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<br />The areas studied by detailed methods were selected with priority <br />given to all known flood hazard areas and areas of projected develop- <br />ment or proposed construction through 1986. <br /> <br />Approximate analyses were used to study those areas having a low- <br />development potential or minimal flood hazards. The scope and <br />methods of study were proposed to, and agreed upon by, FEMA and <br />the City of Pueblo. <br /> <br />2.2 Community Description <br /> <br />Pueblo is located in central Pueblo County, in south-central Colorado. <br />It is situated in the Arkansas River Valley, approximately 42 miles <br />south of Colorado Springs and approximately 86 miles north of Trinidad, <br />Colorado. It is the county seat of Pueblo County. <br /> <br />Economic development in the area began in 1762, when French fur <br />trappers erected a small trading post on the east bank of FOuntain <br />Creek. A gOld-seeking party established a winter camp there in <br />1858. Gold discoveries in 1859 drew thousands of new settlers. <br />The railroad arrived in Pueblo in 1872, turning the small group of <br />typically western cabins into a thriving agricultural, business, <br />and industrial center. Availability of fuel and nearby mineral <br />deposits supported diverse mining operations and associated commerce <br />and industry. Agricultural and related food processing industries <br />dominated economic development from the beginning of the 20th century <br />until WOrld War II. Development of agriculture and the introduction <br />of the horseless carriage led to an extensive expansion of transpor- <br />tation facilities in the region. Economic development during and <br />since World War II has been characterized by steady growth in the <br />manufacturing sector and expansion of supporting mercantile and <br />service industries. <br /> <br />The U.S. Bureau of the Census reported populations of 91,181 in <br />1960 and 97,453 in 1970 for Pueblo (Reference 3). <br /> <br />Within the City of Pueblo, the extensively developed Fountain Creek <br />flood plains are occupied by most of the wholesale-retail business <br />district, several industrial establishments, commercial warehouses, <br />and substantial residential developments that include schools, <br />churches, a public park, and a sports stadium. Development in the <br />Arkansas River flood plain consists mainly of older commercial <br />structures. The region around Fountain Creek is residential. Within <br />the Wild Borse-Dry Creek flood plain, there are a railroad crossing <br />and a few residences. Transportation facilities crossing the flood <br />plains in Pueblo include three railroads, two U.S. highways, and <br />five State highways. <br /> <br />This study encompasses the Arkansas River and three north bank <br />tributaries: Fountain Creek, Dry Creek (East), and Wild Borse-Dry <br />Creek. Along its lower reach, within pueblo's corporate limits, <br /> <br />5 <br />