Northern Colorado

{{for|the university|University of Northern Colorado}}{{Cleanup|date=August 2025|reason=Article disorganized, lacking history and needs to be cleaned up or reorganized. Majority of article is based around the proposed state in the region.}}{{Update|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Northern Colorado | native_name = | other_name = | settlement_type = Region | image_skyline = | image_caption = | image_flag = | image_shield = | motto = | nickname = | etymology =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{Flag|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{Flag|Colorado}} | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 =  | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes =  | established_title = | established_date =  | area_footnotes = | area_total_sq_mi = 28683.548 | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi =  | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft =  | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi = | population_demonym =  | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST =  | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Northern Colorado''', or alternatively called '''North Colorado''', is a region in the northern portion of Colorado. It borders northwestern Colorado, northeastern Colorado, the northern portion of Central Colorado, western and southwestern portions of Nebraska, and the southeastern portion of Wyoming. Northern Colorado receives over 300 days of sunshine per year and has a semi-arid climate. However, the parts located in upper elevations of the Rocky Mountains receive {{convert|300|in|cm}} of snow per year and have an Alpine climate. The University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, and the University of Northern Colorado are all located in Northern Colorado.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncedc.com/docs/NC_DemProfile_NCEDC+blank.pdf|title=www.ncedc.com is Expired or Suspended.|website=www.ncedc.com|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503124741/http://www.ncedc.com/docs/NC_DemProfile_NCEDC+blank.pdf|archive-date=3 May 2018}}</ref> The region is a proposed state in the northeastern portion of Colorado.

== Counties and Cities ==

=== Counties === {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Adams County *Arapahoe County *Boulder County *Broomfield City-County *Cheyenne County *Elbert County *Jackson County *Kit Carson County *Larimer County *Lincoln County *Logan County *Morgan County *Phillips County *Sedgwick County *Washington County *Weld County *Yuma County {{div col end}}

===Larger cities=== * Boulder * Broomfield * Fort Collins * Greeley * Longmont * Loveland

==Education== Notably, Northern Colorado is home to several of the state's largest universities:

===Community/technical colleges=== *Aims Community College (Greeley, Loveland, Windsor, Fort Lupton) *Front Range Community College (Fort Collins, Longmont) *Morgan Community College (Fort Morgan) *Northeastern Junior College (Sterling)

===Four-year colleges/universities=== *Colorado State University (Fort Collins) *Naropa University (Boulder) *University of Colorado-Boulder (Boulder) *University of Northern Colorado (Greeley)

==Potential state== {{See also|List of U.S. state partition proposals}} {{wikinews|Colorado counties consider forming new U.S. state}} thumb|Counties involved in the proposed state of North Colorado. '''North Colorado''' or '''Northern Colorado''' is a proposed new U.S. state which would consist of several counties in the northeast portion of Colorado<ref>{{cite news|title=Several counties want to secede from Colorado|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/several-counties-want-to-secede-from-colorado/|access-date=9 June 2013|newspaper=CBS News|date=June 9, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609210353/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57588393/several-counties-want-to-secede-from-colorado/|archive-date=9 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wiersema|first=Alisa|title=Northeast Colo. Wants to Be Separate State|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/06/northeast-corner-of-colo-seeks-statehood/|access-date=June 9, 2013|newspaper=ABC News|date=June 7, 2013}}</ref>  and possible counties from Nebraska<ref name=c1/> and Kansas.<ref name=c2/>

A University of Colorado law professor has indicated that an additional step would be required beyond the approval of the state legislature and the U.S. Congress, as the Colorado Constitution defines the state's boundaries, thus requiring a vote on a constitutional amendment.<ref>Analisa Romano. [http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/6822670-113/commissioners-county-state-colorado "Weld County commissioners propose formation of new state, North Colorado"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611100845/http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/6822670-113/commissioners-county-state-colorado |date=2013-06-11 }} June 6, 2013. Greeley Tribune. Retrieved July 12, 2013</ref>

===Background=== A county commissioner of Weld County stated his belief that the county sends more oil and gas revenue to the state than it receives back for schools, roads, and other services. In 2013, the Democratic-controlled Colorado General Assembly passed tighter gun control laws, higher renewable energy reliance laws, and livestock treatment laws. A higher environmental standard oil and gas production law was narrowly defeated. During the debates over these laws, talk of secession began in the Eastern Plains area. At a meeting of the state's county commissioners in early June, a State House leader indicated that they would attempt to pass the oil environmental standards law again. This brought the secession discussion to a higher level with Weld County Commissioners Mike Freeman, Sean Conway, and Douglas Rademacher leading the proposal with a hearing scheduled regarding counties placing secession questions on the November 2013 ballot.<ref name=cod>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Patrick|title=Rural Colorado counties propose 51st state|url=http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20130606/NEWS01/306060026/Rural-Colorado-counties-propose-51st-state|access-date=9 June 2013|newspaper=Coloradoan|date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>

===History=== thumb|Eleven counties asked voters if they supported seceding from Colorado. Counties shown in orange voted in favor of secession; counties shown in blue voted against.

