Garfield County, located in western Colorado along the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers, has towns such as Glenwood Springs, Rifle and New Castle. Its history includes mining, railroads and agriculture; over time tourism and river recreation have grown. Housing types range from river-valley single-family homes, vacation homes in mountain settings, to more affordable homes in small towns. Because it is less exclusive than resort-only counties, home purchase prices are moderate relative to ultra-premium markets — maybe in the US$400,000-800,000+ range for good homes depending on town and lot size. Building on land in rural parcels could cost US$250-350 per sq ft plus lot/site costs. The area is somewhat rural/small-town with moderate access to regional centres (e.g., Grand Junction ~1-2 hrs).