What is the capital of Colorado?

The capital of Colorado is Denver.

Denver is Colorado’s capital and most populous city. It occupies the South Platte River valley just east of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, a location that made it a natural gateway between the Great Plains and the mountains. The city hosts Colorado’s governor, legislature, and state agencies.

Denver was founded during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in 1858 and was first established in Kansas Territory. It was named for James W. Denver, a territorial governor of Kansas, although he never visited the settlement. Denver later became part of Colorado Territory and was selected as the territorial capital in 1867. Colorado became a state in 1876, and Denver retained its capital role.

Denver’s nickname, the “Mile High City,” reflects its elevation of about 5,280 feet above sea level. Another common mix-up is assuming Colorado Springs is the capital because it is a major Front Range city; it is not. Denver is also unusual because it operates as a consolidated city and county.