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Page 9 <br /> realize considerable benefit from improvements to the economy resulting <br /> from the increase in irrigation. Except for special situations, the <br /> smaller towns will not be able to compete with these two as market places <br /> for durable goods. <br /> POPULATION <br /> Historical <br /> Use of ground water in southeastern Colorado is governed pri- <br /> marily by the population and number of acres being irrigated. Obviously, <br /> other important factors such as weather and type of crops must also be <br /> considered, but reasonably accurate estimates of past consumption and pro- <br /> jections of future requirements are dependent on good population and irrigated <br /> acreage data. Since there is no surface water supply, all municipal require- <br /> ments must be met from ground water sources. <br /> In estimating population trends, it is necessary to look at past <br /> growth and the factors influencing future development. Springfield, the <br /> largest city, has experienced a sporadic growth rate. It is the principal <br /> trade center for most of the study area, which is agriculturally oriented <br /> and therefore very responsive to changes in crop production conditions. <br /> Fluctuations in population can be roughly correlated with the variation in <br /> amount of annual rainfall. During drouth periods the population tends to <br /> decline. Other smaller towns in the area are even more sensitive to <br /> agricultural conditions. The available historical population information <br /> for the towns in the study area is shown in the following table. <br /> HISTORICAL POPULATION <br /> Year Springfield Walsh Pritchett Cam <br /> po Two Buttes Vilas Total <br /> 1890 90 90 <br /> 1900 44 44 <br /> 1910 0 0 <br /> 1920 295 93 388 <br /> 1930 1, 393 454 451 158 2, 456 <br /> 1940 1, 082 406 495 158 2, 141 <br /> 1950 2, 041 897 286 265 121 131 3, 741 <br /> 1960 1, 791 856 247 235 ill 107 3, 347 <br />