Area Profile

Delta County – A Profile

ENVIRONMENT
*Western Central Colorado – 1,157 sq. miles; 4,500 – 13,000 ft. elevation.
*Gunnison River Valley, rimmed by Grand Mesa, San Juan, San Miguel mountain ranges and the Uncompahgre Plateau – National Forests nearby.
*Mild climate (105 clear days, average) – 8” average annual rainfall, dry humidity moderates both warm summer days and cold winter nights.
*Served by Grand Junction Airport and Railroad Depot (45 miles away). Montrose County Airport (20 miles).
Delta and Paonia County Airports for private aircraft, and Greyhound Bus Line.

ECONOMIC BASE
Agriculture (fruits, livestock, grazing), coal mining, government services, construction, small manufacturing and utilities.


POPULATION
(based on information from Delta County GIS records.)
Approximately 29,283 concentrated in five (5) communities.


RECREATION
Natural and prepared areas are easily accessible for outdoor sports of all kinds.


MEDICAL FACILITIES
Delta County Memorial Hospital 24-hour ambulance service, many local physicians and frequent visiting consulting physicians from Montrose, Grand Junction and Denver.


DELTA COUNTY JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 50
Since consolidation in 1950, the school district has enjoyed and fostered strong cooperative relationships among administration, faculty (represented by the County Council), Board and Community. In addition to a wide variety of liberal arts, fine arts extracurricular and athletic programs, Delta County School District has effective programs in: agriculture, business vocations, technology, Special Education, music and band, and sequential learning at the elementary level in math and reading. These programs are supported by continual dedicated curriculum research and a dedicated staff of approximately 300 classroom and special education instructors.


School Enrollment

Approximately 5300 Students - see the community descriptions below for details on school enrollments.

The Delta-Montrose Area Vocational-Technical Center is also part of the Delta County Schools serving high school and adult learners.


MAJOR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR SCHOOLS


Delta - The County Seat and economic center of the County – founded in 1882 where railroad and highways as well as rivers branch. 146 acres of prepared recreation area, state-of-the-art recreational center (pool, sauna, therapy pool, exercise room, gym, handball court, etc.) 26,884-volume library, 52 bed hospital. Nearest major communities: Denver – 300 miles; Grand Junction - 40 miles; Montrose – 20 miles. Population for Delta and surrounding area is appx. 12,000.
Public Schools (Fall 2002) Delta – 1 preschool (176), 2 elementary (1,091 students), 1 middle schools (540 students), 1 high school (607 students), VISION (316 students), Delta Academy of Applied Learning (22 students), Opportunity School (59 students).


Cedaredge – Southern gateway to Grand Mesa—largest flattop mountain in the world—at 6,200 ft. elevation, founded in 1894. Economic and cultural center for Surface Creek Valley—population of appx. 8,100 within the city limits and in outlying farms and ranches. Public library.
Public Schools  – 1 elementary (385 students), 1 middle (213 students), 1 high school (281 students), VISION (148 Students).


Hotchkiss – A small town and surrounding area has a population of appx. 3,400 with a hub of roads that spoke out to all local communities, scenic attractions and the world beyond. Founded in 1882. Orchards and livestock are their main economics basis. Public Schools  – 1 K–8 school (412 students), 1 high school (261 students), Montessori (76 students)


Paonia – Fruit, coal and climate have made Paonia the largest town in the North Fork Valley of the Gunnison River, gateway to McClure and Kebler Passes and the West Elk Mountains. Founded in 1882, Paonia and surrounding area has a population of appx. 3,700 at an altitude 5,675 ft. Main sources of income are from fruit orchards, livestock, coal and timber. Public Schools  – 1 elementary (259 students), 1 jr-sr high school (256 students), VISION (111 students); Lamborn VISION (31 students).


Crawford – 10 miles south of Hotchkiss, 30 miles from Delta and 48 miles across Black Mesa from Gunnison. Easy access to the Gunnison National Forest and Crawford reservoir and the Black Canyon National Monument. Seen from the rim of the Smith Fork Canyon, the town looks more like a New England village with its white steeple rising and shade trees spilling down the mountain. Population for the town and surrounding area is appx. 1,200. Public Schools – K-8 school (142 students) – high school students are transported to Hotchkiss.