Regional definitions vary from source to source. The states shown in dark red are always included, while the striped states are usually considered part of the same region called the Mountain States.
The Teton Mountain Range in Wyoming, a subset of the Rocky Mountains
Map of the Rocky Mountains of western North America.

The Mountain states (also known as the Mountain West or the Interior West) form one of the nine geographic divisions of the United States that are officially recognized by the United States Census Bureau. It is a subregion of the Western United States.

The Mountain states are considered to include: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The words "Mountain states" generally refer to the U.S. States which encompass the U.S. Rocky Mountains. These are oriented north-south through portions of the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Arizona and Nevada, as well as other parts of Utah and New Mexico, have other smaller mountain ranges and scattered mountains located in them as well. Sometimes, the Trans-Pecos area of West Texas is considered part of the region. The land area of the eight states together is some 855,767 square miles (2,216,426 km2).

It is the fastest-growing region in the United States, with Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona ranking among the fastest-growing states in the country.[1]

A few subregions exist within this region:

Regional geography

The Mountain West is one of the largest and most diverse regions in the United States. Most regional boundaries of the Mountain West are often looked at the area from the High Plains to the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. The southern and northern portions of the Mountain West are often split into two separate regions. The southern portion (Arizona and New Mexico) is often called the Southwest region, while the northern portion (Idaho and Montana) is often included in either the Northwest states or called the "Northern Rockies".[5]

Terrain

The bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in Arizona
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

Together with the Pacific States of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, the Mountain states constitute the broader region of the West, one of the four regions the United States Census Bureau formally recognizes (the Northeast, South, and Midwest being the other three). The terrain of the Mountain West is more diverse than any other region in the United States. Its physical geography ranges from some of the highest mountain peaks in the continental United States to large desert lands and rolling plains in the eastern portion of the region. The Great Basin Desert is located in almost all of Nevada, western Utah, and southern Idaho. Portions of the Mojave Desert are located in California, but over half of the desert is located in southern Nevada, in the Mountain West. Meanwhile, the Sonoran Desert is located in much of Arizona, and the Chihuahuan Desert is located in most of southwestern and southern New Mexico, including White Sands and Jornada del Muerto. Colorado also has scattered desert lands in the southern and northwestern portions of the state, including the expansive San Luis Valley.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona have other smaller desert lands, part of the Colorado Plateau. The Painted Desert is located in northern and northeastern Arizona, and the San Rafael Desert is located in eastern Utah. New Mexico has other desert lands located in the northern and northwest. Colorado has large desert lands on the colorado plateau in the northwestern, western, and southern parts of the state. These desert lands in Colorado are located in and around areas such as Royal Gorge, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Pueblo, the San Luis Valley, Cortez, Dove Creek, Delta, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, the Roan Plateau, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado National Monument, and the Grand Mesa.[6] The San Luis Valley is the largest high valley desert in the world.

In the far-eastern portions of the Mountain West are the High Plains, a portion of the Great Plains. These plains mainly consist of flat rolling land, with scattered buttes, canyons, and forests located in these areas. The High Plains receive very little rainfall, and sit at high elevations, usually about 3,000 to 6,000 feet (910 to 1,830 m). Many people view the High Plains as the point where one begins to enter the greater Mountain West region.[7]

The Mountain West has some of the highest mountain peaks in America. Some of the more famous mountains in the Mountain West are Mount Elbert, Pikes Peak, Blanca Peak, Longs Peak, Kings Peak, Wind River Peak, Cloud Peak, Wheeler Peak, Truchas Peak, Granite Peak, Borah Peak, and Humphreys Peak.[8]

Climate

Snow on the Great Basin Desert of Nevada
The Painted Desert in northeastern Arizona

The climate of the Mountain West is one of the more diverse climates in the United States. The entire region generally features a semi-arid or arid climate, with somе alpine climates in the mountains of each state. Some parts of the tall mountains can receive very large amounts of snow and rain, while other parts of the region received very little rain, and virtually no snow at all. The High Plains in the eastern portion of the region receive moderate snowfalls, but very little rain.

