What Time Is It In Colorado?
In the state of Colorado, if you live in Denver, you may have noticed that your local time changes at least once a year. Whether you’re a longtime resident of Denver, or a visitor looking to explore the city, knowing when you can expect to see sunrise and sunset can be very useful.
Denver Union Station longitudinal reference
Denver Union Station is a multi-modal transportation hub in the heart of Denver’s LoDo district. With its iconic eight-track train hall, 22-gate underground bus facility, award-winning restaurants, and luxurious amenities, the station is one of the city’s best attractions. A new light rail station and a massive underground regional bus terminal will soon converge there.
The station is a modern day marvel, a place where people can come together, enjoy award-winning cuisine, and take in all the history and culture that Denver has to offer. In fact, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
During its heyday, the building was the largest in the West. This fact is reflected by its massive 128-foot tower. One of its many nicknames was the “Mizpah” because of a wrought iron arched entrance that lit up with 2,200 electric bulbs. When a fire destroyed the building in 1933, a new one was designed and built.
Denver’s location in the Mountain Time Zone
Denver, Colorado is in the Mountain Time Zone. It is seven hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. The time difference between Denver and Chicago is close to one hour.
Denver is the capital of Colorado. The city was established during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. Originally, it was located in western Kansas Territory.
Today, Denver is a consolidated city-county. There are 78 officially defined neighborhoods in the city and county. A steel bar embedded in the pavement in the Union Station is a visual reminder of the 105th meridian line. This line runs through thousands of buildings.
Denver’s location in the Mountain Time Zone allows for communication with Asia and Europe. In fact, it is an ideal place for international trade In addition, many federal agencies have offices in the Denver area.
In 2005, Molson Coors Brewing Company announced that it would establish its U.S. headquarters in Denver. The company has a subsidiary, Coors Distributing Company, in NW Denver.
Impacts of changing clocks on businesses, individuals and families
In Colorado, there are some real downsides to changing clocks twice a year. It causes disruptions to sleep patterns, increases the rate of heart attacks, and even leads to car crashes. However, it also extends the amount of time that families can spend outside in the evenings.
A group of business groups in Colorado, including the ski industry, has been battling the change. They claim that the switch to standard time will disrupt their businesses. Additionally, they argue that the shift will negatively affect the economy.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 would make the shift to permanent daylight saving time a reality. The bill would take effect on November 5, 2023. This legislation is a bipartisan bill that has been introduced in the House and Senate.
Senator Jeff Bridges, a Greenwood Village Democrat, is the sponsor of the federal bill. He also sponsored a similar bill in the state legislature, which passed unanimously.
Senators Ray Scott, a Republican from Grand Junction, and Patrick Neville, a Republican from Castle Rock, have been pushing for the bill in the state. Several other lawmakers, such as Fort Collins Democrat Rep. Cathy Kipp, have supported the movement.
Changes to daylight saving time law in other states
Currently, the Uniform Time Act does not allow states to make year-round daylight saving time, but many states are looking to do so. There are a number of state bills addressing the issue.
In order to be in permanent daylight saving time, the federal government must approve the change. However, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which would allow year-round daylight saving time, has not been approved by Congress yet. If it is approved, the law would take effect in November of 2023.
As of now, the House is not considering the bipartisan Senate bill. However, there is still a chance that the bill will move forward. The House is waiting on a Department of Transportation report.
A similar proposal was introduced to the Senate in 2020. It died in the Senate floor.
Several states have already passed legislation to adopt year-round daylight saving time. Maine, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Vermont are just a few of the states that have recently passed this type of legislation.