Grand Junction, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado | ||
---|---|---|
Highways I-70, U.S. Highway 6, U.S. Highway 50, CO SH 340, CO SH 141, CO SH 139 | | |
Website | www |
Grand Junction is a
Grand Junction is a major city along Interstate 70, being the economic and cultural center of Colorado's Western Slope, as well as roughly the halfway point between Denver and Salt Lake City. The city is also a college town, home to Colorado Mesa University.
Description
Grand Junction is 247 miles (398 km) west-southwest of the
The city is along the
The Colorado National Monument, a unique series of canyons and mesas, overlooks the city on the west. Most of the area is surrounded by federal public lands managed by the US Bureau of Land Management. Interstate 70 connects the city eastward to Glenwood Springs and Denver and westward to Green River, Utah; Salt Lake City is reached to the west via Interstate 70 and U.S Route 6; and Las Vegas (via Interstate 70 and Interstate 15).
History
In September 1881, the former Ute Indian Territory was abolished and the Utes were forced into a reservation so that the U.S. government could open the area to settlers. Clinton County, Pennsylvania-born George Addison Crawford (1827–91) soon purchased a plot of land.[7] On July 22, 1882, he incorporated the town of Grand Junction and planted Colorado's first vineyard near Palisade, Colorado, causing the area to become known as the Colorado Wine Country. Grand Junction also has a storied past with gunfighters, miners, and early settlers of the American Southwest.
The
Geography
At the
Climate
Grand Junction has a
Climate data for Grand Junction, Colorado (Grand Junction Regional Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1893–present[b] | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) |
70 (21) |
81 (27) |
89 (32) |
101 (38) |
105 (41) |
107 (42) |
103 (39) |
100 (38) |
88 (31) |
76 (24) |
66 (19) |
107 (42) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 49.6 (9.8) |
60.0 (15.6) |
72.6 (22.6) |
81.3 (27.4) |
90.9 (32.7) |
99.4 (37.4) |
102.0 (38.9) |
98.6 (37.0) |
93.2 (34.0) |
82.1 (27.8) |
65.3 (18.5) |
51.9 (11.1) |
102.5 (39.2) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.1 (3.4) |
46.4 (8.0) |
58.3 (14.6) |
65.8 (18.8) |
76.8 (24.9) |
89.2 (31.8) |
94.5 (34.7) |
90.9 (32.7) |
81.7 (27.6) |
66.9 (19.4) |
51.8 (11.0) |
38.8 (3.8) |
66.6 (19.2) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.7 (−2.4) |
35.3 (1.8) |
45.0 (7.2) |
51.9 (11.1) |
62.0 (16.7) |
73.0 (22.8) |
79.2 (26.2) |
76.3 (24.6) |
67.1 (19.5) |
53.2 (11.8) |
39.6 (4.2) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
53.2 (11.8) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.3 (−8.2) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
38.1 (3.4) |
47.1 (8.4) |
56.8 (13.8) |
63.9 (17.7) |
61.6 (16.4) |
52.5 (11.4) |
39.5 (4.2) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
39.8 (4.3) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 3.4 (−15.9) |
10.3 (−12.1) |
19.3 (−7.1) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
33.6 (0.9) |
44.3 (6.8) |
54.3 (12.4) |
53.5 (11.9) |
39.2 (4.0) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
13.8 (−10.1) |
2.8 (−16.2) |
−1.3 (−18.5) |
Record low °F (°C) | −23 (−31) |
−21 (−29) |
5 (−15) |
11 (−12) |
24 (−4) |
34 (1) |
44 (7) |
43 (6) |
28 (−2) |
6 (−14) |
−4 (−20) |
−21 (−29) |
−23 (−31) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.61 (15) |
0.53 (13) |
0.80 (20) |
0.98 (25) |
0.83 (21) |
0.41 (10) |
0.59 (15) |
0.92 (23) |
1.19 (30) |
0.99 (25) |
0.61 (15) |
0.60 (15) |
9.06 (230) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.5 (11) |
2.9 (7.4) |
1.8 (4.6) |
0.9 (2.3) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
1.9 (4.8) |
5.2 (13) |
17.7 (44.35) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 71.6 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.6 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 18.1 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
69.7 | 60.4 | 50.1 | 40.3 | 36.3 | 29.4 | 33.5 | 36.6 | 38.8 | 45.6 | 58.5 | 68.0 | 47.3 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 192.3 | 204.4 | 240.9 | 278.0 | 328.5 | 359.3 | 356.2 | 329.8 | 292.2 | 255.1 | 186.9 | 180.0 | 3,203.6 |
Percent possible sunshine | 63 | 68 | 65 | 70 | 74 | 81 | 79 | 78 | 78 | 74 | 62 | 61 | 72 |
Source: NOAA (sun 1961–1990)[9][11] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 2,030 | — | |
1900 | 3,503 | 72.6% | |
1910 | 7,754 | 121.4% | |
1920 | 8,665 | 11.7% | |
1930 | 10,247 | 18.3% | |
1940 | 12,479 | 21.8% | |
1950 | 14,504 | 16.2% | |
1960 | 18,694 | 28.9% | |
1970 | 20,170 | 7.9% | |
1980 | 27,956 | 38.6% | |
1990 | 29,034 | 3.9% | |
2000 | 41,986 | 44.6% | |
2010 | 58,566 | 39.5% | |
2020 | 65,560 | 11.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census |
Grand Junction is the principal city of the
As of the
