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CRAPTERTHREE Atfecte~d Environment <br />comparison, per capita income in the State of Colorado rose from $21,069 in 195'2 to $25,696 in <br />1996. In 1996, average per capita income in the state was 19 percent higher than in Garfield <br />County and 35 percent higher than in Rio Blanco County. <br />In the State of Colorado, 12 percent of the population was living at or below the I?overty level in <br />1989. A slightly higher percentage (14 percent) of residents in Rio Blanco County and a slightly <br />lower percentage (9 percent) of residents in Garfield County were living at or below the poverty <br />level in 1989 (CDLG 19986). In the study area towns, poverty level rates in Rifle, Rangely, and <br />Glenwood Springs were below the state average. The rates in Meeker and Pazacllute, at 14 to 15 <br />percent, were slightly above the state average of percentage persons living below the poverty <br />level in 1989. <br />The following graph illustrates that despite a 1989 median household income for Meeker of <br />about $28,000, the data aze somewhat skewed because of wealthy households. F~~r example, of <br />the 1,296 households in Meeker, about two percent earned more than $150,00 in 1989. If the <br />highest income households aze not included, the median household income for that town would <br />be substantially less than $28,000. <br />Household Income -Meeker <br />740000 i -~ <br />7 <br />w <br />E <br />0 <br />20000 <br />00000 <br />80000 <br />60000 <br /> <br />40000 <br />zoooo <br />0 <br />100 200 300 400 500 600 700 E100 <br />Households <br />Source: USDC 1995 <br />Individuals in low-income or minority families often aze forced to work overtime or take more <br />than one job, which can generally reduce the quality of life. In some cases, low-itlcome workers <br />must also drive long distances to reach work. American Soda expects that the construction and <br />operation of the proposed facilities would offer some relief to low-income families because some <br />family members would earn more as a project employee. To some extent, this would reduce the <br />number of hours that some individuals must work. <br />Minority Communities <br />Percentages of minority populations in Rio Blanco and Garfield counties aze presented below. <br />According to the 1990 census, the percentage of minorities in both Rio Blanco anti Garfield <br />counties was lower than the state iota] of 19.6 percent minorities. Minorities comprised <br />3-60 Socioeconomics <br />