[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16421]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                          COLORADO CELEBRATION

 Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 
sesquicentennial of the 17 original counties created by the Colorado 
Territorial Legislature in 1861. These counties celebrate this 
significant milestone today, November 1, 2011.
  Congress established Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861, and the 
territory's first legislative assembly convened on September 9, 1861.
  The 17 original counties--Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Costilla, 
Douglas, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Guadalupe, shortly thereafter 
renamed Conejos, Huerfano, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Park, Pueblo, 
Summit, and Weld counties were established by the territorial 
legislature within the present boundaries of the State of Colorado.
  From the snow-covered mountains of Summit County to the farm lands of 
the San Luis Valley, these original counties established the foundation 
from which the most beautiful State in our country grew and developed.
  Colorado became the 38th State of the Union on August 1, 1876, under 
President Ulysses S. Grant, and became known as the Centennial State.
  Over the past 150 years, counties had their boundaries revised, new 
counties were created, and some were abolished, and today, the State of 
Colorado has 64 counties, each one with its own unique history, 
geography, and cultural heritage.
  I take this time today to congratulate Colorado on the 150th 
anniversary of our State's first 17 counties and to recognize all of 
Colorado's 64 counties for their vital contributions to our great 
State.
  As we welcome this milestone in the history of Colorado, we can no 
doubt look forward to another promising and prosperous 150 
years.

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