The states of Nevada and Arizona are generally filled with desert lands and scattered mountain ranges. Much of Nevada receives little to no snow in the southern portion of the state, while northern Nevada can receive large amounts of snow in and around the mountains, and even in the desert lands in Nevada. Arizona generally receives little rain or snow, but high elevations in and near mountains receive extremely large amounts of rain and snow. Northern and northeastern Arizona display characteristics of a "High Desert", where the summers are very hot and dry, while the winters can become very cold, and it can snow as well.

Utah is also generally large desert lands, with mountains as well. However, the desert lands in Utah receive significant snowfall, and there are large amounts of snowfall on and around the mountains. Colorado and New Mexico have very similar climates. Both states can receive significant snowfalls off the mountains, while the mountains in both states receive extremely large amounts of snow. However, southern and southwestern New Mexico generally does not receive much snow at all, similar to southern Nevada and southern Arizona. The desert lands found in northeastern Arizona, eastern Utah, northern New Mexico, and western and southern Colorado are generally referred to as the "High Desert" lands.

The northern portion of the Mountain West tends to be a bit cooler than the southwestern areas. Idaho and Montana both receive significant snowfalls off the mountains and very large snowfalls in the mountains. The High Desert also exists in the northern Mountain West. Southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho have the Great Basin Desert lands located in them, which is part of the high desert.[9]

The eight Mountain states have the highest mean elevations of all 50 U.S. states.

States

Mount Elbert in the Sawatch Range of Colorado is the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains and the Mountain states.
The Mountain states by mean elevation[10]
Rank State Highest point Highest elevation Lowest point Lowest elevation Mean elevation Elevation span
1 Colorado Mount Elbert[11] 14,440 ft
4401 m		 Arikaree River at Kansas border 3,317 ft
1011 m		 6,800 ft
2073 m		 11,123 ft
3390 m
2 Wyoming Gannett Peak[12] 13,809 ft
4209 m		 Belle Fourche River at South Dakota border 3,100 ft
945 m		 6,693 ft
2040 m		 10,709 ft
3264 m
3 Utah Kings Peak[13] 13,518 ft
4120 m		 Beaver Dam Wash at Arizona border 2,180 ft
664 m		 6,100 ft
1859 m		 11,338 ft
3456 m.
4 New Mexico Wheeler Peak[14] 13,167 ft
4013 m		 Red Bluff on Texas border 2,842 ft
866 m		 5,700 ft
1737 m		 10,325 ft
3147 m
5 Nevada Boundary Peak[15] 13,147 ft
4007 m		 Colorado River at California border 479 ft
146 m		 5,500 ft
1676 m		 12,668 ft
3861 m
6 Idaho Borah Peak[16] 12,668 ft
3861 m		 Snake River at Washington border 710 ft
216 m		 5,000 ft
1524 m		 11,958 ft
3645 m
7 Arizona Humphreys Peak[17] 12,637 ft
3852 m		 Colorado River at Sonora border 70 ft
21 m		 4,100 ft
1250 m		 12,567 ft
3830 m
8 Montana Granite Peak[18] 12,807 ft
3904 m		 Kootenai River at Idaho border. 1,800 ft
549 m		 3,400 ft
1036 m		 11,007 ft
3355 m
Mountain states Mount Elbert[11] 14,440 ft
4401 m		 Colorado River at Sonora border. 70 ft
21 m		 5,400 ft
1646 m.		 14,370 ft
4380 m.

Demographics

The Phoenix metropolitan area is the most populous metropolitan area of the Mountain states, followed by Denver, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City. Phoenix is also the most populous city.

Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Denver
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Ethnic origins in Mountain West

The following table is a ranking of cities within the Mountain states region, by city population.