Along with Weld County, several other counties were invited to or interested in being involved with this proposal: Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma, and Kit Carson. Also interested in joining the new state are parts of Nebraska.<ref name=c1>{{cite news|title=Secession Plan Floated By Some Northern Colorado Leaders|url=http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/06/07/secession-colorado-north-northern-weld-county/|access-date=June 9, 2013|newspaper=KCNC|date=June 7, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610172843/http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/06/07/secession-colorado-north-northern-weld-county/|archive-date=June 10, 2013}}</ref> Colorado's Eastern Plain counties all may possibly be involved in the split, but Larimer County Commissioners indicated that their county would not likely approve of a split.<ref name=cod/>

On July 8, 2013, a meeting of representatives from 10 counties was held in Akron, Colorado to begin setting the boundaries of the potential state. The news media reported that some people in Lincoln and Cheyenne counties wish to join in forming the state. Additionally, the organizers reported that three other Colorado and two Kansas counties also wish to join in forming the state. The county commissioners involved discussed an alternative plan, if breaking away was not feasible, to change the Colorado Constitution to have one state senator per county.<ref name=c2>{{cite news |last=Boyd |first=Shaun |title=Effort To Create New State Called 'North Colorado' Grows |url=http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/07/09/effort-to-create-new-state-called-north-colorado-grows/ |access-date=July 12, 2013 |newspaper=KCNC |date=July 9, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711235844/http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/07/09/effort-to-create-new-state-called-north-colorado-grows/ |archive-date=July 11, 2013 }}</ref>

Cheyenne County—outside the original proposed area— became the first county to refer the measure to the people on July 23, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brachfeld|first=Aaron|title=Cheyenne County votes secession, Eastern Co to follow?|url=http://meadowlarkherald.blogspot.com/2013/07/cheyenne-county-votes-secession-eastern.html|access-date=28 July 2013|newspaper=the Meadowlark Herald|date=24 July 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003062642/http://meadowlarkherald.blogspot.com/2013/07/cheyenne-county-votes-secession-eastern.html|archive-date=3 October 2013}}</ref> A total of eleven counties placed the measure on the November 5, 2013, ballot.<ref>Barabak, Mark Z. September 22, 2013. [http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-adv-colorado-rural-secession-20130923,0,4273759.story?track=rss Secession drive gathers steam in rural Colorado] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928082031/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-adv-colorado-rural-secession-20130923,0,4273759.story?track=rss |date=2013-09-28 }}. Los Angeles Times. Accessed on September 23, 2013.</ref> Voters in Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Phillips, Washington, and Yuma counties approved the measure.<ref>[http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24461077/11-counties-weigh-secession-from-colorado-formation-51st Whaley, Monty. "51st state question answered "yes" in 6 of 11 counties contemplating secession," ''The Denver Post'', 5 November 2013] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106175710/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24461077/11-counties-weigh-secession-from-colorado-formation-51st |date=6 November 2013 }}, accessed 6 November 2013.</ref>

===Counties===

{{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Ballot initiative counties **Cheyenne **Elbert **Kit Carsoni **Lincoln **Logani **Moffat **Phillipsi **Sedgwicki **Washingtoni **Weldi **Yumai *Kansas counties - under consideration **Cheyenne **Wallace<ref>[http://www.51ststate.org/tp50/page.asp?id=314895 Status of My County] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928183745/http://www.51ststate.org/tp50/page.asp?id=314895 |date=2013-09-28 }}. [http://www.51ststate.org/ 51st State Initiative] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621172055/http://www.51ststate.org/ |date=2011-06-21 }}. Accessed on September 23, 2013.</ref> *Other counties **Morgani :i. initial invited county<ref name=c1/> {{div col end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.51ststate.org/ 51st State Initiative] - secession campaign group {{Colorado}}

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Category:Politics of Colorado Category:Proposed states and territories of the United States Category:Regions of Colorado Category:Separatism in the United States Category:2013 in Colorado Category:2013 in American politics