I70 High Plains (Denver, Aurora, Greeley: sales, low crime, houses)
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PcolaFlGuy, how ya doing? I moderate the football forum on city-data, first Bronco game I went to was in 1962. I'll take it easy on ya though!
I know about the plains; I worked power plant construction for nearly three decades and four years of it was at the Pawnee Plant, between Brush and Ft. Morgan (about 90 miles northeast of Denver). Worked with a lot of guys who were spread out all over the eastern plains from Sterling to Yuma to Akron to Brush and several small towns in between. They embraced their areas because while getting to the mountains certainly appeals to them, traveling through the Denver metro area jungle to get to those mountains didn't.
Those people grew up in those areas and no, their parents didn't have huge 1000 acre farms. They live simply and affordably in those small towns, they just are not turned on by big city life.
When I worked at the Pawnee I lived in Brush during the week and came home on weekends (lived in Littleton at that time). I loved it!
There are several towns out on the eastern plains that are decent communities. No, they don't have all the amenities or maybe even 10% of the amenities of a big city. One of my friends who passed away recently (he was a pipefitter) retired in Brush after job completion (1983). Said it was the best decision he ever made.
Second line down on the Colorado page check out the "Index of Key Colorado Threads". There is a lot of good information that the Colorado moderator has stacked up here. While I didn't see anything regarding the area I was referring to in post#22, there is a lot of good info with the southeast part of the state (Fowler, Lamar, La Junta. Check it out, you'll find it very useful.
The whole world does not end in the area around Denver. You got to remember that Adams County and Arapahoe County were totally rural counties for most of the area's history. It is just recent that the county areas, near Denver, have changed with surbuban growth.
Also the territory had one huge County, Arapahoe County, which included Denver, which formed its own County and Adams County was carved out of Arapahoe County in about 1901.
I live in Adams County and I enjoy the opportunity to go further out in the county to enjoy the interesting recreation on the Great Plains. To me, it shows more of the real Authentic West. I really do get annoyed by people who disparage the Great Plains of Colorado and only know, or want to know, the Rocky Mountains. The mountains are not the whole story of Colorado.
Livecontent
I don't think I disparaged the Great Plains! But it's no secret that it's the mountains that draws people to Colorado, not the flat land plains to the east. If flat, tree-less plains were what people like, then western KS would be a vacation paradise lol!
PcolaFlGuy, how ya doing? I moderate the football forum on city-data, first Bronco game I went to was in 1962. I'll take it easy on ya though!
I know about the plains; I worked power plant construction for nearly three decades and four years of it was at the Pawnee Plant, between Brush and Ft. Morgan (about 90 miles northeast of Denver). Worked with a lot of guys who were spread out all over the eastern plains from Sterling to Yuma to Akron to Brush and several small towns in between. They embraced their areas because while getting to the mountains certainly appeals to them, traveling through the Denver metro area jungle to get to those mountains didn't.
Those people grew up in those areas and no, their parents didn't have huge 1000 acre farms. They live simply and affordably in those small towns, they just are not turned on by big city life.
When I worked at the Pawnee I lived in Brush during the week and came home on weekends (lived in Littleton at that time). I loved it!
There are several towns out on the eastern plains that are decent communities. No, they don't have all the amenities or maybe even 10% of the amenities of a big city. One of my friends who passed away recently (he was a pipefitter) retired in Brush after job completion (1983). Said it was the best decision he ever made.
Sounds like what my Dad did before retiring. He was a boilermaker and worked on power plants in KS. He'd sometimes have jobs so far off that he'd rent a room in a small town and come home on the weekends.
I don't think I disparaged the Great Plains! But it's no secret that it's the mountains that draws people to Colorado, not the flat land plains to the east. If flat, tree-less plains were what people like, then western KS would be a vacation paradise lol!
You guys are funny. But, I get this and your conversation helps me. Many say 'might as well be Kansas'. But I thinks that's the point. Folks don't want this land so much so that you can get it cheap and be close to Denver (not Topeka!).
That's what sparked my curiousity about all this at first. It is just so odd that you can't go north, west, or south of Denver and get affordable/wide-open land, but to the east you can.
I'm not all about the high mountains. With the highest low point of any state, everywhere in CO is a Mtn to me!!
That is actually a concern for me. I'm heavyset (but semi-active) and I know altitude can be an issue for some.
I don't think I disparaged the Great Plains! But it's no secret that it's the mountains that draws people to Colorado, not the flat land plains to the east. If flat, tree-less plains were what people like, then western KS would be a vacation paradise lol!
No I do not think you said anything bad about the Great Plains. I was not referring to you--I was talking about people in general.
My point was more to the matter that people think that the mountains are all of Colorado and it is not. The small towns of the remote Plains do also provide a good quality of life for many.
Many of us do find the plains more or just as alluring as the mountains. I view the Plains as an ocean of grass with the small towns as little islands. Some areas, which are even more remote and harsh, make me think of a pristine desert with the towns as oasises. To me, some of these towns are paradise of peace, tranquility and most importantly a simple authentic life. I do not find these same qualities in places like Vail and Aspen--they have their own special characteristics which some like and some do not.
