Brush, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The City of Brush is a Statutory City located in Morgan County
, Colorado
, United States
. The population was 5,117 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
The Brush city mascot is the Beetdigger- the name derives from the importance of the annual sugar beet crop. Beetdigger Stadium fills for each football game, and over the years Beetdiggers have brought home numerous state championships.
Brush is home to many retirees that move into the town from the outlying farms in northeastern Colorado. The town is home to several retirement communities, including Ebenezer and Sunset Manor.
of 2000, there were 5,117 people, 1,836 households, and 1,233 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,120.0 people per square mile (819.8/km²). There were 1,923 housing units at an average density of 796.7 per square mile (308.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.81% White, 0.39% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 20.19% from other races
, and 2.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.21% of the population.
There were 1,836 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,333, and the median income for a family was $39,094. Males had a median income of $24,431 versus $20,371 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,672. About 5.4% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
in 1859, making him a "Fifty-Niner
". Along with his brothers, William and John, he homesteaded in northeast Colorado on the Big Thompson River
north of present day Johnstown
. Brush served as Weld County commissioner and sheriff, was elected to the state legislature, and served as Lieutenant Governor twice. The town was named for him in 1882.
Travis McGee, a graduate of Brush High School, is a program manager in the Development and Evolution group at United Launch Alliance
. McGee is responsible for several development projects to enhance the reliability of the Atlas V and Delta IV launch systems. Prior to program management role, he was a lead project engineer responsible for development of flight hardware and a standard integration service to deploy up to six auxiliary spacecraft. Before joining ULA, McGee was the lead project engineer at Aerojet on a divert and attitude control propulsion system for a missile defense interceptor. There he led a multidiscipline team from proposal generation, through three major design gates and into production for the latest DACS block upgrade. Travis began his career as an Air Force Officer serving one tour at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, managing the second stage of a propulsion replacement program for the Minuteman III missile. His second tour was at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as a systems engineer on a complex trade study and system architecture of a space based laser concept. McGee earned his Masters of Science in aerospace engineering from University of Southern California in 2006 and his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1995.
Another BHS graduate, Chad Friehauf, 6-6, 211 pounds, finished his career at Division II Colorado School of Mines
as its all-time leader in passing yards (9,873), touchdown passes (84), attempts (1,183) and completions (773). He was 22-8 (.733) as a three-year starter at CSM, marking the ninth best career winning percentage in Division II history among quarterbacks with a minimum of 25 starts. Friehauf’s 10,679 total yards of offense and 84 touchdown passes rank sixth and 15th, respectively, all-time in Division II annals. In 2004, Friehauf received the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II after setting NCAA single-season records in passing yards (4,646) and completions (384). Friehauf, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, threw 39 touchdowns in 2004 while rushing for 717 yards with 15 scores as part of a Division II single-season record 5,363 yards of total offense. He led CSM to its first-ever playoff win and accounted for 1,044 of the 1,127 yards gained by CSM in its two postseason games. Friehauf became CSM’s starting quarterback midway through his sophomore season in 2002 and earned honorable mention All-RMAC accolades from 2002-03. A first-team all-state selection in football, basketball and baseball at Brush High School in Brush, Colorado, Chad Friehauf was born August 31, 1982.
, which is 86 miles southwest. The nearby town of Fort Morgan
, located 11 miles east, is served by the Amtrak's
California Zephyr
with a daily departure on each direction.
Morgan County, Colorado
Morgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,117 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Brush is located at 40°15′28"N 103°37′41"W (40.257836, -103.628109).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
Culture
Brush is a small city where agriculture and ranching still make up a large part of the local economy. The major community events of the year are the Morgan County Fair and the Brush Rodeo. The Brush Rodeo, held July 2–5, is known as the largest amateur rodeo in the world and brings contestants from all over the West. The County Fair is the showcase for the local youth and adult's 4-H projects and livestock.The Brush city mascot is the Beetdigger- the name derives from the importance of the annual sugar beet crop. Beetdigger Stadium fills for each football game, and over the years Beetdiggers have brought home numerous state championships.
Brush is home to many retirees that move into the town from the outlying farms in northeastern Colorado. The town is home to several retirement communities, including Ebenezer and Sunset Manor.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,117 people, 1,836 households, and 1,233 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,120.0 people per square mile (819.8/km²). There were 1,923 housing units at an average density of 796.7 per square mile (308.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.81% White, 0.39% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 20.19% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.21% of the population.
There were 1,836 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,333, and the median income for a family was $39,094. Males had a median income of $24,431 versus $20,371 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,672. About 5.4% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
Brush, Colorado was named for Jared L. Brush. Brush came west to mine gold west of DenverDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
in 1859, making him a "Fifty-Niner
Fifty-Niner
The Fifty-Niners were the gold seekers who streamed into the Pike's Peak Country of western Kansas Territory and southwestern Nebraska Territory in 1859...
". Along with his brothers, William and John, he homesteaded in northeast Colorado on the Big Thompson River
Big Thompson River
The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles long, in the U.S. state of Colorado.- Course of the river :...
north of present day Johnstown
Johnstown, Colorado
Johnstown is a Home Rule Municipality in Larimer and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 3,827 at the 2000 census. As of 2010 the US Census Bureau estimates the population of Johnstown at 9,887.-Geography:...
