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<br />1_..' .." <br />~J_ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Sterling traverses the central part of the area. <br /> <br />Highw~ routes connect the area with principal transcontinental <br />highways, while hard surface roads extend the entire length of the <br />area. County roads for the most part have graveled all-weather <br />surfaces. Trucking services cover the area. <br /> <br />Fort Morgan, Brush, Sterling and Julesburg serve as principal <br />Secondary marketing and service centers. Several smaller towns and' <br />villages throughout the area serve as minor trading centers. Denver <br />is the major livestock market center serving the area and is also <br />the primary trade and financial center. <br /> <br />Population <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Total population in Logan and Morgan counties has increased <br />since 1940, while Sedgwick and Washington counties have lost popula- <br />tion. Population increases in Logan and Morgan counties can be <br />attributed to the growth in the cities of Brush and Fort Morgan in <br />Morgan County and Sterling in Logan County. Rural farm population <br />in the four counties has continued to decline since 1940. Decreases <br />in rural farm and nonfarm population are common in most counties in <br />the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, and in the Missouri River <br />Basin. These decreases are largely the result of mechanization, <br />more efficient labor utilization, and the increasing size of farm <br />operating units. Urban population has continued to increase but <br />at increasing rates from preceding decades. This characteristic <br />is also found in most areas in Colorado, South Platte Basin and <br />the Missouri River Basin. Population summaries are presented in <br />tables 2 through 4. <br /> <br />Local Industry and Employment <br /> <br />In terms of employment, agriculture is the most important <br />industry in the area as shown in table 5. Although employment in <br />agriculture has declined during the 1940-60 period, it still.em- <br />ploys more workers than in the nonagricultural sectors except trade <br />and services. Much of the increased employment in construction, <br />trade, and services is situated in the growing towns of Fort Morgan, <br />Sterling and Brush. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />6 <br />