Gold and silver mining was the foundation of the Colorado economy when it was proclaimed a state by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1876. Banking and finance is now a leading source of jobs in Denver, Colorado, the state’s capital and most populous city; Denver’s financial district, specifically 17th Avenue, is known as the Wall Street of the West. Location is a crucial element in Colorado’s economy. The state is positioned at the center of the country, and Colorado jobs in trade and transportation are thus a major part of its employment outlook. Colorado’s centrality has also made it an appealing location for government facilities and institutions, including NORAD and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Colorado careers in federal government account for a large sector of its workforce – the Denver, CO region is second only to Washington, D.C. in number of federal workers employed. Further south, Colorado Springs, the state’s second most populous city, is an important center for aeronautics and space research. About 20% of all Colorado Springs jobs are in military and defense. Of course tourism can’t be forgotten when listing the industries that create the most jobs in Colorado. The Rocky Mountains and Colorado’s many ski resorts make it one of the premier destinations in the U.S. for winter vacations.