Laserfiche WebLink
Economic development <br />The 1950 population of Lhe basiii was appi-cxiWaUa.Y 8/+.0,000. hiiieLy <br />percent resided in Colorado, about 5 percent in Nebraska, and 5 percent in <br />Wyoming. Approximately 70 percent live in urban areas, that is, in cities <br />of 2,500 people or larger, and the remaining 30 percent in small towns and <br />on farms. The population growth has been steady (table 3); the increment <br />1940 -1950 was about 28 percent of the 1940 census. The principal cities <br />have grown; Denver increased 29 percent since 1940 to 415,786; Boulder, <br />54 percent to 19,999; Fort Collins, 21 percent to 14,937; Greeley, 27 per- <br />cent to 20,734; and Cheyenne, Wyoming, 41.5 percent to 31,935. The large <br />and consistent increases reflect the agricultural, commercial, and indus- <br />trial development of the area. <br />Agricultural products have steadily increased in volume and value. <br />Hay, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, beans, corn, oats, rye and barley are <br />the principal crops. A large and thriving livestock industry, together <br />with dairying, is very important to the Basin. <br />Industrial development is quite diversified. Denver is the center <br />of manufacturing. Principal Basin industries process food and farm pro- <br />ducts, separate and process mineral ores, or refine petroleum. <br />An .important and growing industry in the Basin is that of catering <br />to tourists and resort operations. While an accurate estimate of its <br />value is not available, it is reported to be about equal to that of agri- <br />cultural production. The Rocky Mountain National Park, in which the head- <br />waters of the Big Thompson River are located, is a nationally known park <br />area. Many other sections of the Basin also offer scenic and recreational <br />attractions. The proximity of scenic and recreational areas to Denver and <br />the conveniently located transcontinental travel facilities make the resorts <br />available to great numbers of tourists each year. <br />Five major railroad systems, several airlines, and an excellent <br />system of highways traverse the Basin. <br />Agricultural development of the Basin is closely allied with avail- <br />able irrigation water. Contexaplated transmountain diversions of water <br />from the western slope would increase the Basin's water resources. <br />12 <br />