Southern Rocky Mountain Front
# Southern Rocky Mountain Front

The Southern Rocky Mountain Front is a megaregion of the United States, otherwise known as a megalopolis, with population centers consisting mainly of the Front Range Urban Corridor and the Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Las Vegas combined statistical area, located along the eastern and southern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. The region comprises the southern portion of the Rocky Mountain Front geographic region of Canada and the United States, extending into the Southwestern United States. The Southern Rocky Mountain Front had a population of 5,467,633 according to the 2010 United States census. The region is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, and its population is projected to grow by 87% to 10,222,370 by 2050. In 2005 the GDP of the region was $229,202,000,000 making up 2% of the United States GDP.

## Extent

The Southern Rocky Mountain Front stretches from Albuquerque, New Mexico, north along Interstate Highway 25 to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and includes the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Cheyenne, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area, the Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the Santa Fe, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region comprises three primary subregions: the South Central Colorado Urban Area, the North Central Colorado Urban Area, and the Cheyenne Metropolitan Area.

The influence of the region extends well beyond its defined boundaries. The Colorado Eastern Plains, Nebraska Panhandle and Albany County, Wyoming, among other areas, are culturally and economically tied to the region, though they are not considered a part of it.

Southern Rocky Mountain Front :

| Region | Core-based statistical area | 2012 estimate | County | 2012 estimate | 2010 census | Change |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Southeast Wyoming | Cheyenne, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area | 94,483 | Laramie County | 94,483 | 91,738 | +2.99% |
| North Central Colorado | Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 310,487 | Larimer County | 310,487 | 299,630 | +3.62% |
| North Central Colorado | Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 263,691 | Weld County | 263,691 | 252,825 | +4.30% |
| North Central Colorado | Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 305,318 | Boulder County | 305,318 | 294,567 | +3.65% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | City and County of Denver | 634,265 | 600,158 | +5.68% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Arapahoe County | 595,546 | 572,003 | +4.12% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Jefferson County | 545,358 | 534,543 | +2.02% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Adams County | 459,598 | 441,603 | +4.07% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Douglas County | 298,215 | 285,465 | +4.47% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | City and County of Broomfield | 58,298 | 55,889 | +4.31% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Elbert County | 23,383 | 23,086 | +1.29% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Park County | 16,029 | 16,206 | −1.09% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Clear Creek County | 9,026 | 9,088 | −0.68% |
| North Central Colorado | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 2,645,209 | Gilpin County | 5,491 | 5,441 | +0.92% |
| South Central Colorado | Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 668,353 | El Paso County | 644,964 | 622,263 | +3.65% |
| South Central Colorado | Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 668,353 | Teller County | 23,389 | 23,350 | +0.17% |
| South Central Colorado | Cañon City, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area | 46,788 | Fremont County | 46,788 | 46,824 | −0.08% |
| South Central Colorado | Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 160,852 | Pueblo County | 160,852 | 159,063 | +1.12% |
| Northern New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 901,700 | Bernalillo County | 673,460 | 662,564 | +1.64% |
| Northern New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 901,700 | Sandoval County | 135,588 | 131,561 | +3.06% |
| Northern New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 901,700 | Torrance County | 16,021 | 16,383 | −2.21% |
| Northern New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 901,700 | Valencia County | 76,631 | 76,569 | +0.08% |
| Northern New Mexico | Santa Fe, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 146,375 | Santa Fe County | 146,375 | 144,170 | +1.53% |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 5,543,256 | 5,364,989 | +3.32% |

## Transportation

### Rail

The region was established, along with ten other megaregions throughout the United States, by America 2050 in response to President Barack Obama’s efforts to improve the country’s infrastructure. The megaregions were initially identified by America 2050 as areas that should have highspeed rail by 2050. According to America 2050’s four phase plan the Front Range would have highspeed rail on Phase 3 of the plan and the line would stretch from Denver, Colorado to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

### Interstates and highways

Interstate 25 runs through the Southern Rocky Mountain Front north from Albuquerque, NM to Cheyenne, WY. Major east and west routes running through the region are I-40 through Albuquerque, I-70 through Denver, and I-80 through Cheyenne.

