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Labor Force Characteristics The total labor force has experienced a decline of 4.8 percent from 1950 to 1960 (Table III). Montrose City, however, experienced a 2.6 percent increase in total labor force during this period. The unemployment rate in the _study area increased from 5.8 percent in 1950 to 6.8 percent in 1960. Agriculture, mining, and manufacturing accounted for 20.6 percent of the labor force in 1960. Agriculture and mining employment dropped from 1950 to 1960 while manufacturing employment increased from 5.2 percent of the labor force in 1950 to 7.5 percent in 1960. All other industry divisions increased in employment from 1950 to 1960, except construction, transportation, and utilities. Almost half of the labor force was employed in the trades and service categories during 1960. Land Use and Ownership Irrigated crop production consists primarily of legume and grass mixtures for hay and pasture. The private and public range lands are used primarily for livestock grazing. Ouray County contains 345,600 acres out of which approximately 52.2 percent is in private ownership, 46.6 percent is in Federal ownership, and 1.2 percent is in State and local government ownerShip. Over 80 percent of the land in private ownership is included in farms. National Forest lands comprise 79 percent and Bureau of Land Manage- ment lands, 21 percent of all Federally-owned land. Agriculture and Fores!!l Agriculture and forestry have had a predominating influence in the study area for many years. Agricultural activity centers around livestock production supported by the production of legume and grass mixtures for hay and pasture. Agriculture in Ouray County is faced with a relatively short- growing season and poor seasonal distribution of irrigation water. Total value of a1bfarmand forest products amounted to about $920,000 in 1959.. Total irrigated land has averaged about 17,000 acres annually during the period 1950 to 1959. The number of farms decreased from 131 in 1950, to 93 in 1959, while total farm labor has remained fairly constant. 12 "