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In January, we launched County Government 101 to share ways county governments at the local and national level provide services for residents. We highlighted infrastructure, public health, the local economy, public safety and so much more. If you missed any issues, they can be found on our County Roots website. As we wrap up the series, we thought it would be interesting to look at some other unique facts about Weld County.
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 Click the image above for a larger view; Those with screen readers, scroll down for more information.
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In 1821, Major Stephen H. Long made an expedition to the area now known as Weld County and reported that the area would never be fit for human habitation. Today, Weld County is one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S. and is the state's leader in both agricultural and energy production.
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In 1861, Weld County included all parts of Colorado east of Larimer County and north of Adams County. Over the years, additional counties were formed from Weld County. The most recent to come partially from Weld County is Broomfield County in 2001.
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Benjamin Eaton was a founding officer of the Greeley Colony (1869) and was instrumental in establishing modern irrigation farming in northern Colorado. He is the only Colorado County Commissioner to be elected to the position of governor, serving from 1885-1887.
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In 1975, the residents established a Home Rule Charter and increased the number of commissioners from three to five. To date, only two Colorado counties are home rule.
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Weld County is home to the first Triceratops skull found in Colorado. The skull, found in Briggsdale in 1982, was donated to the county in 1986. Pops the Triceratops sits on display in the lobby of the Weld County Administration Building.
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The Weld County Regional Communications Center handles dispatch services for 43 law, fire and EMS agencies. It's only one of two in Colorado to have a fully functioning backup center for continuity of service should there be an outage at the main center.
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In 2016, Weld County worked to pass HB 16-1155, which granted counties the authority to create and maintain a controlled-access county highway. This allowed the county to build Weld County Road 49.
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In 2023, the Weld County Fair's Junior Livestock Sale brought in just over $1.7 million, a record-breaking total (up $200,000 from the 2022 record-breaking total). |
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By Jennifer Finch, Weld County Public Information Officer |
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Question: I recently moved to Weld County, and I'm trying to prepare for my first winter here. What should I expect regarding snow removal? Is that handled by the county or my municipality?
Excellent question. Weld County will work to make county roads passable during snowstorms. While the roads will be passable, they will not be completely clear, so it's advised drivers check conditions before heading out on roads, drive for conditions and ensure their vehicle is prepped for winter driving. Arterial roads — roads that connect to high-traffic areas — are given first priority.
Roads within municipalities are the responsibility of that municipality, and state highways are the responsibility of the Colorado Department of Transportation.
For more on the county's snow and ice removal procedures, visit www.weld.gov/Go/snowfaq. It's also a good time to learn some simple tips to prep the car for winter weather.
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Checking homes for the presence of lead is just one responsibility of Weld County Environmental Specialists within the Weld County Department of Public Health. However, this task is aided by a new high tech tool, which helps Weld County families stay safe. Learn more in the next issue of County Roots.
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Welcome to County Roots, the official newsletter of Weld County Government. For those of us who work in county government, we think what we do is pretty interesting. So the goal of this newsletter is to highlight some of the partnerships, technology and efficiencies we are using to make government stronger and more effective for its residents.
Our goal is to establish regular communication with residents, spur interest in county projects, highlight county accomplishments and provide meaningful information to the public. In fact, our goal is to live up to the name “County Roots.” Want to know more about the meaning behind the name? Please visit our webpage where you can also find previous editions of this newsletter.
If you have a topic idea or general feedback about this new venture, please let us know at jfinch@weldgov.com.
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