<br />26
<br />
<br />of those four counties increased by only 6 percent between 1940 and
<br />1960. However, there was a substantial shift from rural to urban,
<br />resulting largely from expansion of the unincorporated "environs of
<br />Sterling, Fort Morljan, and Brush. The changes in population patterns
<br />for the four countIes are summarized in table 4. These changes are
<br />typical of those in the entire Missouri River Basin during the same
<br />period. .
<br />TABLE 4.-POPUlATlON IN NARROWS UNIT AREA
<br />
<br />Item
<br />
<br />1940
<br />
<br />1960
<br />
<br />1950
<br />
<br />Number
<br />
<br />Percent
<br />
<br />Number
<br />
<br />Number
<br />
<br />Percent
<br />
<br />Percent
<br />
<br />Urban;
<br />Sterling________________________ 7,411 15.1 7,534- 15.7 10,751
<br />~~~;~_o:~~::::: ::::::::::::::: 4,884 ,., 5,315 11.1 7,379
<br />1(2,481) (5.0) 1(2.,431) (5.1) 3,621
<br />SubtotaL_____ _._.n_n____ 12,295 25.0 12,849 26.8 21,751
<br />Rural:
<br />Farm__________________________ 24,962 50.7 21,157 44.2 14,708
<br />Nonfarm______________________. 11,957 24.3 13,870 29.0 15,902
<br />SubtotaLn_____nnn__ 36,919 75.0 35,027 73.2 30,610
<br />TotaL~_ ____.".n.__.._nn_ 49,214 100.0 47,876 100.0 52,361
<br />
<br />20.5'
<br />14.1
<br />6.'
<br />41.5
<br />
<br />28.1
<br />30.4
<br />58.5
<br />100.0
<br />
<br />Note: Bureau of the Census data far Morgan, logan, Washington, and Sedgwick Counties.
<br />1 Classified as nonfarm In the 194Gand 1950cansus.
<br />
<br />GENERAL ECONOMY AND RESOURCES
<br />The economy of the general area in which the Narrows unit would
<br />be located is now and has always been based primarily upon agriculture.
<br />In the early 1950's, the discovery of oil and gas introduced an addi-
<br />tional important basic industry to the area. Important, too, but of
<br />much lesser significance to the overall economy, is the mining of sand
<br />and gravel.
<br />In addition to the basic industries, the usual retail trades and
<br />services are practiced in the area. Furthermore, there is significant
<br />activity in the manufacturing and processing industries. Raw ma-
<br />terials for these industries are obtained largely from agriculture.
<br />Various aspects of the agricultural economy have displayed dis-
<br />similar trend patterns. Volume of p1;'oduction on a year-to-year
<br />basis, for instance, has fluctuated quite drastically, but on a long-
<br />term basis an upward trend in production has been experienced.
<br />The trend in the number of workers employed in agriculture has been
<br />steadily downward and the number of farm operators has decreased.
<br />Consequently, individual farm units are increasing in size. However,
<br />it appears that the number of agricultural workers has already begun
<br />to level off and will stabilize near. the present number. Therefore,
<br />taking into account both the long-term volume of production and the
<br />number of workers involved, it is not likely that agriculture will
<br />lose its position as the leading basic economic activity of the area.
<br />Based on present trends, the importance of the petroleum industry
<br />to the future economy is expected to decline. The mining of sand and
<br />gravel, the third type of basic production in the area, has increased
<br />significantly over the past several years. Its importance with respect
<br />to construction work is very great, but minor with respect to the over-
<br />all economy.
<br />
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