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• Overview--1978). Delta County is also edjacent to a variety of ski areas. <br />Overall, job slots have been Increasing in Delta County (Table II-1) with nn <br />increase of 1100 jobs from 1975 to 1980. The increase in openings is <br />typically a sign of a healthy and growing economy. <br />• <br /> <br />Gunnison County similarly offers an expanding economic base, particularly in <br />molybdenum mining. The County does have an ngriculture based economy, <br />principally in the livestock industry. Also, Crested Butte ettracts numerous <br />tourists in the winter ski season. Western State College annually attracts <br />approximately 3,300 students to Gunnison. (For a more in-depth examination of <br />Gunnison County's economic base, please consult the Mt. Emmons Socio-Economic <br />Study.) <br />Both counties experienced a declining unemployment rate from 1975 to 1979; <br />however, the rate rose slightly in 1980 (Table II-1). In short, both counties <br />appear to have a healthy economy; both have diversified economies, with Delta, <br />however, more dependent on a two-industry base. The following section will <br />detail the population trends that have occurred in the area as one mould <br />anticipate in-migration into an economically growing area. <br />B. Historical Population Patterns <br />Towns in Delta County experienced mixed population trends. For example, on <br />Table II-3 a comparison of the 1977 Special Census with the 1980 preliminary <br />census estimates shows that only Crawford experienced declining population <br />(-3.89) during the last three years. Paonia and Delta City experienced <br />approximately the same rate of growth, 5.24 and 5.98 respectively. Hotchkiss <br />experienced a 13.94 rate of growth from 1977 to 1980. Delta County had an <br />8.64 increase, while Gunnison County experienced a 13.64 rate. <br />Of prime concern that should be noted is the fact that all communities <br />demonstrated moderate increases (or moderate declines) in their populations. <br />The population pattern reflects incremental growth rather than a rapid Burge <br />in people. In the energy area, the boom-town literature focuses on rapid <br />growth scenarios created by large projects; neither Delta nor Gunnison <br />Counties demonstrate the rapid or erratic growth patterns often associated <br />with energy development. <br />8 <br />