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~\ <br /> <br />In recent years tourism has become a major economic contributor and is a steady source <br />of employment and Income. Downhill skiing, which grew in popularity following the end <br />of Worid War II, is by far the major winter activity in Colondo. To meet the growing <br />demand for this sport, twenty-seven ski areas, many of them world renowned, have been <br />developed throughout the orate over the past three decades. Two of these popular, world- <br />class resort areas, Aspen and Snowmass azo located within a two hour drive of Delta <br />County. Additionally, Crested Butte, a populaz destination resort is located is adjoining <br />Gunnison County and Powder Hors Resort is located oo the Grand Mesa, just north of <br />Delta County. Reportedly, a number of county residents are employed at the Aapeal <br />Snowmass resort complex and make the rather leagthycommute daily during the ski season. <br />Additional tourist attractions in the area include the B1acY Canyon of the Gunnison <br />~. National Monument, located just to the south of the county, the Grand Mesa, a portion of <br />which is located in the northeastern part of county and the Gunnison National Forest and <br />West Ells Wilderness Area, apportion of which extends into easoern Delta county. The <br />numerws scenic views e9 well as a number of outdoor activities such sn fishing, hunting, <br />enowaiobt7ing and cross country skiing have made the ales 'a popular tonrist location <br />virtually year around. <br />The largest community in Delta County is Delta, the county seat, with a population of 3,784 <br />persons. The town is the major retail location in the county and provides the majority of <br />the community services. Additionally, Delta is the location of tht only hospital in the <br />county. <br />A variety of paved, alI-weather highways provide access to the eotinty, including U.S. <br />Flighway 50 which connects with Interstate 70 approximately- 35 miles northwest of Delta, <br />and Colorado Highways 85, 92 and 133 which access points to the east, northeast and <br />southeast. <br />Gunnison County: <br />Gunnison County, with a land area of 3,239 tniles, also is looted in west-central Colorado <br />sad shares a common boundary with Delta Cauaty and to northwest and Montrose County <br />to tha west The county reports a 1995 population of 11,700 persons, which represents a <br />13.996 increase wer the 1990 population of 10,273. The majority of the population live is <br />the county seat o£ Gunnison, which with a population of 4,943, is the largest community in <br />the county. Thn second largest population center in the county is the adjoining fawns of <br />Crested Butte and Mt Created Butte, with a wmbined permanent population of 1,142. <br />However, during the winter std seasoo this population increases tremendously. Daily skier <br />.-;sits during 1994 were 485,840 and 1995 reportedly witnessed a significant increase aver <br />__.... r.~-xntK,trtit;v,~I,t1,~nort.tNC. <br />. n.al Parr My+,6.n . Ge.diave <br />i <br />I <br />AREAMEIGHBORNOO~ pROF1LE 16 <br />