The North American Manufacturing Core

The North American Manufacturing Core and Colorado have much more in common than when compared to Megalopolis...

First of all, they do share some similarities in the foundations of the two regions; both were driven by mining and the search for natural resources. Coal, also, is an important resource in both areas.

The development, too, of the area was largely aided by railroads in both Colorado and the North American Manufacturing Core.

Both of these regions, too, underwent changes in their economies due to manufacturing- especially during the WWII era. Although Colorado's manufacturing aspect was developed later on, manufacturing plays an important role in both regions.

While Colorado grows in the servicing manufacturing and technological manufacturing area, the North American Manufacturing Core has struggled between many different industries. Both struggle against foreign competition to revitalize manufacturing in their areas to keep jobs available.

 

Sources:

http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-colorado2.htm

Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada

 

Megalopolis

Boulder is not one of the main cities in Colorado. It is, however, in close proximity to Denver- the capital of Colorado.

There is not much in common Boulder (or even Colorado for that matter) have in common with the Megalopolis region. For one, the site and situation characteristics are extremely different.

Colorado's only nearby water is from rivers and lakes. Megalopolis, on the other hand, is practically strategically bordering the ocean. Not to mention the fact that the ocean plays such an important part in how Megalopolis developed, and it is no where near Colorado...

Megalopolis:

Colorado:

Absolutely crucial to Megalopolis was the ocean ports and canals allowing access to the major cities. Much of Colorado, Boulder included, was difficult to get to. Only when settlers were motivated by the discovery of precious metals (gold and silver) did people make their way into the region.

Another contrast is that Megalopolis averages 901 people per square mile, where Colorado is only 41.5. In the year 2000, Megalopolis had 17% of the United States population living in 1.5% of the United States area. This region alone holds more than ten of the country's main cities.

Quite a huge contrast to Colorado... Especially Boulder...

Denver, Colorado's largest city, doesn't even compare. It's population is 554,636. The entire state of Colorado is only 4,301,261. New York City alone had a population of 8,008,278.

There are definitely a few key differences between these two regions...

However, an important similarity is the increase of technology, how the growing markets for it are affecting these two very different regions. Boulder, initially a major mining town, is slowly becoming an important region for the development of electronics and computers. Places such as New York, with such high demand for new technology, become more interconnected with places like Colorado...

Sources:

http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-colorado2.htm

Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada

Foundations of Human Activity

Back when the New World was (re)discovered, the area that is now Boulder, Colorado was mainly inhabited by the Southern Arapaho Indians. Some other groups nearby included: the Utes, Cheyennes, Comanches, and Sioux Indians.

Boulder, Colorado was put on the grid of the non-natives by the discovery of gold in Boulder Canyon. The city was officially founded in 1859 by the Boulder City Town Company. Initially the city revolved around miners and their needs, but when railroad access was made available in 1873, the population quickly expanded.

The city of Boulder was slowly able to develop and grow, building a city hall, schoolhouses, and attracting more settlers.

There was another population boom for Boulder in the 1920's, then again following WWII; the population almost doubled in the late 1940's compared to what it had been ten years previously.

In the 1950's, an effort was made to cut back on the environmental impact people were having, and that effort still exists today.

Presently, 4,301,261 people call Boulder home.

A large portion of the population in Colorado is white: 83%. There is also a 17% Hispanic population and a 4% black population.


Most people in Colorado are Protestant (mainly Baptists or Methodists), but there is also a substantial Roman Catholic group.

Colorado is 84% urban and 16% rural, and has a population density of 41 people per square mile. The largest cities include:

• Denver
• Colorado Springs
• Aurora
• Lakewood
• Fort Collins
• Arvada

Boulder seems to be a relatively young community, probably due to the University of Colorado. The average age there is 29, with 31% of the population being 18-24 and 36% of the population being 25-44.

Border is closest to Denver.

One of my favorite things to do in Boulder is to walk through the Pearl Street Mall. This street is full of different shops (hence the word mall), but it also usually has a whole slew of incredibly talented and diverse street performers on the weekends.

At times, huge crowds gather to watch these talented people perform. Sometimes the talent is playing music, ultra flexibility, or dextrous tasks that seem impossible...

