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Monday, Oct. 20, 2025

Was Colorado’s constitution first published in English and Spanish?

Tyler Hickman, The Colorado Sun
yes

The Colorado State Constitution was originally published in English, Spanish and German to ensure it was available to residents who were non-native English speakers.  

The constitution was drafted March 14, 1876, and approved by voters July 1 of that year. Colorado’s population in 1870 was roughly 30% Hispanic, the highest percentage in state history, the Pew Research Center found, citing U.S. census data. A provision in Article 18 of the state constitution required the state to publish laws in English, Spanish and German until 1900.

Trinidad rancher Casimiro Barela, who helped draft the state constitution, is credited as the driving force behind publishing the document in three languages. Barela, born in Embudo, New Mexico, while the town was still Mexican territory, served for 40 years as a Colorado state senator for Las Animas County.

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