Meeker

Meeker has a small population of just over 2,500 and is located in the northwest quadrant of Colorado. Although near the mountains, Meeker is flat for the most part but you can see hills all around. Some areas are filled with Evergreen trees and green all year long, whereas other areas of Meeker have a lot of boulders and sagebrush along with dirt and tumbleweeds, giving it an almost old west feel. Some of the hills you drive through going into the town remind me of the Bookcliffs in Grand Junction, but on a much smaller scale.

Some of the homes just outside of Meeker are large and custom built and many were built out of logs to better blend into the scenery. As you enter town, there are some mobile homes and small houses. Most of the businesses in Meeker lie along State Hwy. 789, and a good number of the residents work in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction followed by construction. The average household income in Meeker is $48,896 and you can buy an average, single family detached home here for around $193,615.

For anyone who likes small town living, this would be a nice place to call home. Although it's remote, there are a lot of outdoor activities to keep one busy. Hunting is popular as is mountain biking, wildlife viewing (including wild horses), snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and ice fishing. One drawback to winter sports here is the amount of avalanches, so it's imperative to let people know where and when you're going somewhere, especially if it's in the nearby mountains.

The town's population is primarily white and tends to vote conservative. The crime rate is very low, although when there is crime it tends to be non-violent, things such as burglary and theft, although the occasional barroom brawl does happen. Meeker also has a traditionally low unemployment rate, especially when compared to the rest of the state.

Geographically speaking, Meeker has a higher rate of earthquakes when compared to the rest of Colorado, although they still aren't of a significant magnitude.

The writer Verlyn Klinkenborg was born in Meeker in 1952 and has written many non-fiction novels such as The Rural Life and The Last Fine Time.

Meeker is the county seat of Rio Blanco County in northwest Colorado well north of Grand Junction and west of Steamboat Springs. The town has about 2500 people and sits in the pretty green fields following along the White River. The plateau formation known as “China Wall” rises behind town, the flat tops of the surrounding region are distinct geographic formations typical in NW Colorado.

The annual “Range Call Celebration!” is one of the oldest running rodeos in Colorado Events taking place the first week of July. The event also includes a concert series and downtown happenings. The White River Valley attracts elk & mule deer hunters as well as fishermen. September is when the annual Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials take place. This is a cowboy town with a dusty old west feeling, Meeker feels a lot like remote Wyoming and is a far cry from the busy bustle of Colorado's Front Range cities. The White River National Forest surrounds town and has over 300 miles of hiking and horse trails. There are also many many miles of four-wheel trails for day trips into the country or camping trips.

The town is named for Nathan Meeker a US Indian Agent that was killed in the 1879 Meeker Massacre by the White River Utes. This started the Ute War and in 1880 Congress passed legislation pushing the Ute population to reservations in Utah. There is indian lore and stories surrounding the area giving Meeker its character.

Meeker Airport sits east of town and provides locals and outdoor enthusiasts a way to fly in and out of the remote area. In fact, President Roosevelt hunted mountain lion there and hunters continue to flood in providing a lot of tourism in and around Meeker.

There are some amazing ranches and homes in the surrounding countryside, the average income for households in the unincorporated areas was reported at $80,000. Whereas, in town the median income was recently reported at $35,000. There is a real mix of poverty and elaborate wealth in the area but Meeker is not flashy nor trashy.