Obviously most people live on the Great Plains. Denver is on the Plains. By far most agriculture and ranching is done on the plains. All significant manufacturing is done on the plains.
The mountains are important for providing the water catch basin that without the Plains could not prosper. The mountains have significant mineral, oil and some forest product wealth. The mountains provide the block of severe weather that gives the front range its nice weather. Those are the most important resources of the mountains.
However, many people think only of is the recreation, skiing and posh resorts of the mountains. Yes, they are important and do bring wealth into the State but they are not the only wealth from the Rocky Mountains. Some would argue that the posh resorts and the fake towns contribute much waste and destroy the natural wilderness.
We must also keep in mind that the Mountains also need the Plains for they are not self sufficient in most essentials of living and certainly medical care. In addition the population of the Plains support most of the recreational businesses--it is not all out of state visitors which drive the mountain economy.
Most of our jobs and industry is on the Plains. On everyday basis most people in Colorado recreated on the Plains. Many people rarely go to the mountains and some not at all. I rarely go. There is too much traffic and some of that which is readily accessible is filled with over consuming and pretensions of wealth which do not appeal to me. I do not have the health to go to more peaceful and less used areas.
Also, I do not want to leave out the importance of the Western Slope which is a very important area of agriculture, mineral wealth and the support needed by those nearby areas of the mountains. Also, these small towns on this side of the mountains are much prized by many for quality of life.
No I do not think you said anything bad about the Great Plains. I was not referring to you--I was talking about people in general.
My point was more to the matter that people think that the mountains are all of Colorado and it is not. The small towns of the remote Plains do also provide a good quality of life for many.
Many of us do find the plains more or just as alluring as the mountains. I view the Plains as an ocean of grass with the small towns as little islands. Some areas, which are even more remote and harsh, make me think of a pristine desert with the towns as oasises. To me, some of these towns are paradise of peace, tranquility and most importantly a simple authentic life. I do not find these same qualities in places like Vail and Aspen--they have their own special characteristics which some like and some do not.
Obviously most people live on the Great Plains. Denver is on the Plains. By far most agriculture and ranching is done on the plains. All significant manufacturing is done on the plains.
The mountains are important for providing the water catch basin that without the Plains could not prosper. The mountains have significant mineral, oil and some forest product wealth. The mountains provide the block of severe weather that gives the front range its nice weather. Those are the most important resources of the mountains.
However, many people think only of is the recreation, skiing and posh resorts of the mountains. Yes, they are important and do bring wealth into the State but they are not the only wealth from the Rocky Mountains. Some would argue that the posh resorts and the fake towns contribute much waste and destroy the natural wilderness.
We must also keep in mind that the Mountains also need the Plains for they are not self sufficient in most essentials of living and certainly medical care. In addition the population of the Plains support most of the recreational businesses--it is not all out of state visitors which drive the mountain economy.
Most of our jobs and industry is on the Plains. On everyday basis most people in Colorado recreated on the Plains. Many people rarely go to the mountains and some not at all. I rarely go. There is too much traffic and some of that which is readily accessible is filled with over consuming and pretensions of wealth which do not appeal to me. I do not have the health to go to more peaceful and less used areas.
Also, I do not want to leave out the importance of the Western Slope which is a very important area of agriculture, mineral wealth and the support needed by those nearby areas of the mountains. Also, these small towns on this side of the mountains are much prized by many for quality of life.
Livecontent
They're probably just past their peak, but have you ever been out in eastern CO/western KS to see the sunflower fields? I found that to be amazing, with the sea of yellow to the horizon against the clear blue sky. I don't remember specifically where the fields are, but you drove through them on I-70.
They're probably just past their peak, but have you ever been out in eastern CO/western KS to see the sunflower fields? I found that to be amazing, with the sea of yellow to the horizon against the clear blue sky. I don't remember specifically where the fields are, but you drove through them on I-70.
Thank You for that suggestion. I saw this many years ago--it is something to behold.
I got to tell you a funny story. When I first got here. I came across some products that dropped off a truck. I had to stop to look and they were sugar beets. Now, I never saw a sugar beet but I knew it from pictures. I got so excited that I took a few and went home and wanted to show everyone. People thought I was a little nuts to get excited about sugar beets but these small things give me pleasure. They connect me with the authentic experience of the west.
I got the same thrill when I first saw the cattle yards in Greeley. I just inhaled that great odor of the American West.
Thank You for that suggestion. I saw this many years ago--it is something to behold.
I got to tell you a funny story. When I first got here. I came across some products that dropped off a truck. I had to stop to look and they were sugar beets. Now, I never saw a sugar beet but I knew it from pictures. I got so excited that I took a few and went home and wanted to show everyone. People thought I was a little nuts to get excited about sugar beets but these small things give me pleasure. They connect me with the authentic experience of the west.
I got the same thrill when I first saw the cattle yards in Greeley. I just inhaled that great odor of the American West.
Livecontent
Isn't Weld County big on sugar beets? Are they different than the beets you buy at the store?
As for the smell in Greeley, whenever I smell it here in Denver, I know it's going to snow lol! I guess strong winds out of the north push it down here.
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