There were 17,865 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. Of all households 33.2% were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had one living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city, 21.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.9% was from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The population figures are for Grand Junction only; the city abuts smaller towns and unincorporated county areas which contribute to area commerce.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,152, and the median income for a family was $43,851. Males had a median income of $31,685 versus $22,804 for females. The
Economy
Economic history
From the time settlers arrived in the 1880s until the 1960s, three of the main economic activities in the region were farming, fruit growing, and cattle raising. Fruit orchards, particularly between Grand Junction and Palisade to the east, remain important to the region's reputation and economy to the present day. Fruits most often grown are peaches, pears, apricots, plums, cherries, and, particularly since the 1980s, grapes for wine. In this semi-arid environment, these orchards thrive from a combination of abundant sunshine and irrigation from a system of canals that divert water from the Colorado River.
Attempts were made to establish sugar beet farming and beet sugar production. The Grand Valley Sugar Company established a campaign in 1893, sending three train carloads to the
Retail sales have been important to the economy for decades (e.g., gasoline, and hunting- and fishing-related sales), and uranium mining-related activities have also been significant.
Education and healthcare have been important to the economy of the area, especially since the 1950s, with the rise of Colorado Mesa University and St. Mary's Hospital as leading employers in these fields.
Vast
The economic bust, known as "Black Sunday" (May 2, 1982) to the locals, started with a phone call from the president of Exxon to Governor
By 2008, the economy of Grand Junction appeared to be more diverse and stable than it had been in previous decades. Major contributors to the economy were health care, tourism, agriculture, livestock, and energy mining (gas and oil). Major energy companies had once again invested large amounts of money due to increases in oil and natural gas prices (such as in the years 2005–2008). However, a major drop (in the summer of 2008) of market natural gas prices led to reduced gas well drilling and related capital expenditures in the area, significantly slowing the Grand Junction economy in 2009. Reports given in 2009 suggested that Grand Junction had once again been hard-hit economically, with one report by April 2010 listing the area as having had the largest percentage drop in employment of any "small city" in the entire United States.[16]
By 2008, Grand Junction was being discovered by the "nation's elite business and leisure travelers" as a destination for private jet travel, with nearby Powderhorn Resort and other ski resorts a major attraction.[17]
Top employers
According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[18] the top employers are:
# | Employer | Percentage of total employees | Number of employees |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mesa County Valley School District 51 | 3.83% | 2,715 |
2 | St. Mary's Hospital | 3.24% | 2,300 |
3 | Mesa County | 1.44% | 1,025 |
4 | State of Colorado |
1.43% | 1,012 |
5 | Colorado Mesa University | 1.42% | 1,006 |
6 | City Markets, Inc. | 1.13% | 800 |
7 | Community Hospital | 1.13% | 800 |
8 | Grand Junction VA Medical Center |
1.01% | 720 |
9 | Star Tek USA (closed)[19] | 0.99% | 700 |
10 | City of Grand Junction | 0.89% | 629 |
Sports
Grand Junction's Colorado National Monument was home to a stage in the Coors Classic bicycle race known as "The Tour of the Moon" due to the Monument's unique landscape.
Since 1958, the JUCO World Series
Both Suplizio Field and Stocker Stadium also host Colorado Mesa University as well as School District 51 sporting events.
Parks and recreation
The Grand Junction area has developed as a
, with its 18-Road trail system, is within 10 miles of the city and has become a major mountain biking destination.Education
K–12
The Mesa Valley School District No. 51 provides comprehensive K–12 public education to the Grand Junction area.[21] School District 51 operates five high schools:
- Fruita Monument High School
- Grand Junction High School
- Central High School
- Palisade High School
- R-5 High School
In addition, the district operates numerous middle, elementary, and other types of schools, including East Middle School, Redlands Middle School, and West Middle School. District 51 partners with Colorado Mesa University Tech (CMU Tech) to operate a vocational school, owned and operated by Colorado Mesa University. CMU Tech was formerly named Western Colorado Community College.
