The state has been inhabited by Native Americans for at least 13,500 and possibly more than 37,000 years.

The Lindenmeier Site–an archaeological site in Larimer County–contains artifacts belonging to the first Indians, dating back to about 8720 BC. Today, Indians in Colorado live on two reservations:

• Southern Ute Indian Reservation–a Native American reservation in southwestern Colorado, near the northern border of the state of New Mexico
• The Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation, which is based in Towaoc