Rural Colorado has had enough. Eleven counties, including neighboring Weld County, are asking voters in November to decide if the counties should pursue statehood.
According to The 51st State Initiative’s website, “We just want to be left alone to live our lives without heavy-handed restrictions from the state capitol.”
The initiative is considering three different proposals: each county being represented in the State Senate, annexation into Wyoming, or statehood. The counties voting to pursue statehood include Moffat in the northwest corner of Colorado, as well as Weld, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Washington, Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, and Cheyenne in the northeast corner.
According to Weld County Commissioners, this movement is due to disagreement with Denver and the Democrat-controlled state government over oil and gas regulations, gun legislation, and water legislation. “Rural Colorado has been talking to legislators,” Weld County Commissioner Douglas Rademacher said in an editorial published Sept. 10. “We have been asking for seat at the table on issues that directly impact our livelihoods and homes, and we have been ignored.”
Fossil Ridge High School boundaries include parts of Windsor. However, that area of Windsor is part of Larimer County, so most FRHS students will not be affected if Weld County does pursue statehood.
Do you think North Colorado should become its own state? Tell us in the comments below!
Joey Ginsborg • Sep 19, 2013 at 11:23 am
No, I don’t think it should become it’s own state. However the restrictions placed on those eleven counties should be lifted or at least decreased.
Ben Woolf • Sep 12, 2013 at 1:20 pm
No, because 51 states would require the US flag to have 51 stars and that would be weird. Also, 51 states does not appease the mind as well as 50 does