* Interstate 25 runs north–south from New Mexico through Denver to Wyoming
* Interstate 70 runs east–west through the region from Utah to Maryland
* Interstate 80 runs east–west through the region from California to New Jersey
* Interstate 40 runs east–west through the region from California to North Carolina

### Airports

The region has seven airports offering passenger services with two of the airports, Albuquerque International Sunport and Denver International Airport, able to handle international flights.

**List of airports offering passenger services**

| Airport | Aircraft operations | Passengers |
| - | - | - |
| Albuquerque International Sunport | 192,520 | 5,801,641 |
| Cheyenne Regional Airport | 65,163 | |
| Colorado Springs Airport | 153,244 | |
| Denver International Airport | 635,445 | 53,156,278 |
| Pueblo Memorial Airport | 182,119 | |
| Laramie Regional Airport | 10,486 | |
| Santa Fe Municipal Airport | 78,569 | |

## Municipalities

The 25 most populous municipalities of the Southern Rocky Mountain Front :

| Rank | Municipality | State | County | CBSA | 2012 estimate | 2010 census | Change |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | City and County of Denver | Colorado | City and County of Denver | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 634,265 | 600,158 | +5.68% |
| 2 | City of Albuquerque | New Mexico | Bernalillo County | Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 555,417 | 545,852 | +1.75% |
| 3 | City of Colorado Springs | Colorado | El Paso County | Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 431,834 | 416,427 | +3.70% |
| 4 | City of Aurora | Colorado | Arapahoe County Adams County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 339,030 | 325,078 | +4.29% |
| 5 | City of Fort Collins | Colorado | Larimer County | Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 148,612 | 143,986 | +3.21% |
| 6 | City of Lakewood | Colorado | Jefferson County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 145,516 | 142,980 | +1.77% |
| 7 | City of Thornton | Colorado | Adams County Weld County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 124,140 | 118,772 | +4.52% |
| 8 | City of Westminster | Colorado | Adams County Jefferson County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 109,169 | 106,114 | +2.88% |
| 9 | City of Pueblo | Colorado | Pueblo County | Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 107,772 | 106,595 | +1.10% |
| 10 | City of Arvada | Colorado | Jefferson County Adams County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 109,745 | 106,433 | +3.11% |
| 11 | City of Centennial | Colorado | Arapahoe County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 103,743 | 100,377 | +3.35% |
| 12 | City of Boulder | Colorado | Boulder County | Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 101,808 | 97,385 | +4.54% |
| 13 | City of Greeley | Colorado | Weld County | Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 95,357 | 92,889 | +2.66% |
| 14 | City of Rio Rancho | New Mexico | Sandoval County Bernalillo County | Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 90,818 | 87,521 | +3.77% |
| 15 | City of Longmont | Colorado | Boulder County Weld County | Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 88,669 | 86,270 | +2.78% |
| 16 | City of Santa Fe | New Mexico | Santa Fe County | Santa Fe, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area | 69,204 | 67,947 | +1.85% |
| 17 | City of Loveland | Colorado | Larimer County | Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 70,223 | 66,859 | +5.03% |
| 18 | City of Cheyenne | Wyoming | Laramie County | Cheyenne, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area | 61,537 | 59,466 | +3.48% |
| 19 | City and County of Broomfield | Colorado | City and County of Broomfield | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 58,298 | 55,889 | +4.31% |
| 20 | Town of Castle Rock | Colorado | Douglas County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 51,348 | 48,231 | +6.46% |
| 21 | City of Commerce City | Colorado | Adams County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 48,421 | 45,913 | +5.46% |
| 22 | Town of Parker | Colorado | Douglas County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 47,169 | 45,297 | +4.13% |
| 23 | City of Littleton | Colorado | Arapahoe County Jefferson County Douglas County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 43,775 | 41,737 | +4.88% |
| 24 | City of Northglenn | Colorado | Adams County Weld County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 36,891 | 35,789 | +3.08% |
| 25 | City of Brighton | Colorado | Adams County Weld County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area | 34,636 | 33,352 | +3.85% |
