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incorporated in 1891. It remains the only incorporated town in the county. Ranchers moved into the area
<br /> to supply the mines in the San Juans and the military,then the lumber industry.
<br /> Hispanic settlers reached the area about the same time as Anglo settlers.They settled the southern
<br /> part of the county along the rivers. Hispanic communities such as Trujillo, Juanita, Pagosa Junction, and
<br /> Carracas were established with the arrival of the Denver& Rio Grande Railroad in 1881. According to the
<br /> 1990 Census, the Hispanic population comprised about 23% of the total population.
<br /> With the advent of the railroad running between Silverton, Durango, Chama and points east along
<br /> the southern boundary of the county,the lumber industry flourished and became the dominant sector of the
<br /> economy. The railroad also boosted ranching by providing a practical way to ship cattle and sheep to
<br /> market. The growth of cattle and sheep ranching, as well as the development of the lumber industry, led to
<br /> a booming economy in the 1890s and early 1900s. The Piedra Road was almost certainly established as a
<br /> trail during this period for the ranching families in northern Archuleta County and the South End of Hinsdale
<br /> County (Taylor Park and the Upper Piedra Basin) to communicate with Pagosa Springs and later access
<br /> the railroad. With the opening of Wolf Creek Pass on August 21, 1916 the entire San Juan Basin was
<br /> opened to greater economic development and commerce.
<br /> The establishment of two large lumber mills, and many smaller ones, helped to bring the railroad
<br /> to Pagosa Springs in 1900, facilitating travel and movement of trade and commerce. The lumber boom
<br /> lasted almost into the 1920's, by which time the easily accessible timber had all been logged. The site may
<br /> have been logged during that period, and again in the late 1960s and 1970s. The exploitation of natural
<br /> resources(such as ranching, mineral production, lumber and recreational attractions), supported Archuleta
<br /> County up to the mid-to-late 1970s. In 1970, manufacturing (primarily wood products)provided 30% of the
<br /> county's total work income and generated $7.4 million in earnings. Over the next 20 years, manufacturing
<br /> wages declined to $1.5 million in 1992, even with inflation. The decline of the timber industry in the late
<br /> 1970s played a large role in this decrease. The 1980s were a time of relative stability in terms of population
<br /> and economy, reflecting the"flat"state and national economies.
<br /> Since that time Archuleta County has been in transition from a traditional rural community to a more
<br /> urban environment in which tourism is the number one industry. Primarily, people moving in for quality of
<br /> life issues or"amenity migration" drove population growth in the 1990s and early 21 st Century. The natural
<br /> environment, and the amenities it provides, are behind much of the growth and have become the larger
<br /> region's chief economic asset. In the last two decades, tourism and the expansion of the Internet economy
<br /> have encouraged growth of the County, and the expansion of gas fields in the region has added a new
<br /> dimension to the economy.
<br /> Archuleta County is comprised of 872,960 acres (1,364 sq. miles). Only 34% of lands in Archuleta
<br /> County are in private ownership. In 2006, Archuleta County adopted a Land Use Code and a zoning map.
<br /> Tribal lands comprise 14.4%of the county and any decisions regarding their development(i.e. mineral and
<br /> timber resources)could be crucial to impacts on county resources and economic development. Most of the
<br /> northern and eastern portions of the county(51.6%)are within the San Juan National Forest and are under
<br /> the management of the U.S. Forest Service. Federal lands continue to be managed under a policy of
<br /> multiple use. This site was National Forest System land until 1999.
<br /> From 1990 to 2000, the population of Archuleta County grew by 8.5% annually, and was ranked
<br /> 5th of 63 Colorado counties (14th nationwide)for rate of growth. In 2000-2010, the estimated rate of growth
<br /> slowed down to about 3.7% annually, with most of the growth in the unincorporated areas of the county.
<br /> The estimated population in 2020 was 13,359, up from 12,084 in a decade, but the 2008-09 economic
<br /> decline actually saw a drop in population. The table estimate of 3.2% is optimistic for the next 20 ears.
<br /> Archuleta 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
<br /> Population 11,716 12,084 12,384 13,359 14,500 15,600 16,800 18,100
<br /> Avg. Annual - 2.1% 2.2% 2.2% 3.2% 3.2% 3.2% 3.2%
<br /> % Change
<br /> Source: US Census
<br /> These population figures, however, do not reflect the large number of seasonal residents in the area. A
<br /> local study on 2nd homes indicates that 60% of properties are owned by people that live outside of the
<br /> county. Forecasts of population in the last 15 years were significantly higher than actual growth.
<br /> C&J Gravel Products, Inc. Page 80 of 93 20 OCT 2021
<br /> Application for Permit: Oakbrush Hill Gravel M-2021- C&J-DPR-V5-001
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