One of the most picturesque states in the union is Colorado, sometimes known as the Centennial State. The Rocky Mountains, Mesa Verde National Park, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park are just a few of its breath-taking natural beauties. However, how was Colorado named? Let’s investigate.
The Spanish word meaning “colored red” is where the name “Colorado” originates. Due to its reddish-brown hue, Spanish explorers originally referred to the state’s main river, the Colorado, as the Rio Colorado. When the Colorado Territory was created in 1861, it was given the river’s name as a result of the term’s persistence.
Girls rarely have the name Colorado. In reality, the Social Security Administration reports that it has never been among the top 1,000 girl’s names in the country. It is a common boy’s name, nevertheless. On the list of the most popular boy’s names in 2020, it came in at number 271 overall.
Colorado’s capital city, Denver, is typically associated with boys’ names. It comes from James W. Denver’s last name, a previous governor of the Kansas Territory. Denver was established during the 1858–1859 Pikes Peak Gold Rush, and it swiftly developed into a major trading and mining center. In 1859, Denver became the official name of the city.
Colorado’s name does indeed translate as “colored red,” but this is not the only meaning attached to the state. The Centennial State, the state’s official moniker, alludes to the fact that Colorado became a state in 1876, 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Because of its breathtaking alpine beauty and abundance of outdoor leisure possibilities, the state is frequently referred to as the “Switzerland of America.”
There are a number of names that are no longer used in Colorado. Many pioneers gave their children names that mirrored their aspirations for their new home in the early years of the state’s history. The names Liberty, Freedom, Union, and Independence were among them. These names, though, lost favor over time and are now rarely heard.
In conclusion, the name Colorado has an intriguing origin tale and is not a popular girl’s name. Denver is typically thought of as a boy’s name, while Colorado has connotations other than “colored red.” Colorado continues to be a well-liked travel destination for tourists from all over the world, attracted by its natural beauty and outdoor leisure activities, despite some names going out of style there.