Moffat County

2009-2010 Community Indicator Report

Take a short drive from Denver and in just four hours, you can be in Moffat County, where you can still experience the real Old West!  Moffat County is located in the rolling hills and high plains of the western slope of the Colorado Rockies. We are in the northwest corner of Colorado, bordered by Wyoming on the north and Utah on the west. Moffat County, the second largest county in Colorado with an area of 4,743 square miles, is about the same size as the state of Connecticut. The county is rich in Western and Native American heritage, including petroglyph sites and historic homesteads.  It is a very rural and sparsely populated area with less than three people per square mile, and more than 1.7 million acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The City of Craig, the county seat, is located on the Yampa River at the intersection of U.S. Hwy 40 and Colorado Hwy 13. Moffat County’s only large community, Craig has a population of 9,317 which is the majority of the 13,928 county residents (CO DOLA Estimates 2007).  Craig is a “blue-collar” town of hard working folks with a strong work ethic and old-fashioned values.  Craig is proud of our local community college, Colorado Northwestern Community College’s Craig Campus, and we are excited to announce that the construction of a new campus is underway.

Moffat County is home to Dinosaur National Monument, Brown’s Park National Wildlife Refuge, the Museum of Northwest Colorado, and world-class hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Our rural and remote location is one of our greatest assets, but it also presents special challenges to our nonprofit organizations and community.  Our unique challenges mean that many nonprofit organizations fulfill multiple functions and that we must—and do—cooperate among our agencies to help to stretch our dollars and expand our services. 

Moffat County is a wonderful and challenging place to live and do business.  We appreciate your interest in our rugged, beautiful, and remote part of the state.

Economy

Moffat County’s economy is heavily influenced by traditional extractive energy industries and the historic and current booms and busts of those industries have many impacts on our region.  We have had a very strong economy for the last several years; however, like the rest of America, we are currently seeing serious recessionary impacts. We continue to work to diversify and strengthen our economy because we want to improve the standard of living for our community. We tend to trail our neighbors and state in several important statistic. For example, our average weekly wage is $737 compared to $858 for Colorado (2009 CO LMI), and our unemployment rate tends to be ½-1% higher than our two neighboring counties and is currently rapidly rising.  Our per capita income of $37,841 trails Rio Blanco and Routt Counties. Our income is substantially less than Routty County by more than $13,000/year (Yampa Valley Partners, Community Indicators Report, 2007 data).

Energy generation, oil and natural gas extraction, and coal mining comprise a significant portion of our total economy.  Construction has also comprised an important portion of our economy and was one of the highest grossing industries in labor income in 2006.  Public sector employers are an important source of labor income in the county, with employers such as the Moffat County School District, Colorado Northwest Community College, the Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service, City of Craig, Moffat County, The Memorial Hospital, and the USDA Rural Development representing a majority of public employers.

The annual “livable wage” or self-sufficiency wage for Moffat County is $16,563 for a single adult and $45,214 for a family of four.  Only our top three industries of mining, wholesale trade and manufacturing pay above that range ($45,214).  The average annual wage in Moffat County was $37,841 in 2007 (YVP: CI).

Two important elements of our economic infrastructure in Moffat County are our Moffat County General Aviation Airport and the Yampa Valley Regional Commercial Airport.

Many areas of our county enjoy excellent cellular and internet service. However, other areas have marginal or no service.  Ongoing efforts are needed to improve our telecommunications infrastructure.

History

The Utes were the last Native American tribe inhabiting the Yampa Valley before settlers moved into the area in the 1800s. Earlier tribes left records of their existence with petroglyphs in various sites. Cattle and sheep ranchers carved out their niche, leaving a colorful Western history complete with range wars and gunfights.

The city of Craig was incorporated in 1908 when the town was just 20 years old.  W.H. Tucker first came to the area in 1887, looking for a place to establish a town site.  After a few years of growth, the community became the trading and social center for a large area.  A fire destroyed the community hall and many buildings on Yampa Avenue (the town’s main street) in 1897.  By 1904, much of Yampa Avenue was rebuilt.  In 2008, Craig celebrated its centennial with a year-long celebration.

Moffat County’s history is closely tied to the expansion and use of rail transportation and the railroad.  On the east side of Craig, visitors can see the historic Marcia Car, a private luxurious railroad coach built in Chicago in 1906 for David Moffat, a Denver banker, businessman and railroad financier.  Named after Moffat’s daughter, Marcia Moffat McClurg, the car is a reminder that Moffat planned a railroad from Denver to Salt Lake.  Although the rail line ended in Craig, it served as a vital link for the cattle and shipping industries in Northwest Colorado and continues to be a critical economic link for the community, sending low-sulfur coal to communities throughout the country.  There is currently an effort underway to save our historic railroad depot.

