Colorado

Changing Politics in a Changing Population

Colorado's population is largely made up of recent in-migrants and the political character of Colorado has been affected as a result. Largely, the new citizens come in various population booms, drawn both by economic opportunity and the promise of a vibrant, beautiful landscape. In addition to these population booms, which primarily affect the Front Range, the urban strip along the 1–70 corridor at the base of the Rocky Mountains, home to four-fifths of the states population, has also been affected.

Outside of this highly populated area, however, lay small communities across the Eastern Plains, within the Rocky Mountains, and on the western Slope of the mountains, who tend to vote in support of traditional, conservative values. However, one common denominator for both conservatives and liberals within the state is the politics of agriculture—particularly the disposition of the water of the Colorado River. This is due to the dry climate in Colorado as well as poor water storage capabilities even when the state has an abundance of water.

The first significant population boom came during the gold rush that occurred when gold and silver were discovered in mountain towns such as Cripple Creek and Central City. As more people sought their fortunes, Denver experienced significant growth, finding economic success in banking, meatpacking, and manufacturing. As such, Denver was able to establish itself as a western city that was not doomed to become a ghost town. Denver has become a regional hub for the federal government as well as an important U.S. player in the fields of technology, education, and telecommunications.

As Denver has become a major business center, more people have moved to the state, in much the same way those looking for gold in the Rocky Mountains. The 1970s would see the first of these more modern population increases. This particular wave brought a wave of young liberals into Colorado, who stirred up state politics with their focus on environmental issues and preference for a slow-growth economy. This was quite [Page 128]a change from the high rate of conservatism during the 1960s. Although Republicans still dominated Colorado politics, Democrats were able to gain control of the General Assembly in the 1974 election. This was part of the nationwide reaction against then-President Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. The remnants of this particular group are personified by the social and political character of Boulder, Denver, and many mountain ski resorts.

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