Rocky Flats
When World War II ended, people were afraid the same economic recession that occurred at the end of World War I would repeat itself. These concerns turned out to be unwarranted, and Colorado entered a postwar boom. The Cold War kept national defense expenditures high; combined with an increase in population and tourism and the steadfast power of old-school industries, Colorado’s economy continued growing.
The Cold War and nuclear scares caused the federal government to spend significant amounts of money on national defense. Colorado became one of eight states most dependent on the national defense budget. From 1952 until 1962, 20% of Colorado’s income resulted from defense spending. Programs such as the US Air Defense Command, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, and the Rocky Flats Nuclear Plant were significant bids that brought a great deal of money and employment to the state. Private companies wanted in on the booming economy; companies such as IBM, Honeywell, Sunstrand, Ball Brothers Research, and Beech Aircraft were attracted to the state. The National Bureau of Standards, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research set up shop in Colorado as well. These federal expenditures and private enterprises resulted in a complete economic transformation in Colorado.
The population growth in Colorado made a large impact on Colorado’s economy. Most of this population growth is attributed to the movement of veteran soldiers into the state, but another significant factor was the increase of babies born in Colorado. The increase population meant a large workforce for the surge in private companies and government agencies building in the state. Workers started shifting from the extractive industries to service-oriented industries, and personal income skyrocketed above the national average. The high enrollment in college institutions gave rise to a more educated population.
Colorado became a popular tourist destination because of its pleasant climate and beautiful scenery. Ski resorts were extremely successful, especially after better highways were built to accommodate the mass numbers of cars heading into the Rocky Mountains. This also led to an increase in camping excursions. The expansion of Stapleton Airport allowed international business, and the commercial jet services led to additional tourism and commerce in the state. As urban renewal plans were being implemented, Colorado became an even more attractive state to visit.
The industries that caused Colorado’s population and economic growth from the very beginning remained steadfast after the war. Although the mining of lead, gold, and silver declined, the old-line companies held fast, experiencing the occasional boom through the 1960’s. Uranium and oil gained power, and coal rebounded in 1960. Farming and ranching retained a steady income for workers. The most significant industrial boom during this time period was that of oil drilling. Once oil pipelines started being built, oil prospectors began pumping out record amounts of oil.
It is apparent that the concerns over the postwar economy were unfounded. The effects of federal defense spending are seen throughout Colorado even today, and it is the major reason for Colorado’s huge success during this era. Industry and tourism also played a huge role in the economy, and the population growth fed all these causes. The economy of this time period simply grew and grew.
Identifications:
1) The Climax Molybdenum Company owned the worlds’ largest underground mine and produced 60% of all molybdenum in the world during the late 1950’s.
2) Federico Pena’s well-executed campaign for Denver mayor in 1983 was successful. He was previously a Denver lawyer and served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1979 until he was elected mayor.
3) Patricia Schroeder was elected to US Congress in 1972, where she served until 1977. She worked to protect the rights of women and children and to reduce extravagant military spending.
4) Dr. Florence Sabin was a former medical researcher at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York. Upon her return to Colorado, she became a champion for public health and was eventually appointed Denver’s manager of health and charities.
5) The Colorado River Compact allocated Colorado a little more than half the upper basin’s portion of the Colorado River, but also meant dams, reservoirs, and tunnels had to be built in order to utilize the resource. States in the lower basin regions resisted federal spending on structures that would remove water from their states; thus, Colorado had to fight to use these water rights.
6) The Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant processed plutonium into 7 lb. spheres of atomic energy that served as triggers for hydrogen bombs.
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