14 Quirky Facts About Colorado That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate
If you are a Colorado native, you may remember taking a middle school state history class and learning the main parts of the Centennial State’s past. While Native Americans, mining, and the railroad make up an ample amount of our state history, some parts are quirky and seem nearly unbelievable, like these 14 weird but true facts:
What better way to begin this list than this tasty tidbit? While other people in different states may try to claim they invented the cheeseburger, it simply isn't true, as this iconic food was first served in 1935 at the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver.
What do Chipotle, Q'doba, Noodles, and Tokyo Joe's all have in common? They all hail from Colorado, making us the capital of delicious and ingenious ideas!
Whether or not you like or trust the government, it is essential to note that they own a good chunk of the land, as much of our open spaces are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or the National Park Service.
We have A LOT of 10,000+ foot high peaks!
14ers = 14,000-foot tall peaks. We have 58 of them.
This one should be no surprise, as Denver is known near and far for its many beautiful parks and open spaces! As it turns out, these vast fields and playgrounds outnumber most other cities, with Denver boasting a whopping 14,000 acres of parkland.
You've heard the rumors, and we are here to report that they are true: Denver did, indeed, turn down the chance to host the 1976 Winter Olympics after residents voted it down. Why? Denverites cited an increase in pollution, population, and overall cost to taxpayers.
No, really, we do, and it's an entirely normal thing. Right? (You can learn MUCH more about the frozen dead guy by clicking The Frozen Dead Guy Days In Colorado Is Considered To Be One Of The Best Cultural Festivals In America.)
FYI: It's the columbine, and you must have permission from the landowner to pick one! (Picking columbines on public land is strictly prohibited.)
We may not have beaches or Disney princesses, but darn it, we have an average of 300 days of sunshine each year, making Colorado one of the sunniest states!
These towns - many of which served as mining camps - vastly outnumber the 271 still alive and well municipalities.
*A good chunk = 40% of the land.
In addition to the northeast Colorado county having the most tornadoes, the Centennial State is also one of the top 10 states for tornadoes.
Colfax Ave, the butt of everyone's jokes and the "longest, wickedest street in America," is an incredible 50 miles long!
For even more weird things you never knew about Colorado, check out these 12 Things You Didn’t Know About The History Of Colorado.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