Sources:

http://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/media/media-kit/facts/

http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3225&Itemid=1736

http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-colorado3.htm

Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

Amazingly, Colorado is the highest state in the country... And I don't mean that in terms of drugs... It's average elevation levels statewide is the highest in the US (which is a crazy 6,800 ft above sea level!!) Boulder is below state average- 5,430 ft.

Since Colorado gets to be part of the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, and the Colorado Plateau, there is a diverse topography.

Since the Great Plains in Colorado mostly lead up to the foothills of the Rockies, the elevation can be anywhere from 3,400 to 6,000ft. Boulder is a lucky city that gets to be right in between the Rockies and the Great Plains....

For the Rockies, the highest Mountain is Mount Elbert at 14,433ft above sea level.

The best known is Pikes Peak at 14,110. This is a popular hiking choice that I hope to conquer one day...

Last but not least is the Colorado Plateau. The range of this region is 5,000 to 11,000ft, and takes up about 20% of the state. This can be yet another gorgeous part of the Colorado state...

Colorado definitely has all four seasons, unlike our experience here in California. They even get this foreign substance falling from the sky called snow (about 83.3 inches per year) that many people from Southern California have not seen...

However, in Boulder, they do also have summers. The average temperature in summer (only June thru August) is  around 83F. Fall (September thru October) is 72F, winter (November thru February) is 45F, and Spring (March thru May) is 63F. Talk about a strong contrast to the two seasons we have in California: Summer and a mild summer.



The wide range in altitude and climate across Colorado leads to a wide range of flora and fauna. One of my favorite parts of Colorado as a kid were the fields of wild flowers- especially the Colorado Columbine flower.

Like I said, I love the wildflowers....

Grasslands are common in certain parts of Colorado as well, especially in- you guessed it- the Great Plains region. There is a decent amount of forest in Colorado, too. Conifer trees and quaking aspen trees make up the majority.


And I've got to add one more breathtaking view with wildflowers...

 

More Sources:

http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-colorado1.htm

http://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/media/media-kit/facts/

Regions and Themes

The majority of the state of Colorado is located in the Empty Interior region of the United States.

Colorado itself is divided up into several different physiographic regions:

• The Colorado Plateau
• The Wyoming Basin
• The Great Plains
• Raton Basin
• Colorado Piedmont
• High Plains
• The Southern Rocky Mountains
• The Middle Rocky Mountains  

Boulder, Colorado is located on the edge, in between the Southern Rocky Mountains Section and the Great Plains. This gives Boulder a great view of the mountains, specifically those unforgettable flat irons.

Colorado's population has grown, the population greatly increasing since WWII. One of the reasons people settled in Colorado initially was the discovery of silver and gold in the region. Today, Colorado is 84% urban and 16% rural. The density of the population is well below the average of the US; it is 41 people per square mile.

The commonly manufactured items in Colorado are chemicals, electronics, fabricated metal products, and processed foods/drinks. It wasn't until the demand of WWII that Colorado caught up with some of the rest of the country in terms of industrialization.

In Colorado, according to the 2010 data for the US Census Bureau, there has only been a 16.9% change in the population, and 80.1% of people have lived in the same residence for at least a year.

Agriculture is important. Mostly beef cattle, corn, greenhouse/nursery products, hay, hogs, milk, potatoes, sheep, wheat, and wool is produced. Mining is also important in Colorado, producing: coal, natural gas, and petroleum. They also have a natural resource of water that is significant.

Politically, Colorado has gone back and forth from being democratic and republican in the last few decades. In the 2004 presidential election, Colorado's electoral votes went to the republican candidate. In the 2008 presidential election, Colorado's electoral votes went to the democratic candidate. Boulder, however, has been strongly democratic and liberal- one of the most in the state. It might have something to do with the presence of the University of Boulder...

Colorado still retains some of the "Old West" culture, with horseback riding and some modern cowboys still riding across the plains.

Personally, I think that it's a little insulting for Colorado to be grouped into the "Empty Interior Region." It just makes it sound so boring, when really, there is a unique world of incredible views of the beauty of nature.

Sources:

http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/co_geography.htm

http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-colorado.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108189.html