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<br />Social and Economic Environment
<br />
<br />The primary focus of this chapter is to discuss the various social and economic facets that describe this
<br />unique region of the state.
<br />
<br />POPULA TION
<br />
<br />Using U.S. Census data from the
<br />past 5 decades, including the
<br />1990 Census data, Figure 11-2 and
<br />Table 11-1 show population trends
<br />within each county in the SLY.
<br />The figure shows that the
<br />population of the SLY steadily
<br />decreased through the 1950's and
<br />1960's to a low point in the 1970
<br />Census. Since the 1970's the
<br />population level of the SLY has
<br />increased. Approximately a 6-
<br />Percent increase occurred in the
<br />last decade, yet the current
<br />population level is still more than
<br />10 percent below the 1950 level.
<br />In contrast, the population of the
<br />state has increased almost 250
<br />. percent during the past 4
<br />decades, with a 13.2 percent
<br />increase in the past decade.
<br />
<br />Population Comparison
<br />San Lull Valley & Colorado Stat, Populellona
<br />us ConouIlloIa
<br />
<br />10
<br />
<br />
<br />I
<br />.VoIIor - .~- _I
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />:1
<br />11
<br />
<br />t
<br />110
<br />
<br />f'o
<br />
<br />o
<br />
<br />o
<br />
<br />1_
<br />
<br />1110
<br />
<br />1170
<br />-
<br />
<br />1_
<br />
<br />1_
<br />
<br />1M................... WIe1
<br />~.......,..,............. .110
<br />..... 1M .... ~ ......... 11M........ --.
<br />
<br />Figure 11-2. Population Comparison
<br />
<br />Table 11-1. San luisValley Population Data (U.S. Census Data)
<br />
<br />County 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
<br />Alamosa 10,531 10,000 11,422 11,799 13,617
<br />Conejos 10,171 8,428 7,846 7,794 7,453
<br />Costilla 6,067 4,219 3,091 3,071 3,190
<br />Mineral 698 424 786 804 558
<br />Rio Grande 12,832 11,160 10,494 10,511 10,770
<br />Sag uache 5,664 4,473 3,827 3,935 4,619
<br />Valley Totals 45,963 38,704 37,466 37,914 40,207
<br />Colorado Totals 1,325,089 1,753,947 2,207,259 2,889,735 3,294,394
<br />
<br />11-2
<br />
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<br />U'I...t,il.. Li
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