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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
The state flag was adopted on June 5, 1911 by an act of the General Assembly. The flag was adopted to be used on all occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented, with the privilege of use by all citizens upon such occasions as they deem fitting and appropriate. Laws pertaining to use of the National flag are also applicable to use of the State flag.
The flag consists of three alternate stripes of equal width and at right angles to the staff, the two outer stripes to be blue of the same colour as in the blue field of the national flag and the middle stripe to be white, the proportion of the flag being a width of two-thirds of its length. At a distance from the staff end of the flag of one fifth of the total length of the flag there is a circular red C, of the same colour as the red in the national flag of the United States. The diameter of the letter is two-thirds of the width of the flag. The inner line of the opening of the letter C is three-fourths of the width of its body or bar, and the outer line of the opening is double the length of the inner line thereof. Completely filling the open space inside the letter C is a golden disk, attached to the flag is a cord of gold and silver, intertwined, with tassels, one of gold and one of silver.
The colours used in our state's flag are symbolic of certain geographical features of the state. The gold stands for the abundant sunshine that Colorado enjoys. The white symbolizes our snowcapped mountains. The blue stands for the clear blue skies in Colorado while the red represents the ruddy colour of much of our state's earth. The flag was originally designed by Andrew Carlisle Johnson in 1911. The precise colours of red and blue were not designated in the 1911 legislation and some controversy arose over these colours. On February 28, 1929, the General Assembly stipulated the precise colours of red and blue as the same as the national flag. Controversy also arose over the size of the letter C and on March 31, 1964, the General Assembly further modified the 1911 legislation by revising the distance from the staff for the letter C and its diameter.
The flag consists of three alternate stripes of equal width and at right angles to the staff, the two outer stripes to be blue of the same colour as in the blue field of the national flag and the middle stripe to be white, the proportion of the flag being a width of two-thirds of its length. At a distance from the staff end of the flag of one fifth of the total length of the flag there is a circular red C, of the same colour as the red in the national flag of the United States. The diameter of the letter is two-thirds of the width of the flag. The inner line of the opening of the letter C is three-fourths of the width of its body or bar, and the outer line of the opening is double the length of the inner line thereof. Completely filling the open space inside the letter C is a golden disk, attached to the flag is a cord of gold and silver, intertwined, with tassels, one of gold and one of silver.
The colours used in our state's flag are symbolic of certain geographical features of the state. The gold stands for the abundant sunshine that Colorado enjoys. The white symbolizes our snowcapped mountains. The blue stands for the clear blue skies in Colorado while the red represents the ruddy colour of much of our state's earth. The flag was originally designed by Andrew Carlisle Johnson in 1911. The precise colours of red and blue were not designated in the 1911 legislation and some controversy arose over these colours. On February 28, 1929, the General Assembly stipulated the precise colours of red and blue as the same as the national flag. Controversy also arose over the size of the letter C and on March 31, 1964, the General Assembly further modified the 1911 legislation by revising the distance from the staff for the letter C and its diameter.
Nickname: The Centennial State.
Capital: Denver.
Constitution: The 38th State.
Statehood: August 1st 1876.
Motto: Nil Sine Numine - Nothing without the Deity
History:
American Indians lived in Colorado before Spanish explorers arrived in the 1600's. In 1706, Juan de Ulibarri, a Spaniard, claimed the region for Spain.
In 1803, the United States bought a portion of the area. Mexico won control of western Colorado from Spain in 1821. The U.S. wrested control from Mexico during the Mexican War (1846-1848). Colorado had few settlers until the discovery of gold in the late 1850's. The U.S. Congress created the Colorado territory in 1861.
Indians and whites clashed often during the 1860's and 1870's. By 1910, agriculture had replaced mining as the most important industry.
The development of motor cars in the early 1900's boosted Colorado's oil and tourism industries. The state's population increased after World War II (1939-1945), and Colorado's need for flood control, irrigation, and water storage became severe. Several large water management projects were later developed.
By 1954, manufacturing had replaced agriculture as the leading industry. The Denver area later became a centre for energy-related activities.
