Friday, October 16Colorado business, at altitudeDenver · Boulder · Colorado Springs · the Western Slope
The Colorado Guide

Colorado business, by the numbers

Colorado’s economy is as varied as its landscape: plains and peaks, startups and ski towns, aerospace and agriculture. Here is the short guide.

The numbers
58Peaks in Colorado that rise above 14,000 feet: the fourteeners
14,440 ftMount Elbert, the highest point in Colorado
5,280 ftDenver’s elevation, one mile high
1876Colorado joins the Union as the Centennial State
64Counties, from the plains to the Western Slope
1859The Pikes Peak gold rush brings the first boom
01

The fourteeners

Colorado has 58 peaks above 14,000 feet, more than any other state, and climbing them is a local rite of passage.

The name of this report is a nod to them: big goals, steady climbs.

  • 58Peaks above 14,000 ft
  • 14,440 ftMount Elbert
  • SummitThe goal, every time
02

The Front Range

Most Coloradans live along the Front Range, the urban corridor running from Fort Collins through Denver and Boulder to Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

It is where most of the state’s offices, startups and headquarters are found.

  • DenverThe Mile High City
  • BoulderStartups and science
  • SpringsAerospace and defense
03

From gold to tech

The 1859 gold rush brought Colorado’s first boom. Mining, railroads, ranching and farming followed.

Today aerospace, software, energy, food and the outdoor industry lead the way.

  • 1859Gold rush
  • AerospaceA major employer
  • SoftwareA growing base
04

The outdoor economy

Ski resorts, trails, rivers and national parks draw visitors all year and support a big outdoor industry.

Gear brands, guides, hotels and restaurants all depend on it.

  • SkiWinter’s big business
  • TrailsSummer’s big draw
  • GearMade and sold here
05

Building up

Fast growth has brought new homes, offices and transit along the Front Range and in mountain towns.

Water, housing and transportation are the big business questions for the years ahead.

  • HousingAlways in demand
  • WaterThe West’s big question
  • TransitMoving a growing state
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