Misplaced Pages

#988011

42-504: PCMS is located northeast of Trinidad, Colorado , and is part of Las Animas County, Colorado . It borders on Comanche National Grassland to its north. The Purgatoire River , locally known as the Picketwire, is its eastern boundary. Elevations on Site range from 4,300 to 5,800 feet (1,311 to 1,768 m) The Site has a semi-arid, steppe climate. Annual precipitation is 12 to 16 inches (305–406 mm). The terrain of PCMS

84-463: A counterculture artists' community, was formed in 1965 on land about 4 mi (6.4 km) north of Trinidad. Founded by art students and filmmakers from the University of Kansas and University of Colorado at Boulder , Drop City became known as the first rural "hippie commune ", and received attention from Life and Time magazines, as well as from reporters around the world. Drop City

126-588: A few months before Colorado became a state. In 1878 the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reached Trinidad, making it easier for goods to be shipped from distant locations. In the 1880s Trinidad became home to a number of well-known people, including Bat Masterson , who briefly served as the town's marshal in 1882. By 1900 Trinidad's population had grown to 7,500 and it had two English-language newspapers and one in Spanish. In 1885, Holy Trinity Catholic Church

168-609: A fire destroyed two blocks of the town's business section, causing more than $ 75,000 in damages. In late September, the Trinidad area and the region along the Purgatoire River endured an unusually heavy rainstorm, leading to severe flooding; the flood destroyed the Santa Fe railroad station, wiped out every bridge in town, and caused several hundred thousand dollars' worth of property damage. As Trinidad continued to grow,

210-627: A local topography similar to parts of the Soviet Union, in addition to proximity to European NATO nations caused CFB Goose Bay to grow and become the primary low-level tactical training area for several NATO air forces during the 1980s. During the 1980s–1990s, CFB Goose Bay hosted permanent detachments from the Royal Air Force , Luftwaffe , Royal Netherlands Air Force , and Aeronautica Militare , in addition to temporary deployments from several other NATO countries. Goose Bay Weapons Range

252-598: A number of new construction projects began in the downtown area, including a new library, a new city hall, an opera house, and a new hotel. Trinidad became the a focal point of the 1913-1914 United Mine Workers of America strike against the Rockefeller -owned Colorado Fuel & Iron company, which has come to be known as the Colorado Coalfield War . The Colorado and Southern Railway stop that connected Trinidad with Denver and Walsenburg made

294-496: A single building in town which the owner referred to as the "World's First Pot Mini Mall", others call it the 'weed mall'. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km ), all of it land. Trinidad is situated in the Purgatoire River valley in far southern Colorado at an elevation of 6,025 ft (1,836 m). The city lies 13 mi north of

336-475: A “unique” feature of PCMS is the emphasis on protecting the environment of the lands under its ownership. The steppe grassland is fragile; the ruts of wagons traveling the Santa Fe Trail are still visible in many places more than 130 years since the last wagon traveled the trail. In 1988, The National Wildlife Federation recognized PCMS for its “outstanding contribution to the wise use and management of

378-406: Is flat to rolling and dotted with small, rocky hills and mesas. The Purgatoire River flows in a 300–400 feet deep canyon and its tributaries have cut steep arroyos into the terrain. Vegetation is mostly shortgrass prairie mixed with pinyon and juniper trees. Prior to the creation of PCMS this area was lightly populated and devoted almost entirely to ranching and livestock grazing. A branch of

420-404: Is the home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Las Animas County , Colorado , United States . The population was 8,329 as of the 2020 census . Trinidad lies 21 mi (34 km) north of Raton, New Mexico , and 195 mi (314 km) south of Denver . It is on the historic Santa Fe Trail . The city is home to Trinidad State College ,

462-502: Is the only tactical bombing range in eastern Canada. The thirteen million hectare (130,000 square km) range includes ultra-low-level flying training to 30.5 m (100 feet) above ground level, supersonic flight areas, and an inert conventional and precision guided munitions bombing range. In the UK, low flying means fixed-wing aircraft at less than 2000 feet from the ground or light propeller driven aircraft and helicopters below 500 feet from