Bird:
The Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocoryus Stejneger, was adopted as the official state bird on April 29, 1931. The Lark Bunting is a migrant bird. Flocks arrive in April and inhabit the plains regions and areas up to 8,000 feet in elevation. They fly south again in September. The male bird is black with snowy white wing patches and edgings, tail coverts and outer tail feathers. In winter the male bird changes to a grey brown like the female bird, however the chin remains black and the black belly feathers retain white edgings. The female bird is grey brown above and white below with dusky streaks. The male bird is six to seven inches while the female is slightly smaller. The male bird performs a spectacular courtship flight, during which he warbles and trills a distinctive mating song. Citation: House Bill 222, 1931; Colorado Revised Statute 24-80-910.
Economy:
Agriculture: Cattle, wheat, dairy products, corn, hay.
Industry: Scientific instruments, food processing, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, gold and other mining, tourism.
Flower:
The white and lavender Columbine, Aquilegia caerules, was adopted as the official state flower on April 4, 1899 by an act of the General Assembly. In 1925, the General Assembly made it the duty of all citizens to protect this rare species from needless destruction or waste. To further protect this fragile flower, the law prohibits digging or uprooting the flower on public lands and limits the gathering of buds, blossoms and stems to 25 in one day. It is unlawful to pick the columbine on private land without consent of the land owner.
Motto:
The Latin phrase "Nil Sine Numine", was adopted as part of the Territorial Seal. At recurring intervals, discussion has ensued concerning interpretation of this Latin phrase which commonly translated is "Nothing without Providence". Others say it is "Nothing without God". In the early mining days of the State, the unregenerate said it meant "nothing without a new mine". In a strict sense, one cannot possibly get "God" from "numine", God being a purely Anglo-Saxon word. The word "numine" means any divinity, god or goddess. The best evidence of intent of Colorado's official designers and framers of the resolution for adoption of the seal is contained in the committee report wherein clear distinction was made between "numine" and "Deo" and it is specifically states that the committee's interpretative translation was "Nothing without the Deity".
Nickname:
Colorado has been nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state in the year 1876, 100 years after the signing of our nation's Declaration of Independence.
Origin of state's name:
The name of our state, Colorado, has its origin in the Spanish language, as the word for "coloured red". This was the name chosen for Colorado as a Territory in 1861 by Congress.
State Tartan:
The Colorado General Assembly passed a resolution adopting an official state tartan on March 3, 1997. The tartan is comprised of a pattern and colours that symbolize Colorado's splendour and history. The pattern or sett consists of primary blocks of forest green and cerulean blue separated by broad dividing bands of black, with the forest green checks containing two pairs of tram tracks consisting of lavender and white and with the cerulean blue checks containing a gold stripe with red guard lines. The official state tartan is a Celtic and a "district" tartan that may be worn by any resident or friend of Colorado whether or not of Celtic heritage. July 1st is designated as "Tartan Day" in Colorado under House Joint Resolution 96-1014.
Tree:
The Colorado Blue Spruce, Picea pungens, was adopted as the official state tree on March 7, 1939, by a resolution of the General Assembly. The Colorado Blue Spruce was first discovered on Pikes Peak in 1862 and named by botanist C.C. Parry. This tree is known for its stately, majestic, symmetrical form and its beautiful silver-blue colour. In Colorado, it grows in small, scattered groves or singly among ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, alpine fir and Englemann spruce. In the northern parts of its range it grows at the 6,000 to 9,000 feet elevation while in the southern parts of its range at 8,000 to 11,000 feet. Its colour ranges from green to blue to silver, and is sometimes called the silver spruce. Colorado school children voted on Arbor Day in 1892 to name the blue spruce as the state tree, however it was not until 1939 that the Colorado Blue Spruce was officially designated. Citation: House Joint Resolution 7, 1939.
American Indians lived in Colorado before Spanish explorers arrived in the 1600's. In 1706, Juan de Ulibarri, a Spaniard, claimed the region for Spain.
In 1803, the United States bought a portion of the area. Mexico won control of western Colorado from Spain in 1821. The U.S. wrested control from Mexico during the Mexican War (1846-1848). Colorado had few settlers until the discovery of gold in the late 1850's. The U.S. Congress created the Colorado territory in 1861.
Indians and whites clashed often during the 1860's and 1870's. By 1910, agriculture had replaced mining as the most important industry.
