Grand Junction-Montrose, CO

Grand Junction is a rapidly growing town on the western desert slopes of the Rockies. Growth has pushed some suburbs north and west into the agricultural valleys toward the aptly named Fruita, with some high end individual homes and developments. That the area now touts itself as “Colorado’s Wine Country” says something about the climate and setting. Employment has been bolstered by the oil industry mainly east and construction and other services serving new arrivals. Other major contributors to the economy were health care, tourism, agriculture, livestock, and energy mining. The Grand Junction area has turned into a major mountain biking destination, with many bikers coming from the Front Range of Colorado, the Salt Lake City area, and even as far away as California to enjoy the area s abundant single-track trails.