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<br />~~ <br />~ <br />00 <br />to <br /> <br />Demographic and Economic Characteristics <br /> <br />The population of the Upper Colorado River Region grew from 271,000 <br /> <br />in 1940 to an estimated 438,000 in 1975. Much of that growth occurred <br /> <br />from 1970 to 1975, when the population increased by over 100,000. The <br /> <br />population is divided about evenly among three hydrologic basins, the <br /> <br />." <br /> <br />Green, the Upper Main Stem, and the San Juan. <br /> <br />Only four cities had <br /> <br />populations of 10,000 or more in 1970. <br /> <br />. , <br />. , <br /> <br />The four largest employment sectors are wholesale and retail trade, <br /> <br />professional and government services, agriculture, and mining. These <br /> <br />sectors accounted for nearly 60 percent of employment in 1970. <br /> <br />Farm employment has been declining. By 1970, farm employment was <br /> <br />less than 10 percent of total employment. Farm population has also <br /> <br />declined steadily since the 1940s as farms were consolidated and as <br /> <br />increased mechanization decreased labor demands. In 1950, farm popula- <br /> <br />tion was 76,000; by 1970 it had dropped to 35,000. Total revenue from <br /> <br />agriculture has increased dramatically over the past several decades, <br /> <br />but declined as a percentage of regional revenues. <br /> <br />The Region's economy has been largely sustained by primary extrac- <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />tive industries. Because of large distances to national markets, the <br /> <br />only significant manufacturing industries are those that reduce raw <br /> <br />material weights or serve local markets. The Region's economy will <br /> <br />probably continue to be based upon such primary industries. <br /> <br />2-10 <br />