VCF~Colorado

The history of Colorado is rich and diverse, spanning thousands of years and encompassing various cultures and civilizations.

**Native American Era**
The region that is today the U.S. State of Colorado has been inhabited by Native Americans and their Paleoamerican ancestors for at least 13,500 years and possibly more than 37,000 years¹. The eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains was a major migration route that was important to the spread of early peoples throughout the Americas¹.

**European Settlement**
First explored by Europeans in the late 1500s (the Spanish referred to the region as “Colorado” for its red-colored earth), the area was ceded to the United States in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American War (1846-48)².

**Gold Rush**
In 1858, the discovery of gold in Colorado attracted new settlers². During the Plains Indian Wars (1860s-80s), Colorado's wild frontier was the scene of intense fighting between Native Americans and white settlers².

**Statehood**
On August 1, 1876, Colorado was admitted as a state, maintaining its territorial borders¹. The state's abundant and varied natural resources attracted the ancient Pueblo peoples and, later, the Plains Indians².

**Modern Era**
In the 21st century, Colorado continues to rely on its natural resources as well as agriculture and tourism to sustain its economy².

This brief overview only scratches the surface of Colorado's rich history. From its ancient Native American roots to its modern-day status as a vibrant and diverse state, Colorado's history is as varied and colorful as its landscape..

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(1) History of Colorado - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Colorado.
(2) Colorado - HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/colorado.
(3) Colorado History & Culture | Colorado Encyclopedia. https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/.
(4) Timeline of Colorado history - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Colorado_history.
(5) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Colorado.

VCF-Colorado-VLOG