Why Is Colorado Nicknamed the Centennial State?

The meaning of Colorado's nickname links to the definition of the word centennial. This word is used to describe the 100th anniversary of an important event. For example, someone who reaches the age of 100 will celebrate a centennial birthday. The year Colorado was recognized as a state marked an important centennial for the United States of America.

Colorado became the 38th state in 1876, which was the 100-year anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. This means that Colorado became a state during the 100th anniversary of the year that the United States declared its independence from Britain. That's why the official Colorado nickname is Centennial State. Colorado's statehood was granted almost exactly 100 years from the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• The Declaration of Independence was dated July 4, 1776, which is why Independence Day is celebrated on that date.
• The document was actually signed almost a month later, on August 2.
• The Territory of Colorado's statehood was granted on August 1, 1876.

While Centennial State is Colorado's official nickname, it isn't the state's only nickname. Colorado also has a few informal nicknames.

• Colorful Colorado - The nickname Colorful Colorado is often used to describe the unique beauty of this lovely state, which is home to the Rocky Mountains, over 107,000 miles of beautiful rivers and ecologically diverse plains. At one time, this nickname was the state's official slogan.
• The Highest State - Also because of its incredible terrain, Colorado is sometimes referred to as The Highest State. This is an apt description, as the state boasts 58 mountain peaks that exceed 14,000 feet in elevation. No other state in the United States has as many peaks this tall.
• The Columbine State - This nickname refers to Colorado's official state flower, which is the Rocky Mountain Columbine. This beautiful light-purple-and-white flower symbolizes the word "spirit." It was designated as the state flower in 1899. At one point, the phrase "Where the Columbines Grow" was Colorado's state motto.

Just like its unofficial nicknames, the state's official name is also related to its unique beauty and majestic scenery. The word Colorado comes from de color rojo, which is Spanish for "colored red." This name was officially used because of the vibrant red color of the soil located near the Colorado River. The name caught on for the entire region, which led to it being designated as The Territory of Colorado in 1861. The name was, of course, retained once the territory became a state.

The Centennial State is certainly a meaningful nickname. It's quite a coincidence that Colorado became a state so close to the exact 100th anniversary of when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Perhaps that is why the state's leaders chose nil sine numine as the official state motto. This Latin phrase, which translates into "nothing without providence" or "nothing without the deity," is certainly fitting to the story of when Colorado became a state and how it got its official nickname.

Do you find the story of Colorado's historic nickname to be interesting? If so, you're sure to be interested in a similar state nickname story that took place much earlier in American history. To learn about another state with a historically significant nickname, discover why Pennsylvania's nickname is the Keystone State.