The 30 most populous cities of the Mountain states[19]
Rank City State 2020 pop 2010 pop Change
1 Phoenix Arizona 1,608,139 1,445,632 +11.24%
2 Denver Colorado 715,522 600,158 +19.22%
3 Las Vegas Nevada 641,903 583,756 +9.96%
4 Albuquerque New Mexico 564,559 545,852 +3.43%
5 Tucson Arizona 542,629 520,116 +4.33%
6 Mesa Arizona 504,258 439,041 +14.85%
7 Colorado Springs Colorado 478,961 416,427 +15.02%
8 Aurora Colorado 386,261 325,078 +18.82%
9 Henderson Nevada 317,610 257,729 +23.23%
10 Chandler Arizona 275,987 236,123 +16.88%
11 Gilbert Arizona 267,918 208,453 +28.53%
12 Reno Nevada 264,165 225,221 +17.29%
13 North Las Vegas Nevada 262,527 216,961 +21.00%
14 Glendale Arizona 248,325 226,721 +9.53%
15 Scottsdale Arizona 241,361 217,385 +11.03%
16 Boise Idaho 235,684 205,671 +14.59%
17 Salt Lake City Utah 199,723 186,440 +7.12%
18 Peoria Arizona 190,985 154,065 +23.96%
19 Tempe Arizona 180,587 161,719 +11.67%
20 Fort Collins Colorado 169,810 143,986 +17.94%
21 Lakewood Colorado 155,984 142,980 +9.09%
22 Surprise Arizona 143,148 117,517 +21.81%
23 Thornton Colorado 141,867 118,772 +19.44%
24 West Valley City Utah 140,230 129,480 +8.30%
25 Arvada Colorado 124,402 106,433 +16.88%
26 Meridian Idaho 117,635 75,092 +56.65%
27 Billings Montana 117,116 104,170 +12.43%
28 West Jordan Utah 116,961 103,712 +12.77%
29 Westminster Colorado 116,317 106,114 +9.62%
30 Provo Utah 115,162 112,488 +2.38%