SECTION 10

#1732779780989

504-467: The New Mexico border. On the northern end of the town is Simpson's Rest , a prominent bluff named for early resident George Simpson, who is buried atop it. North Avenue leads to a rut-prone county road to the top of Simpson's Rest for overviews of the city. The vista from Simpson's Rest includes Fishers Peak , a prominent mountain of 9,600 ft (2,900 m) in elevation, southeast of the city. To

546-649: The Santa Fe Trail runs near PCMS and ancient Indian rock art and petroglyphs are common in the rocky canyons. Pronghorn , Elk , and Mule Deer are the principal large mammals found in the area. The Army purchased the land making up PCMS in 1983. Eminent domain was used to acquire almost half the area as many land owners were unwilling sellers. The purpose of PCMS is “to provide critical maneuver lands” for soldiers from Fort Carson and other military bases. PCMS and Fort Carson are second only to Fort Irwin, California in area devoted to maneuver training. In

588-646: The Vietnam War and the growing sophistication of Soviet anti-aircraft radar and surface-to-air missile technology being deployed in Europe, NATO allies began looking at new doctrines in the 1970s–1980s which mandated low-level flight to evade detection. CFB Goose Bay's location in Labrador , with a population of around 30,000 and area of 294,000 km (114,000 sq mi), made it an ideal location for low-level flight training. Labrador's sparse settlement and

630-470: The 1980s companies have been drilling new gas wells to extract coalbed methane from the remaining coal seams. Trinidad's location at the foot of Raton Pass , along the Santa Fe Trail between St. Joseph, Missouri , and Santa Fe, New Mexico , has always made it a favored route for travelers, first by foot, then horse and ox-drawn wagon, then railroad. Interstate 25 is the most highly traveled route between Colorado and New Mexico and bisects Trinidad. In

672-528: The Army could not be trusted as it had broken promises it had made in the past, including promises that PCMS would never be expanded, PCMS would benefit the economy, the Army would contribute to local school districts, and live fire would never be used. (Live fire during exercises began in 2004 on the PCMS.) The Piñon Canyon opposition groups have also criticized environmental groups for their alleged cooperation with

714-669: The Army. The Army’s expansion plans called for an 80,000-acre (320 km) conservation zone to be created along the Purgatoire River to be managed by the Nature Conservancy. The Army plan stated that one purpose of the creation of the conservation zone would be to “garner support from eco-groups” for the PCMS expansion. The Nature Conservancy denied that it was cooperating with the Army. The opposition groups succeeded in obtaining support from Colorado politicians and communities and annual congressional bans on funding

756-556: The Bowen Town coal mine, six miles north of Trinidad, experienced a horrific gas explosion, killing 13 miners. It was one of the worst mining disasters so far in the state; conditions in the mine provided the impetus for several labor strikes. At one point in late 1903, an estimated 3,000 miners, members of the United Mine Workers of America, went on strike. In 1904 Trinidad experienced several disasters. In mid-January

798-706: The Nation’s natural resources." In 1991, the Army transferred 16,000 acres (65 km) of land in the Purgatoire River Canyon to the Comanche National Grassland for preservation and recreation. In 2002, the army concluded a cooperative agreement with The Nature Conservancy to establish Conservation easements around the Site. Cattle grazing has ceased since the Army purchase of the land and elk and pronghorn herds have increased,

840-645: The PCMS expansion from 2007 through 2010. However, in November 2010, the Air Force announced a plan to create a low-altitude training range that would include most of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. To the opponents of the PCMS expansion, this appeared to be an attack from a "different angle" with the Air Force joining the Army in attempting “to militarize the land and air of Southern Colorado.” The Army proposed in December 2010 that local governments in

882-494: The census of 2000, 9,078 people, 3,701 households, and 2,335 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,439.4 inhabitants per square mile (555.8/km ). The 4,126 housing units averaged 654.2 units per square mile (252.6 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 79.97% White, 0.54% African American, 3.02% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 12.12% from other races, and 3.78% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 48.07% of

