Statehood Colorado

the georgetown loop of colorado central railroad photographed william henry jackson in 1899

the united states congress passed enabling act on march 3, 1875, specifying requirements territory of colorado become state. on august 1, 1876 (28 days after centennial of united states), u.s. president ulysses s. grant signed proclamation admitting colorado union 38th state , earning moniker centennial state .

the discovery of major silver lode near leadville in 1878 triggered colorado silver boom. sherman silver purchase act of 1890 invigorated silver mining, , colorado s last, greatest, gold strike @ cripple creek few months later lured new generation of gold seekers. colorado women granted right vote beginning on november 7, 1893, making colorado second state grant universal suffrage , first 1 popular vote (of colorado men). repeal of sherman silver purchase act in 1893 led staggering collapse of mining , agricultural economy of colorado, state , steadily recovered. between 1880s , 1930s, denver s floriculture industry developed major industry in colorado. period became known locally carnation gold rush.

colorado became first western state host major political convention when democratic party met in denver in 1908. u.s. census in 1930, population of colorado first exceeded 1 million residents. colorado suffered through great depression , dust bowl of 1930s, major wave of immigration following world war ii boosted colorado s fortune. tourism became mainstay of state economy, , high technology became important economic engine. united states census bureau estimated population of colorado exceeded 5 million in 2009.

three warships of u.s. navy have been named uss colorado. first uss colorado named colorado river. later 2 ships named in honor of state, including battleship uss colorado served in world war ii in pacific beginning in 1941. @ time of attack on pearl harbor, uss colorado located @ naval base in san diego, calif. , hence went unscathed.