By Susan Berg
The History of Colorado
Colorado geographic history dates back to nearly 10,000 B.C. The state's modern history dates back to the mid-1800s when the prospect of gold brought many Euro-American settlers to the area.
Original Inhabitants
Evidence of inhabitants in what is now Colorado date back to 9200 B.C. with the Big Game hunters. The cliff-dwelling Anasazi inhabited the southwestern area of the state from 1 A.D. to 1200 A.D. Other Native American populations included the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Kiowas, Comanches and Pawnee.
European Settlers
The first European to visit what is now Colorado is thought to be Spanish explorer Francisco Coronado in 1541. The first permanent Euro-American settlement was established in San Luis Valley in 1851.
Territorial Status
Colorado was first a part of the Nebraska, Utah, Kansas and New Mexico territories. The Colorado Territory was established by Congress in 1861.
State Constitution
The state's first Constitutional Convention was formed in 1859. After many failures and revisions, the constitution was finally put before the people of Colorado and ratified on July 1, 1876.
Admittance to the Union
Colorado was admitted to the Union in 1876 as the 38th state by President Ulysses S. Grant.
About the Author:
A writer and editor based in southeastern Wyoming, Susan Berg has over ten years of experience in the field. Berg earned a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Dayton. Her work has been published in the "Dayton Daily News" and online at websites including BiologyBiozine.com, Wcities.com, Trails.com, Travels.com and eHow.com.
Photo Credits:
Susan J Berg
