Grand Junction

History

In September 1881, the former Ute Indian Territory was abolished and the Utes were forced into a reservation so that the U.S. government could open the area to settlers. Clinton County, Pennsylvania-born George Addison Crawford (1827–91) soon purchased a plot of land. On July 22, 1882, he incorporated the town of Grand Junction and planted Colorado's first vineyard near Palisade, Colorado, causing the area to become known as the Colorado Wine Country. Grand Junction also has a storied past with gunfighters, miners, and early settlers of the American Southwest. Prior to its incorporation as the city of Grand Junction, the community was known as Ute, and was also briefly called West Denver. The narrow gauge Denver and Rio Grande Railroad reached Grand Junction from the southeast, from Pueblo via Gunnison in 1882, followed in 1890 by the standard gauge Rio Grande Junction Railway from the northeast, from New Castle (jointly owned by the D&RG and the Colorado Midland). These greatly contributed to the expansion and settlement of the area.

Geography

At the 2020 United States census, the city had a total area of (40.077 sq mi), including (.443 sq mi) of water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  11,790
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9,729
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  8,834
• Northern Flicker

  Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,281
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  8,257
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  8,141
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,597
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  7,498

Largest nearby schools

• Central High School
  High · GRAND JUNCTION · 1,613 students · 19.4:1 ratio
• Grand Junction High School
  High · GRAND JUNCTION · 1,522 students · 19:1 ratio
• Fruita Monument High School
  High · FRUITA · 1,304 students · 19.2:1 ratio
• Caprock Academy
  Other · GRAND JUNCTION · 899 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• Fruita 8/9 School
  Other · FRUITA · 704 students · 18.1:1 ratio
• Mount Garfield Middle School
  Middle · CLIFTON · 581 students · 16.6:1 ratio
• Redlands Middle School
  Middle · GRAND JUNCTION · 538 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• Grand Mesa Middle School
  Middle · GRAND JUNCTION · 511 students · 13.8:1 ratio