Census statistical areas

The skyline of Salt Lake City
Evening comes to Tucson
Albuquerque skyline with the Sandia Mountains in the distance
The skyline of Colorado Springs with the Front Range in the background
The Idaho State Capitol in Boise
The 30 most populous Core Based Statistical Areas of the Mountain states[19]
Rank CBSA 2020 pop 2010 pop Change
1 Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ MSA 4,845,832 4,192,887 +15.57%
2 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO MSA 2,963,821 2,543,482 +16.53%
3 Las Vegas–Henderson-Paradise, NV MSA 2,265,461 1,951,269 +16.10%
4 Salt Lake City, UT MSA 1,257,936 1,124,197 +11.90%
5 Tucson, AZ MSA 1,043,433 980,263 +6.44%
6 Albuquerque, NM MSA 916,528 887,077 +3.32%
7 Boise City, ID MSA 764,718 616,561 +24.03%
8 Colorado Springs, CO MSA 755,105 645,613 +16.96%
9 Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA 694,863 597,159 +16.36%
10 Provo-Orem, UT MSA 671,185 526,810 +27.41%
11 Reno, NV MSA 490,596 425,417 +15.32%
12 Fort Collins, CO MSA 359,066 299,630 +19.84%
13 Boulder, CO MSA 330,758 294,567 +12.29%
14 Greeley, CO MSA 328,981 252,825 +30.12%
15 Prescott, AZ MSA 236,209 211,033 +11.93%
16 Las Cruces, NM MSA 219,561 209,233 +4.94%
17 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ MSA 213,267 200,186 +6.53%
18 Yuma, AZ MSA 203,881 195,751 +4.15%
19 Billings, MT MSA 184,167 158,050 +16.52%
20 Saint George, UT MSA 180,279 138,115 +30.53%
21 Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA 171,362 138,494 +23.73%
22 Pueblo, CO MSA 168,162 159,063 +5.72%
23 Idaho Falls, ID MSA 157,429 130,374 +20.75%
24 Grand Junction, CO MSA 155,703 146,723 +6.12%
25 Santa Fe, NM MSA 154,823 144,170 +7.39%
26 Logan, UT-ID MSA 147,348 125,442 +17.46%
27 Flagstaff, AZ MSA 145,101 134,421 +7.95%
28 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ MSA 125,447 131,346 −4.49%
29 Farmington, NM MSA 121,661 130,044 −6.45%
30 Missoula, MT MSA 117,922 109,299 +7.89%
The twelve combined statistical areas of the Mountain states[20][21]
Rank CSA 2014 pop 2010 pop Change Component CBSAs
1 Denver-Aurora, CO CSA 3,345,261 3,090,874 +8.23% Boulder, CO MSA
Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO MSA
Greeley, CO MSA
2 Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT CSA 2,423,912 2,271,696 +6.70% Heber, UT µSA
Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA
Provo-Orem, UT MSA
Salt Lake City, UT MSA
3 Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ CSA 2,315,324 2,195,401 +5.46% Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ MSA
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV MSA
Pahrump, NV µSA
4 Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM Combined Statistical Area 1,165,798 1,146,049 +1.72% Albuquerque MSA
Espanola, NM µSA
Grants, NM µSA
Las Vegas, NM µSA
Los Alamos, NM µSA
Santa Fe, NM MSA
5 Tucson-Nogales, AZ CSA 1,051,211 1,027,683 +2.29% Nogales, AZ µSA
Tucson, AZ MSA
6 Boise City-Mountain Home-Ontario, ID-OR CSA 743,711 697,535 +6.62% Boise City, ID MSA
Mountain Home, ID µSA
Ontario, OR-ID µSA
7 Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV CSA 597,837 579,668 +3.13% Carson City, NV MSA
Fernley, NV µSA
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV µSA
Reno-Sparks, NV MSA
8 Idaho Falls-Rexburg-Blackfoot, ID CSA 234,440 229,650 +2.09% Idaho Falls, ID MSA
Blackfoot, ID µSA
Rexburg, ID µSA
9 Pueblo-Cañon City, CO CSA 208,377 205,887 +1.21% Cañon City, CO µSA
Pueblo, CO MSA
10 Edwards-Glenwood Springs, CO CSA 128,008 125,734 +1.81% Edwards, CO µSA
Glenwood Springs, CO µSA
11 Clovis-Portales, NM CSA 70,505 68,222 +3.35% Clovis, NM µSA
Portales, NM µSA
12 Steamboat Springs-Craig, CO Combined Statistical Area 36,793 37,304 −1.37% Craig, CO µSA
Steamboat Springs, CO µSA

