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Page 10 <br /> The total 1960 population of the study area, including both urban <br /> and rural, was estimated to be 6, 600. In other words, half of the people <br /> in the study area live on farms. Census information shows an overall <br /> decline in urban population in the decade from 1950 to 1960. However, an <br /> analysis of the water meter records of Springfield indicates that this trend <br /> has been reversed and that the population in that city has increased since <br /> 1960. <br /> Future <br /> Growth influencing factors which will effect future urban popula- <br /> tion are limited primarily to agriculture and commerce. There is essen- <br /> tially no industrial base in the area that would provide cushioning against <br /> the periodic declines in farming conditions. Irrigation is the most impor- <br /> tant new factor tending to stabilize crop output. With a dependable water <br /> source, the influence of a dry year on crop production is much less signi- <br /> ficant and the result is a much more uniform level of farm income. In <br /> other regions of the plains area, the shift from dry land farming to irriga- <br /> tion has resulted in a major increase in output and a strong boost to the <br /> economy. The Texas panhandle experienced low rainfall conditions similar <br /> to Colorado's in the 1950's but those counties having irrigation continued to <br /> grow in population and value during that decade. A similar future can be <br /> predicted for the area covered in this report. Irrigation can be expected <br /> to both stabilize and stimulate the economy. Higher income for the farmers <br /> will mean more commerce for the towns in the area. <br /> The resulting growth should be most significant during the next <br /> ten years. After that time the character of the economy should be adjusted <br /> to the influence of irrigation and subsequent growth should be at a slower <br /> pace. The projection of this growth, taking into consideration estimates <br /> made by the State Budget Office and other agencies, is tabulated below. The <br /> trend is toward larger farms so that most of the growth should be concen- <br /> trated in the towns. Information from this projection was used in estimating <br /> future water requirements. <br /> URBAN POPULATION PROJECTION <br /> Year Estimated Population <br /> 1967 4, 150 <br /> 1977 4, 300 <br /> 1987 4, 400 <br /> 1997 4, 500 <br /> 2007 4, 600 <br /> 2017 4, 700 <br />