The development of motor cars in the early 1900's boosted Colorado's oil and tourism industries. The state's population increased after World War II (1939-1945), and Colorado's need for flood control, irrigation, and water storage became severe. Several large water management projects were later developed.
By 1954, manufacturing had replaced agriculture as the leading industry. The Denver area later became a centre for energy-related activities.
Bird:
The Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocoryus Stejneger, was adopted as the official state bird on April 29, 1931. The Lark Bunting is a migrant bird. Flocks arrive in April and inhabit the plains regions and areas up to 8,000 feet in elevation. They fly south again in September. The male bird is black with snowy white wing patches and edgings, tail coverts and outer tail feathers. In winter the male bird changes to a grey brown like the female bird, however the chin remains black and the black belly feathers retain white edgings. The female bird is grey brown above and white below with dusky streaks. The male bird is six to seven inches while the female is slightly smaller. The male bird performs a spectacular courtship flight, during which he warbles and trills a distinctive mating song. Citation: House Bill 222, 1931; Colorado Revised Statute 24-80-910.
Economy:
Agriculture: Cattle, wheat, dairy products, corn, hay.
Industry: Scientific instruments, food processing, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, gold and other mining, tourism.
Flower:
The white and lavender Columbine, Aquilegia caerules, was adopted as the official state flower on April 4, 1899 by an act of the General Assembly. In 1925, the General Assembly made it the duty of all citizens to protect this rare species from needless destruction or waste. To further protect this fragile flower, the law prohibits digging or uprooting the flower on public lands and limits the gathering of buds, blossoms and stems to 25 in one day. It is unlawful to pick the columbine on private land without consent of the land owner.
Motto:
The Latin phrase "Nil Sine Numine", was adopted as part of the Territorial Seal. At recurring intervals, discussion has ensued concerning interpretation of this Latin phrase which commonly translated is "Nothing without Providence". Others say it is "Nothing without God". In the early mining days of the State, the unregenerate said it meant "nothing without a new mine". In a strict sense, one cannot possibly get "God" from "numine", God being a purely Anglo-Saxon word. The word "numine" means any divinity, god or goddess. The best evidence of intent of Colorado's official designers and framers of the resolution for adoption of the seal is contained in the committee report wherein clear distinction was made between "numine" and "Deo" and it is specifically states that the committee's interpretative translation was "Nothing without the Deity".
Nickname:
Colorado has been nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state in the year 1876, 100 years after the signing of our nation's Declaration of Independence.
Origin of state's name:
The name of our state, Colorado, has its origin in the Spanish language, as the word for "coloured red". This was the name chosen for Colorado as a Territory in 1861 by Congress.
State Tartan:
The Colorado General Assembly passed a resolution adopting an official state tartan on March 3, 1997. The tartan is comprised of a pattern and colours that symbolize Colorado's splendour and history. The pattern or sett consists of primary blocks of forest green and cerulean blue separated by broad dividing bands of black, with the forest green checks containing two pairs of tram tracks consisting of lavender and white and with the cerulean blue checks containing a gold stripe with red guard lines. The official state tartan is a Celtic and a "district" tartan that may be worn by any resident or friend of Colorado whether or not of Celtic heritage. July 1st is designated as "Tartan Day" in Colorado under House Joint Resolution 96-1014.
Tree:
The Colorado Blue Spruce, Picea pungens, was adopted as the official state tree on March 7, 1939, by a resolution of the General Assembly. The Colorado Blue Spruce was first discovered on Pikes Peak in 1862 and named by botanist C.C. Parry. This tree is known for its stately, majestic, symmetrical form and its beautiful silver-blue colour. In Colorado, it grows in small, scattered groves or singly among ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, alpine fir and Englemann spruce. In the northern parts of its range it grows at the 6,000 to 9,000 feet elevation while in the southern parts of its range at 8,000 to 11,000 feet. Its colour ranges from green to blue to silver, and is sometimes called the silver spruce. Colorado school children voted on Arbor Day in 1892 to name the blue spruce as the state tree, however it was not until 1939 that the Colorado Blue Spruce was officially designated. Citation: House Joint Resolution 7, 1939.