizens living in Colorado.

2014: Life expectancy of Colorado residents

According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, residents of Colorado had a 2014 life expectancy of 80.21 years, the longest of any U.S. state.

2014: Religious affiliations of the people of Colorado

As of 2014, major religious affiliations of the people of Colorado were 64% Christian, 1% Judaism, 1% Muslim, 1% Buddhist, 4% other, and 29% secular.

2014: John Hickenlooper allocated about half of the state's $13 million to medical research in the budget

In 2014 while governor, John Hickenlooper allocated about half of the state's $13 million "Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund" to medical research in the budget.

2014: Mountain Goat Kid Illness

In 2014, an unknown illness killed nearly all mountain goat kids, leading to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigation.

2015: 5280 wrote that Kent Haruf is widely considered Colorado's finest novelist

In 2015, 5280, a Denver magazine, wrote that Kent Haruf is "widely considered [to be] Colorado's finest novelist".

2015: Obergefell v. Hodges nullified Amendment 43

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges nullified Amendment 43, which had banned same-sex marriage in Colorado.

2015: Furious 7 was to film driving sequences on Pikes Peak Highway

In 2015, the film Furious 7 was scheduled to film driving sequences on Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado.

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2016: There were no major uranium mining operations in the state

As of 2016, there were no major uranium mining operations in Colorado, though plans existed to restart production.

2016: Colorado's marijuana industry sold $1.31 billion worth of marijuana

Colorado's marijuana industry sold $1.31 billion worth of marijuana in 2016 and generated tax, fee, and license revenue of $194 million.

2016: Voted for Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Colorado voted for Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, continuing its trend towards the Democratic Party.

2016: Median Annual Household Income

In 2016, Colorado's Median Annual Household Income was $70,666, ranking 8th in the nation.

May 8, 2017: Costliest Hailstorm in Colorado

On May 8, 2017, the costliest hailstorm ever in the state hit Colorado.

2017: Colorado recorded the second-lowest fertility rate in the United States

In 2017, Colorado recorded the second-lowest fertility rate in the United States outside of New England, after Oregon, at 1.63 children per woman.

2017: Colorado's marijuana industry sold $1.26 billion worth of marijuana

In the first three-quarters of 2017, Colorado's marijuana industry sold $1.26 billion worth of marijuana.

August 24, 2018: Minor Earthquakes Rattle Colorado

On August 24, 2018, four minor earthquakes rattled Colorado, ranging from magnitude 2.9 to 4.3.

December 2018: Colorado's Unemployment Rate

As of December 2018, the state's unemployment rate was 4.2%.

2018: Percentage of population considered medically obese

As of 2018, 24% of Colorado's population was considered medically obese.

2018: Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund was the largest pool of pot money in the state

By 2018, the Medical Marijuana Program Cash Fund was the "largest pool of pot money in the state" and was used to fund programs including research into pediatric applications for controlling autism symptoms.

2018: Tourism statistics

In 2018, Colorado attracted 85.2 million tourists, generating $22.3 billion in revenue.

2018: Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Colorado's Grand Valley AVA as one of the Top Ten wine travel destinations in the world

In 2018, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Colorado's Grand Valley AVA in Mesa County, Colorado, as one of the Top Ten wine travel destinations in the world.

2018: USS Colorado Commissioned

In 2018, the Virginia-class submarine USS Colorado (SSN-788) was commissioned.

2018: West Virginia teachers' strike inspired teachers in other states, including Colorado

In 2018, the West Virginia teachers' strike inspired teachers in other states, including Colorado, to take similar action.

July 20, 2019: Highest Ambient Air Temperature

On July 20, 2019, the highest official ambient air temperature ever recorded in Colorado was 115 °F (46.1 °C) at John Martin Dam.

October 2019: Colorado became first state to accept digital ID via myColorado app

In October 2019, Colorado became the first state to accept digital ID via its myColorado app.

2019: Hispanic population of Colorado

By 2019, Hispanics made up 22% of Colorado's population, and Non-Hispanic Whites made up 70%.

2019: Pronghorn Population Increase

By 2019, the population of pronghorn in Colorado was estimated to have reached 85,000.

2019: Vulnerability to Health Effects from Climate Change

In 2019, The Denver Post reported that "[i]ndividuals living in southeastern Colorado are more vulnerable to potential health effects from climate change than residents in other parts of the state".

2019: Wolf Pack Recolonizes Moffat County

In 2019, a wolf pack recolonized Moffat County, Colorado in northwestern Colorado.

2019: Mountain Goat Kid Illness

In 2019, an unknown illness killed nearly all mountain goat kids, leading to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigation.

2019: Total employment and number of employer establishments

In 2019, the total employment in Colorado was 2,473,192, with 174,258 employer establishments.

April 18, 2020: First class of Space Force officers commissioned

On April 18, 2020, the first class of Space Force officers from the Air Force Academy were commissioned.

June 2020: Earthquake Records in Colorado

As of June 2020, there were 525 recorded earthquakes in Colorado since 1973, a majority of which range 2 to 3.5 on the Richter scale.

November 2020: Voters authorized an initiative to lower the income tax rate

On November 3, 2020, voters in Colorado authorized an initiative to lower the income tax rate to 4.55 percent.

