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SENT BY: 7- 2-97 9:311M 0 S M_ 98328106;# 8/12
<br /> ARFA/14EIGHB-ORHOOD PROFILE 15
<br /> The subject is located in unincorporated portions of both Delta and Gunnison Counties,
<br /> Colorado, approximately 225 miles west of Denver, on the 'western slope" of the central
<br /> Colorado Rocky Mountains. The subject, known as the Colorado Guest RaneblChipeta
<br /> Ranch, contains 4,100± acres, of which 34% (1,400± acres) are located in northwestern
<br /> Gunnison County and 66% (2,700± acres), are in east-central Delta County. Specifically,
<br /> the property is located in the valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, on the south
<br /> side of Colorado Highway 133, between the small coal-milking communities of Bowie and
<br /> Somerset, Colorado.
<br /> Delta County.-
<br /> Delta County with a land area of 1,142, lies in the west central portion of Colorado. The
<br /> county reports a 1995 population of 24,700 persons,which represents a 17.7%increase over
<br /> the 19.90 population of 20,990. The majority of the population live in five small
<br /> incorporated communities, ranging in size from 3,789 persons (Delta) to 221 persons
<br /> (Crawford).
<br /> Topogyaphically, elevations within Delta County range from 4,758 feet to 11,396 feet. The i
<br /> eastern portion of the county consists primarily of mountainous, heavily forested terrain,
<br /> while the western portion is high plateau country cut by numerous scenic canyons. Vegeta-
<br /> tion ranges from mountain forests and scrub oak in the east, to sagebrush and pinion
<br /> covered rolling hills and mesas in the central and western portions. A large portion of the
<br /> Grand Mesa, the largest flat topped mountain in the world, lies in the northwestern part of
<br /> the county. The top of this mesa, with a peak elevation of 119100 feet, is more than 40
<br /> miles across and contains in excess of 200 lakes. Vegetation on the mesa includes sub-
<br /> alpine forests of spruce and fir along with scrub oak, pinion,juniper and sagebrush.
<br /> Historically, this area had been the winter home of the Ute Indians until forced to relocate
<br /> to Utah reservations in 1881. The mild climate, with over 300 sunny days per year made
<br /> it an ideal wintering location. Following the Indians relocation, homesteaders moved into
<br /> the area and discovered the mild climate with over 140 frost-free day
<br /> s yearly,made the area
<br /> one of the prime fruit growing locations in the state. Delta County, with about 450,000
<br /> apple trees, produces almost two-thirds of the stata's apple crop. The county ranks first in
<br /> the state is sour cherry production and second in production of both peaches and pears.
<br /> Most of the orchards are located in the Gunnison River's North Fork Valley, where the
<br /> subject is located, and in the Surface Creek Valley, northwest of the subject Vegetable
<br /> production has also flourished,primarily in the semi-arid central part of the county around
<br /> the town of Delta, where the climate is warmer.
<br /> Livestock and coal production are also important parts of the county's economy. Huge
<br /> ranches once dominated the southeastern portion of the county in the rolling hills bordering
<br /> the mountains around the town of Crawford. Although still important, today'a ranches
<br /> operate on a smaller scale than the turn of century operations with thousands of head of
<br /> cattle, Coal l m;nin_v is orintarfly leesred in the Gunnison's North Fork_Vallev. near the i
<br /> ' LANDMARK VALUA?ION,INC.
<br /> Rol Fills@ Appr.6m 4 Gu,dYaY I
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