Politics

Parties
DemocraticRepublicanPopulist
  • Bold denotes election winner.
Presidential electoral votes in the Mountain states since 1864
YearArizonaColoradoIdahoMontanaNevadaNew MexicoUtahWyoming
1864No electionNo electionNo electionNo electionLincolnNo electionNo electionNo election
1868No electionNo electionNo electionNo electionGrantNo electionNo electionNo election
1872No electionNo electionNo electionNo electionGrantNo electionNo electionNo election
1876No electionHayesNo electionNo electionHayesNo electionNo electionNo election
1880No electionGarfieldNo electionNo electionHancockNo electionNo electionNo election
1884No electionBlaineNo electionNo electionBlaineNo electionNo electionNo election
1888No electionHarrisonNo electionNo electionHarrisonNo electionNo electionNo election
1892No electionWeaverWeaverHarrisonWeaverNo electionNo electionHarrison
1896No electionBryanBryanBryanBryanNo electionBryanBryan
1900No electionBryanBryanBryanBryanNo electionMcKinleyMcKinley
1904No electionRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltNo electionRooseveltRoosevelt
1908No electionBryanTaftTaftBryanNo electionTaftTaft
1912WilsonWilsonWilsonWilsonWilsonWilsonTaftWilson
1916WilsonWilsonWilsonWilsonWilsonWilsonWilsonWilson
1920HardingHardingHardingHardingHardingHardingHardingHarding
1924CoolidgeCoolidgeCoolidgeCoolidgeCoolidgeCoolidgeCoolidgeCoolidge
1928HooverHooverHooverHooverHooverHooverHooverHoover
1932RooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRoosevelt
1936RooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRoosevelt
1940RooseveltWillkieRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRoosevelt
1944RooseveltDeweyRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltRooseveltDewey
1948TrumanTrumanTrumanTrumanTrumanTrumanTrumanTruman
1952EisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhower
1956ΕisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhowerEisenhower
1960NixonNixonNixonNixonKennedyKennedyNixonNixon
1964GoldwaterJohnsonJohnsonJohnsonJohnsonJohnsonJohnsonJohnson
1968NixonNixonNixonNixonNixonNixonNixonNixon
1972NixonNixonNixonNixonNixonNixonNixonNixon
1976FordFordFordFordFordFordFordFord
1980ReaganReaganReaganReaganReaganReaganReaganReagan
1984ReaganReaganReaganReaganReaganReaganReaganReagan
1988BushBushBushBushBushBushBushBush
1992BushClintonBushClintonClintonClintonBushBush
1996ClintonDoleDoleDoleClintonClintonDoleDole
2000BushBushBushBushBushGoreBushBush
2004BushBushBushBushBushBushBushBush
2008McCainObamaMcCainMcCainObamaObamaMcCainMcCain
2012RomneyObamaRomneyRomneyObamaObamaRomneyRomney
2016TrumpClintonTrumpTrumpClintonClintonTrumpTrump
2020BidenBidenTrumpTrumpBidenBidenTrumpTrump
YearArizonaColoradoIdahoMontanaNevadaNew MexicoUtahWyoming

Time zones

Mountain Time is observed in nearly the entire division, except Nevada (all but the stateline city of West Wendover) and the Idaho Panhandle. With the exception of West Wendover and Jackpot, Nevada, the entire state of Nevada, along with the Idaho Panhandle, observes Pacific Time. Daylight saving time is not observed in Arizona, except for lands within the Navajo Nation (northeast corner of the state) which observe daylight saving time due to the Nation traversing state lines. For this reason, most of Arizona is one hour behind the rest of the Mountain Time Zone from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Change in Resident Population of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico: 1910 to 2020" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "The Southwest Defined". jsw.library.arizona.edu. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ Blake, Reed H. (2002). The Intermountain West: a story of a place and people. Boston, MA: Pearson Custon Pub. ISBN 0-536-66915-5. OCLC 51680869.
  4. ↑ "Front Range - America 2050". www.america2050.org. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Chapter 9 - THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND SOUTHWEST". Geography: USA. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  6. ↑ The Shifting Terrain of the Mountain West Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Research.allacademic.com (May 7, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-07-17.
  7. ↑ Welcome - High Plains Regional Climate Center. Hprcc.unl.edu (June 13, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-07-17.
  8. ↑ Private Tutor. Infoplease.com. Retrieved on July 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ North American Deserts. DesertUSA. Retrieved on July 17, 2013.
  10. ↑ See the List of U.S. states by elevation.
  11. 1 2 "Mount Elbert". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Gannett Peak Cairn". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Kings Peak Target". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Wheeler". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Boundary". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Beauty Reset". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Frisco". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Granite Peak". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  19. 1 2 "2020 Census QuickFacts". Census QuickFacts. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Combined Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico". The American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  21. ↑ "OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2015 – via National Archives.
  22. ↑ Gettings, John; Brunner, Borgna (April 21, 2018). "Daylight Saving Time". InfoPlease.
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