Colleges and universities
Colorado Mesa University, a public, four-year, liberal arts college, serves as the primary provider of higher education on the Western Slope from its campus in central Grand Junction. This campus has an average enrollment of just under 10,000 students and offers a variety of degrees, including a Masters in Business Administration, Educational Leadership, and ESOL. The university also operates Colorado Mesa University Tech, a community college offering associates degrees and professional certificates. Also located in Grand Junction is IntelliTec College, a technical college offering professional certificates.
Media
Radio
The Grand Junction radio market includes all of Mesa County, Colorado.[22] Six AM radio stations and more than 25 FM stations are licensed to broadcast from the city.[23][24]
Newspapers
Grand Junction is serviced by one local newspaper, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. The Grand Junction area also receives newspaper influence from sources in the greater Denver front range area.
Television
Grand Junction has
Infrastructure
Transportation
Grand Junction Regional Airport (formerly Walker Field Airport) serves as the major airport in the area. The airport is located in north Grand Junction on Horizon Drive. As of 2011, two-way flights to Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Houston were available.
Railroad Freight service is provided by
Bustang, Colorado's state-run bus system, provides intercity bus service to the city. There are two bus lines that include Grand Junction. The West line connects to Denver, while the Outrider line connects to Durango. Both of these have multiple stops between the final destinations, and the West line has options to transfer to alternative lines.
Grand Valley Transit (GVT) is a regional transit system serving the Grand Valley. It operates 11 bus routes in the area as well as a "dial-a-ride" service.
The city also offers a shared micromobility program that was launched in May 2023. The city has allowed the companies
Major highways
- Las Vegas, Nevada, and southern California.
- Interstate 70.
- U.S. Highway 50 crosses 12 states, linking Ocean City, Maryland, with Sacramento, California. In Colorado, U.S. 50 connects Grand Junction with Montrose, Gunnison, and Pueblo, and to the west, it travels into the state of Utah.
- U.S. Highway 50in Fruita.
Notable people
- Owen Aspinall, former governor of American Samoa
- Sabré Cook, racing driver
- Ross Davis, racing driver
- Charles L. Fletcher, architect and interior designer
- Ben Garland, NFL player
- Chuck Hull, inventor
- Vance Johnson, former NFL wide receiver
- Aryn Kyle, author[26]
- Kathryn Mientka, pianist, director of the Western Slope Chamber Music Series
- Tyme Mientka, cellist, director of the Western Slope Chamber Music Series
- Annabelle Craft Moss, aviator who received Congressional Gold Medal; served in World War II with Women Airforce Service Pilots
- Bill Musgrave, former NFL player and coach
- Rick Schroder, actor and film director
- Michael Strobl, U.S. Marine, subject of a 2009 film, Taking Chance
- Dalton Trumbo, screenwriter
- Walter Walker, political leader and publisher
See also
Explanatory notes
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.
- ^ Official records for Grand Junction were kept at downtown from January 1893 to December 1899 and at Grand Junction Regional Airport since January 1900. For more information, see ThreadEx.
References
- ^ a b c "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Grand Junction, Colorado
- ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2007.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ISBN 9780722249055– via Google Books.
- ^ Beebe, Lucius and Clegg, Charles, Rio Grande, Mainline of the Rockies, Howell-North Books 1962.
- ^ a b c d "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ "Climatological Normals of Grand Junction". Hong Kong Observatory. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Eric Twitty (August 2003). "Silver Wedge: The Sugar Beet Industry in Fort Collins" (PDF). SWCA Environmental Consultants. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ History Timeline. Museum of Western Colorado
- ^ Richard Williamson (October 5, 1999). "Oil shale collapse preserved scenic vistas". Denver Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
- ^ The Adams Group, Coloradoeconomy.com, "Today's Economy" Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. April 23, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2010
- ^ "Colo. gets two spots on luxury-travel list". Denver Business Journal. January 11, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008
- ^ "City of Grand Junction CAFR" (PDF). Retrieved February 27, 2019.
- ^ "StarTek closing Grand Junction campus". March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Alpine Bank NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series". Alpine Bank NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series.
- ^ "Home". Mesa County Valley School District 51. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- Arbitron. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "AMQ AM Radio Database Query". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "Radio Stations in Grand Junction, Colorado". Radio-Locator. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "Shared Micromobility Pilot". Engage GJ. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Public Radio [dead link]