Colorado Western Slope
Encyclopedia
The Western Slope of Colorado
refers to a region of the U.S.
state of Colorado
incorporating everything in the state west of the Continental Divide
. The Colorado River and its tributaries divide the region into north and south at Grand Junction, Colorado
. The area has a climate similar to that of the Great Basin
.
people inhabited the area, and it was part of Utah Territory
before its inclusion into the Colorado Territory
upon organization in 1861. White settlers began arriving in large numbers in the late 1870s and early 1880s.
, with few towns having a population over 5,000; however, the regional population is growing rapidly, contributing to the state's ranking as one of the fastest growing in the nation. The primary economic activities are ranching, mining, and tourism. Fruit
farming is also prevalent in areas along the Colorado and Gunnison
rivers, including the Grand Valley
.
The most populated areas of the Western slope are, first, The Tri County area, which contain Grand Junction
, and Montrose
, and second, the Intermountain region, containing Glenwood Springs
, Aspen
and Vail
.
, Vail
, and Steamboat Springs
. Most counties in the northern areas of the slope have at least one ski resort, if not more.
Even though the areas economy is dominated by energy extraction services and tourism, the Grand Junction area's most prominent economy sector is health care. The Grand Junction area is one the best health care regions in not only the state, but the country as well.
, Colorado National Monument
and Dinosaur National Monument
.
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...
refers to a region of the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of 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...
incorporating everything in the state west of the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
. The Colorado River and its tributaries divide the region into north and south at Grand Junction, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
. The area has a climate similar to that of the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
.
History
Historically, UteUte Tribe
The Ute are an American Indian people now living primarily in Utah and Colorado. There are three Ute tribal reservations: Uintah-Ouray in northeastern Utah ; Southern Ute in Colorado ; and Ute Mountain which primarily lies in Colorado, but extends to Utah and New Mexico . The name of the state of...
people inhabited the area, and it was part of Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
before its inclusion into the Colorado Territory
Colorado Territory
The Territory of Colorado was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 28, 1861, until August 1, 1876, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Colorado....
upon organization in 1861. White settlers began arriving in large numbers in the late 1870s and early 1880s.
Population
The Western Slope is sparsely populated compared to the Front RangeColorado Front Range
The Colorado Front Range is a colloquial geographic term for the most populous region of the state of Colorado in the United States. The area is located just east of the foothills of the Front Range, aligned in a north-south configuration on the western edge of the Great Plains, where they meet the...
, with few towns having a population over 5,000; however, the regional population is growing rapidly, contributing to the state's ranking as one of the fastest growing in the nation. The primary economic activities are ranching, mining, and tourism. Fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
farming is also prevalent in areas along the Colorado and Gunnison
Gunnison River
The Gunnison River is a tributary of the Colorado River, long, in the Southwest state of Colorado. It is the fifth largest tributary of the Colorado River, with a mean flow of 4320 ft³/s .-Description:...
rivers, including the Grand Valley
Grand Valley (Colorado)
The Grand Valley is an extended populated valley, approximately 30 miles long and 5 miles wide, located along the Colorado River in Mesa County in western Colorado and Grand County, Utah in the United States. The valley contains the city of Grand Junction, as well as other smaller communities...
.
The most populated areas of the Western slope are, first, The Tri County area, which contain Grand Junction
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
, and Montrose
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
, and second, the Intermountain region, containing Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
The City of Glenwood Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 8,564 in 2005...
, Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
and Vail
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
.
Economy
Much of the areas economy is heavily dependent on energy extraction services and tourism. The region contains plentiful sources of oil, natural gas, uranium, and coal. The region is also known worldwide for its ski destinations, with popular destinations such as AspenAspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
, Vail
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
, and Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...
. Most counties in the northern areas of the slope have at least one ski resort, if not more.
Even though the areas economy is dominated by energy extraction services and tourism, the Grand Junction area's most prominent economy sector is health care. The Grand Junction area is one the best health care regions in not only the state, but the country as well.
Tourism
Points of interest include Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
thumb|upright|Black Canyon of the GunnisonBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a United States National Park located in western Colorado, and managed by the National Park Service...
, Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument
- Trails :The Monument contains many hiking trails, with lengths and difficulties to suit all tastes. Summer storms can cause flash floods as well as dangerous trail conditions. Rattlesnakes are found on the Monument, and rough terrain exists everywhere, but most trails are well-maintained...
and Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument is a National Monument located on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument area is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is located in Utah...
.