Health Services

Memorial Hospital is owned by the people of Moffat County and operates as a nonprofit organization. Currently a new hospital is being constructed and is scheduled to open in late 2009.  The hospital is equipped with state-of-the art cardiac monitoring and resuscitation equipment. Laboratory and radiology departments and obstetrics and surgical capabilities allow patients to complete routine procedures, same-day surgery and also receive emergency services within a wide geographic area. Relationships with metropolitan hospitals allow for rapid transfer of patients requiring more specialized care. A variety of medical and sports medicine clinics, dental and alternative healthcare offices are located in town. Rehabilitation therapy is available at local agencies and the CNCC health club, and the assisted living center includes special programs for Alzheimer's patients. The Visiting Nurse Association provides assisted living services in Hayden at the Haven. We are also serviced by the Moffat County Clinic, the Kinder Clinic and the Yampa Valley Clinic.

Additionally, a significant portion of county residents receive health care services provided by the Visiting Nurse Association.  The Northwest Colorado Community Health is a primary care clinic delivering quality and affordable health care to Moffat County residents. The clinic has been in operation by the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association for many years.

Unfortunately, despite the ongoing collaborative efforts of our health care community, Moffat County, like many rural areas, is experiencing a critical shortage of primary care physicians.  We continue to work toward efforts to address this shortage.

Sources of data:  Colorado Labor Market Information, Colorado.gov (DOLA), Yampa Valley Partners Community Indicators Report, Craig Chamber of Commerce, Moffat County Tourism Association. A special thank you to the Craig Daily Press for the use of their wonderful photos.

Nonprofit Organizations

HH 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office - Moffat County District Attorney's Office: Phone Number: 970-824-7041

AARP Inc. Craig Chapter 1418 - AARP Inc. Craig Chapter 1418: Phone Number: 970-824-5123

Adult Learning Assistance Program - CNCC - Colorado Northwestern Community College – Craig: Phone Number: 970-824-1126

Advocates Crisis Support Services - Advocates Crisis Support Services: Phone Number: 970-824-9709 

Bad Dogs Youth Wrestling: Phone Number: 970-824-2368

Boy Scouts, Western Colorado Council

Boys and Girls Club of Craig: Phone Number: 970-826-0411

Center of Craig - City of Craig: Phone Number: 970-826-2029

Child and Adult Protective Services - Moffat County Department of Social Services: Phone Number: 970-824-8282

Christmas for Kids: Phone Number: 970-824-6222

Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (Craig) - Colorado Department of Human Services: Phone Number: (970) 824-9671 

Colorado Northwestern Community College - Craig - Colorado Northwestern

Community College – Craig: Phone Number: 970-824-1101

Colorado Preschool Program, Moffat County - Moffat County School District : Phone Number: 970-826-6278

COMA (Communities Overcoming Meth Abuse)

Community Budget Center, Inc - Community Budget Center, Inc: Phone Number: 970-824-7898

Community Health (Moffat County) - Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association Inc. (VNA): Phone Number: (970) 824-8233

Compassionate Friends of Northwest Colorado: Phone Number: 970-824-8233

Comunidad Integrada/Integrated Community: Phone Number: 970-824-6424

Craig and Cedar Mountain Lions Clubs

Craig Animal Shelter - Craig Police Department: Phone Number: 970-826-2360

Craig Chamber of Commerce: Phone Number: 970-824-5689

Craig Mental Health (Colorado West Mental Health): Phone Number: 970-824-6541

Craig Moffat Economic Development Partnership: Phone: 970-826-2039

Craig Rotary Club:  Contact: Cole White, NWCOVNA Phone: 970-824-8233

Craig Kiwanis Club: Contact: Bryce Jacobson, CDP 970-875-1788

Craig Sea Sharks: Phone Number 970-824-5687

Craig Youth Baseball: Phone Num ber: 970-824-2029

Craig Youth Hockey: Phone Number: 559-285-7572

Craig Youth Football 

Ducks Unlimited, Maybell: Phone: 916-852-2000

Friends of the Craig/Moffat County Library:  Phone: 970-824-5116

Girl Scouts of Chipeta Council: Phone: 800-288-0463

Grand Futures: Phone: 970-824-5715

Horizons: Phone: 970-824-2005

Human Service Volunteers: Phone: 970-824-3326

Independent Life Center: Phone: 970-826-0833

Interfaith Food Bank: Phone: 970-824-7355

Maybell Fire and Ambulance:

Moffat County 4H

Moffat County Cancer Society: Phone: 970-824-7775

Moffat County Humane Society: Phone: 970-826-2717

Moffat County Search and Rescue:

Moffat County Tourism Association

Moffat County United Way: Phone: 970-824-6222

Needy Assistance Program: Phone: 970-826-2369

Northwest Colorado Council for Children and Families: Phone: 970-824-8282 x47

Northwest Colorado Dental: Phone: 970-824-1179

Northwest Colorado Legal Services: Phone: 800-521-6968

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association: Phone: 970-824-8233

The Memorial Hospital Foundation:  Phone: 970826-2424

Yampa Valley Partners