SECTION 20

#1732779780989

924-505: The civilian population. In smaller countries, such as in Europe, there can be tension between the military and the local population—mainly because of aircraft noise . Low-level flying involves air safety hazards such as: The noise can also disturb animals and hence cause a hazard to horse-riders etc. NATO tactical ultra-low-level flight training in Canada is located at CFB Goose Bay in Labrador . In response to lessons learned from

966-913: The early 20th century, Trinidad was the closest town to what many consider the beginning of the labor movement. Later that century the town saw swings of boom and bust as the oil industry heated and cooled. The Trinidad Triggers are a professional baseball team in the independent Pecos League which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball . They play their home games at Trinidad Central Park. Low flying military training Low flying military training involves military aircraft flying at low altitude to prepare their aircrew , and other military personnel (e.g. air defence troops), for nap-of-the-earth flying in wartime. The aircraft types can include advanced trainers , ground-attack aircraft , transports and helicopters . Some countries have sufficiently large military reservations for such training to take place without affecting

1008-527: The expanded PCMS. Subsequent studies reaffirmed the need to expand PCMS by acquiring additional land. A 2005 report said that the acquisition would “benefit from an extremely pro-military climate in Southeast Colorado that is more amenable to accepting expansion as part of the Global War on terrorism than some other areas of the country.” That assertion proved to be less than prophetic. As

1050-426: The ground. Low flying is permitted across the majority of the UK except for large urban areas, civil airports and some industrial and medical sites. Fixed-wing aircraft can fly down to 250 ft above ground level at a speed of up to 450 kt. Lower height limits apply for helicopters and in certain parts of mid Wales, Northern England and Northern Scotland, designated Tactical Training Areas . See, for example,

1092-485: The latter to more than 1,300. A civilian worker at PCMS said the “land condition is neither better nor worse, just different…we’ve traded cattle trails for tank trails and Humvee trails.” In 2003, the Army identified a need to expand PCMS by acquiring 6.9 million acres (27,923 km) of land owned by private citizens and the Comanche National Grassland in southeastern Colorado. The purpose of

1134-769: The name of PCMS to "Fort Carson South," a move criticized by expansion opponents. On 25 November 2013, the U.S. Army announced that its plan to expand the Piñon Canyon Maneuver site had been cancelled. A Piñon Canyon trail ride illustrating the character of the country proposed for inclusion in the expanded PCMS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp0sE3aBuoE Piñon Canyon Expansion Presentation, part one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKlyHtVwg28 Piñon Canyon Expansion Presentation, part two https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auWhj4y7V5o 37°28′N 104°03′W  /  37.46°N 104.05°W  / 37.46; -104.05 Trinidad, Colorado Trinidad

1176-407: The news of proposed expansion of PCMS became known to the public, two citizen’s organizations were founded to oppose the expansion: The Pinyon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition and Not 1 More Acre. They characterized the proposed expansion as “one colossal land grab.” The impetus for these organizations came from ranchers and local citizens in the region who wished to preserve private property and

1218-530: The northwest are the prominent Spanish Peaks . Trinidad experiences a semiarid climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Summer days are hot, but due to Trinidad's high elevation summer nights are cool, and temperatures drop sharply after sunset. Winters are cold, but milder than in many mountain towns in Colorado. In the winter, daytime highs are usually above freezing, but temperatures below 0 °F or −17.8 °C are possible, especially at night. As of

1260-410: The oldest community college in Colorado. Trinidad was first explored by Spanish and Mexican traders, who liked its proximity to the Santa Fe Trail . It was founded in 1862 soon after coal was discovered in the region. This led to an influx of immigrants eager to capitalize on this natural resource. By the late 1860s, the town had about 1,200 residents. Trinidad was officially incorporated in 1876, just

1302-414: The population. Of the 3,701 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were not families; 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size

Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-520: The procedures he offered. In 1995, Claudine Griggs published Passage through Trinidad: Journal of a Surgical Sex Change about her experience with Biber. Biber was featured in an episode of South Park , in which elementary school teacher Mr. Garrison undergoes a sex-change operation. Biber's surgical practice was taken over in 2003 by Marci Bowers . Bowers has since moved the practice to Burlingame, California. The 2008 documentary Trinidad focuses on Bowers and two of her patients. Drop City ,

1386-540: The proposed expansion was to permit large-scale military training operations to be conducted. The proposed expansion would make PCMS three times larger than any other military base in the United States—larger in area than the states of Maryland and Massachusetts . The Army estimated that 17,000 residents of the area would have their lands purchased and be displaced. Comanche National Grassland, with more than 400,000 acres (1,600 km), would be incorporated into

1428-516: The region sign a "community covenant" to build better relations and to ensure that local communities receive more economic benefits as a result of the presence of PCMS. The opposition organizations opposed signing the "covenant," proposing instead that the first step in improving relations was for the Army to cancel plans to expand PCMS and to cease citing the service of soldiers "as an instrument of economic development." In September 2011, Fort Carson officials confirmed discussions over whether to change

1470-414: The town needed a surgeon. In 1969 a local social worker asked him to perform the surgery for her, which he learned by consulting diagrams and a New York surgeon. Biber attained a reputation as a good surgeon at a time when very few doctors were performing sex-change operations. At his peak he averaged four sex-change operations a day, and the term "taking a trip to Trinidad" became a euphemism for some seeking

1512-586: The town strategically important for both the strikers and Colorado National Guard . On April 20, 1914, just 18 miles north of town, the events of the Ludlow Massacre occurred. Trinidad was dubbed the "Sex Change Capital of the World", because a local doctor had an international reputation for performing sex reassignment surgery . In the 1960s, Stanley Biber , a veteran surgeon returning from Korea, decided to move to Trinidad because he had heard that

1554-501: The traditional ranching economy. Over time, and confronting organized opposition, the Army’s plans for expanding PCMS became more modest. In 2007, the Army proposed to purchase only 418,000 acres (1,690 km) and only from “willing sellers” rather than resorting to eminent domain. The opposition organizations claimed this proposal was only the first phase of a long range plan to take over most of southeastern Colorado. They also claimed that

1596-471: The words of the Army, “PCMS can accommodate a full range of maneuver training, including brigade-level, force-on-force maneuvers.” Facilities on the site include a cantonment area, a railhead, helipads, and an airstrip. PCMS “hosts two major military exercises a year. In each exercise roughly 5,000 troops, 300 heavy tracked vehicles and 400 wheeled vehicles take to the expansive wilderness in month-long, intensive war maneuver exercises." The Army has stated that

1638-580: Was $ 33,992. Males had a median income of $ 27,817 versus $ 19,064 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,271. About 16.2% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 20% of those age 65 or over. For many years Trinidad housed the miners who worked in the coal mines of the Raton Basin south and west of the town. Major operators included Colorado Fuel and Iron and Victor-American Fuel Company . The mines are now closed, but since

1680-407: Was 2.98. In the city, the population was distributed as 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 36,681, and for a family

1722-594: Was abandoned by the early 1970s, but influenced subsequent alternative-living projects across the country. In 2015, Trinidad started to experience a new boom due to the marijuana industry. The town raised $ 4.4 million in tax revenue from $ 44 million in annual marijuana sales, about 5.13% of the state's total sales. In 2018 High Times called Trinidad "Weed Town, USA", noting that its 23 licensed retail marijuana dispensaries serving less than 10,000 people amounts to one dispensary per 352 people. "In one downtown block alone along Commercial Street, there were five dispensaries in

Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-470: Was constructed. In the early 1900s Trinidad became nationally known for having the first woman sports editor of a newspaper, Ina Eloise Young . Her expertise was in baseball, and in 1908 she was the only woman sportswriter to cover the World Series. During the same time, Trinidad was home to a popular semiprofessional baseball team that was briefly coached by Damon Runyon . On August 7, 1902,

#988011