It's been both a blessing and a nightmare. Some environmentalists lament that the state's most beautiful spots are being overrun with condos and convenience stores. People come to these places and spend money because of the rural nature of the areas. Better than the alternative' Others bristle at what they see as unfounded griping, a lack of appreciation for Colorado's exceptional prosperity. They're missing how positive it is, how it brings new jobs, raises our housing values, lets companies expand, helps entrepreneurs start businesses.
Growth is good.
And believe me, it's a lot better than the alternative. Statewide, the influx of just over 1 million new residents over the past decade has snagged Colorado a much-coveted seventh seat in the House of Representatives. State lawmakers will use the data to redraw congressional and state legislative districts over the coming year. In some municipalities, growth percentages were astronomical, even if population numbers were not. Tiny Superior near Boulder, for example, grew by 3,434 percent, jumping from 255 residents in 1990 to 9,011 in 2000.