Happy 144th Birthday to Colorful Colorado

Happy Birthday to the Centennial state.

Our beloved state turned 144 on Saturday, according to Colorado.gov.

In 1876, on August 1, Colorado was admitted to the Union as the 38th State and John L. Routt was elected Colorado's first governor.

During this time, one of the state's first industries took place in Greeley with the tanning of buffalo hides, turning out 12 robes a day.

In the 1970's, 100 years later, Colorado's population had swelled so much that traffic was a huge issue. A "brown cloud"' developed over the Front Range and Coloradans became concerned with 'overselling' Colorado. By 1976 Colorado rejected hosting the Winter Olympics in an effort to slow the state's pollution problem.

On July 31, 1976, a cloudburst on the Big Thompson River resulted in a massive flood in Larimer County, killing more than 145 people.

Today, Colorado is known notoriously as a swing state and popular vacation spot for Winter activities. Coloradans enjoy breathtaking views and healthy lifestyle habits, with the occasional craft beer.