About Colorado and Garfield County

Congress created the Territory of Colorado in 1861 in the center of the western half of the continental United States in the east-central portion of the Rocky Mountain region. The boundary lines create an almost perfect rectangle, measuring approximately 387 miles from east to west and 276 miles from north to south and covering 104,247 square miles, including 450 square miles of bodies of water. Colorado is the eighth largest state when measured in square miles area.

Colorado is a diverse region of mountains, plateaus, canyons and plains. The western half of the state consists of alpine terrain interspersed with wide valleys, rugged canyons, high plateaus and deep basins.

Colorado's altitude is one of its distinctive geographical features making it on average, the nation's highest state. The average elevation is 6,800 feet. Colorado's highest peak is Mt. Elbert at 14,431 feet high, or 2.72 miles above sea level. Mt. Elbert is the 14th highest peak in the United States, including mountain peaks in the state of Alaska.

West of the Continental Divide, the Colorado River, for which our state was named, flows southwest from high in the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado toward the Gulf of California.

The eastern, western and south central parts of the state are noted for agricultural production of a wide range of crops, depending on the area . Fruits such as apples, peaches, cherries, grapes and apricots are grown successfully on the western slope.

Local Newspapers

Glenwood Post Independent
www.postindependent.com

Quick facts for Garfield County

Population estimate - 45,521
Median household money income, 1999 - $47,016
Land area, 2000 (square miles) - 2,947
Persons per square mile, 2000 - 14.9

State of Colorado

For specific information about our state, visit the Colorado State Government website.