2020: Population distribution in municipalities, census-designated places, and rural areas

At the 2020 United States census, 4,299,942 of the 5,773,714 Colorado residents (74.47%) lived in one of the 273 active incorporated municipalities. Another 714,417 residents (12.37%) lived in one of the 210 census-designated places, while the remaining 759,355 residents (13.15%) lived in the many rural and mountainous areas of the state.

2020: Denver-Aurora-Centennial Metropolitan Statistical Area population

At the 2020 United States census, the Denver–Aurora–Centennial, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 2,963,821.

2020: Population of Denver-Aurora-Greeley Combined Statistical Area

At the 2020 census, the Denver–Aurora–Greeley, CO Combined Statistical Area had a population of 3,623,560.

2020: Front Range Urban Corridor population

At the 2020 census, the Front Range Urban Corridor had a population of 5,055,344.

2020: Religious affiliations of the people of Colorado

In 2020, Christianity was 66% of Colorado's population, Judaism was 2%, and the religiously unaffiliated were 28%.

2020: Vote to Reintroduce Gray Wolves

In 2020, Coloradans voted to reintroduce gray wolves.

2020: Voted for Joe Biden

In 2020, Colorado voted for Joe Biden in the presidential election, continuing its trend towards the Democratic Party.

2020: Arid conditions and drought negatively impacted yields

In 2020, arid conditions and drought negatively impacted corn yields in the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

2020: Largest Christian denominations and other religious groups

In 2020, the Association of Religion Data Archives determined the largest Christian denominations in Colorado were Catholics (873,236), non/multi/inter-denominational Protestants (406,798), and Mormons (150,509). There were also 12,500 Hindus, 7,101 Hindu Yogis, and 17,369 Buddhists.

2020: Colorado Wildfires

In 2020, the Pine Gulch Fire, Cameron Peak Fire, and East Troublesome Fire became the three largest fires in Colorado history.

2020: 2020 United States census

In 2020, the United States Census recorded the population of Colorado. As of July 1, 2024, the Census Bureau estimated a 3.2% increase from this census.

2020: Ranked as seventh easiest state to vote in

In a 2020 study, Colorado was ranked as the seventh easiest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: Colorado Presidential Election

In presidential elections, it had not been won until 2020 by double digits since 1984 and has backed the winning candidate in 9 of the last 11 elections.

2020: Population estimate by United States Census Bureau

On July 1, 2024, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Colorado at 5,957,493, a 3.2% increase since the 2020 United States census.

March 22, 2021: King Soopers Supermarket Shooting

On March 22, 2021, a gunman killed 10 people, including a police officer, in a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder.

December 30, 2021: Marshall Fire

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire started, becoming the most destructive fire in Colorado history in terms of property loss.

November 2022: myColorado app reached over 1 million users

By November 2022, The Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology announced that the myColorado app had over 1 million users.

2022: Estimated number of homeless people

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 10,397 homeless people in Colorado.

2022: Plan to have wolf population

By 2022 the state committed to a plan to have a population in the state and permitting non-lethal methods of driving off wolves attacking livestock and pets.

2022: Religious affiliations of the people of Colorado

In 2022, 61% of Colorado's population was Christian, 2% New Age, 1% Jewish, 1% Hindu, and 34% religiously unaffiliated.

2022: Colorado Springs Nightclub Shooting

In 2022, a gunman killed 5 people at a nightclub in Colorado Springs during the night of November 19–20, in an instance of anti-LGBT violence.

2022: Arid conditions and drought negatively impacted yields

In 2022, arid conditions and drought negatively impacted corn yields in the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

July 21, 2023: Office of Management and Budget defined statistical areas

On July 21, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget defined 21 statistical areas for Colorado comprising four combined statistical areas, seven metropolitan statistical areas, and ten micropolitan statistical areas.

December 19, 2023: Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump disqualified from 2024 election

On December 19, 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump was disqualified from the 2024 United States presidential election, in part due to his alleged incitement of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

2023: Colorado General Assembly Composition

As of 2023, the Democratic Party holds a 23 to 12 majority in the Senate and a 46 to 19 majority in the House of the Colorado General Assembly.

March 4, 2024: U.S. Supreme Court overruled Colorado decision

On March 4, 2024, the United States Supreme Court overruled the Colorado Supreme Court's decision regarding Donald Trump's disqualification from the 2024 election.

July 1, 2024: Colorado Population Estimate

On July 1, 2024, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Colorado to be 5,957,493, a 3.2% increase from the 2020 United States census.

2024: Residents voted to establish right to abortion and repeal Amendment 43

In 2024, Colorado residents voted to establish an explicit right to abortion in Colorado's state constitution and to repeal Amendment 43's defunct marriage ban.

2024: Voted for Kamala Harris

In 2024, Colorado voted for Kamala Harris in the presidential election, continuing its trend towards the Democratic Party.

2024: Colorado GDP

In 2024, the Colorado GDP was $553,323,000,000.

March 27, 2025: Sundance Film Festival announced move to Boulder

On March 27, 2025, it was announced that the Sundance Film Festival would move to Boulder starting in 2027 after reaching a deal for a ten-year duration.