. Brush served as Weld County commissioner and sheriff, was elected to the state legislature, and served as Lieutenant Governor twice. The town was named for him in 1882.
Local Notables
Frank Mercer was the longest running announcer of Beetdigger football teams. Mr. Mercer was also a science teacher and auto devotee. He could often be spotted tooling around the streets of Morgan County in one of his old cars at about 20 miles per hour.Travis McGee, a graduate of Brush High School, is a program manager in the Development and Evolution group at United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. U.S...
. McGee is responsible for several development projects to enhance the reliability of the Atlas V and Delta IV launch systems. Prior to program management role, he was a lead project engineer responsible for development of flight hardware and a standard integration service to deploy up to six auxiliary spacecraft. Before joining ULA, McGee was the lead project engineer at Aerojet on a divert and attitude control propulsion system for a missile defense interceptor. There he led a multidiscipline team from proposal generation, through three major design gates and into production for the latest DACS block upgrade. Travis began his career as an Air Force Officer serving one tour at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, managing the second stage of a propulsion replacement program for the Minuteman III missile. His second tour was at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as a systems engineer on a complex trade study and system architecture of a space based laser concept. McGee earned his Masters of Science in aerospace engineering from University of Southern California in 2006 and his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1995.
Another BHS graduate, Chad Friehauf, 6-6, 211 pounds, finished his career at Division II Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national...
as its all-time leader in passing yards (9,873), touchdown passes (84), attempts (1,183) and completions (773). He was 22-8 (.733) as a three-year starter at CSM, marking the ninth best career winning percentage in Division II history among quarterbacks with a minimum of 25 starts. Friehauf’s 10,679 total yards of offense and 84 touchdown passes rank sixth and 15th, respectively, all-time in Division II annals. In 2004, Friehauf received the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II after setting NCAA single-season records in passing yards (4,646) and completions (384). Friehauf, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, threw 39 touchdowns in 2004 while rushing for 717 yards with 15 scores as part of a Division II single-season record 5,363 yards of total offense. He led CSM to its first-ever playoff win and accounted for 1,044 of the 1,127 yards gained by CSM in its two postseason games. Friehauf became CSM’s starting quarterback midway through his sophomore season in 2002 and earned honorable mention All-RMAC accolades from 2002-03. A first-team all-state selection in football, basketball and baseball at Brush High School in Brush, Colorado, Chad Friehauf was born August 31, 1982.
Transportation
Brush Municipal Airport serves the town, but there are no scheduled airlines operating from there. The closest airport with airline service is Denver International AirportDenver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
, which is 86 miles southwest. The nearby town of Fort Morgan
Fort Morgan, Colorado
The City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.-History:...
, located 11 miles east, is served by the Amtrak's
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
California Zephyr
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr is a long passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the midwestern and western United States.It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California...
with a daily departure on each direction.
Government
Brush is governed via the mayor-council system. The mayor is elected by the entire city. The council consists of six members who are elected from wards. Each ward elect two members.Major Highways
Interstate 76 connects Brush to DenverDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, located 93 miles southwest. To the northeast, Brush is linked with Interstate 80 in Big Springs, NebraskaBig Springs, NebraskaBig Springs is a village in Deuel County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 418 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Springs is located at ....
, via Sterling, ColoradoSterling, ColoradoThe City of Sterling is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Logan County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 14,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sterling is located at...
.
Business Loop 76 runs on Edison Street, reaching Fort MorganFort Morgan, ColoradoThe City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.-History:...
in its west end.
US 6 connects Provincetown, MassachusettsProvincetown, MassachusettsProvincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
to Bishop, CaliforniaBishop, CaliforniaBishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
, via NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and 9 other states.
US 34 links Granby, ColoradoGranby, ColoradoThe Town of Granby is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. Granby is situated along U.S. Highway 40 in Middle Park about west of Denver, Colorado, southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park...
with Berwyn, IllinoisBerwyn, IllinoisBerwyn is a city in Cook County, Illinois, co-existent with Berwyn Township, which was formed in 1908 after breaking off from Cicero Township. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,016.-Demographics:...
, passing through NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
and IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. In ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, it connects Brush to GreeleyGreeley, ColoradoThe City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
and LovelandLoveland, ColoradoLoveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
.
State Highway 71Colorado State Highway 71State Highway 71 is a long state highway passing several other highways in northern and central Colorado. The route runs south from the Nebraska border to La Junta.-Route description:...
runs from US 350, near La JuntaLa Junta, ColoradoThe City of La Junta is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,568 at the U.S. Census 2000. La Junta is located on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado east of Pueblo.-History:During...
to NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
state border, where it becomes Nebraska Highway 71Nebraska Highway 71Nebraska Highway 71 is a highway in western Nebraska. Its southern terminus is at the Colorado border south of Kimball, as a continuation of Colorado State Highway 71...
.
See also
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical AreaFort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical AreaThe Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Micropolitan Statistical Area located in the Fort Morgan area of the State of Colorado. The Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical Area is defined as Morgan County, Colorado. The Micropolitan Statistical Area had...
- Morgan County, ColoradoMorgan County, ColoradoMorgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the...
- State of Colorado