Brush, Colorado
Brush is a city located in Morgan County in the northeastern plains of the state of Colorado, situated approximately 90 miles northeast of Denver. Positioned along the South Platte River corridor, Brush serves as a regional hub for agriculture, energy, and commerce in the High Plains region of Colorado. The city takes its name from Jared L. Brush, a prominent cattle rancher whose influence helped shape the early settlement and development of the area. Today, Brush is home to a variety of agricultural operations, industrial facilities, and community institutions that reflect both its historical roots and its ongoing role in northeastern Colorado's economy.
History and Heritage
The history of Brush, Colorado is closely tied to the cattle industry and the broader settlement of the Colorado plains during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The city was named after Jared L. Brush, described as an important cattle rancher in Colorado whose presence and influence in the region made him a figure of lasting local significance.[1] As ranchers and settlers moved through the northeastern plains, communities like Brush emerged as waypoints and eventually developed into more permanent settlements with established civic and commercial infrastructure.
The land on which Brush now stands has a history that extends well before European-American settlement, with Indigenous peoples holding historic ties to the land currently known as Colorado.[2] This longer history forms part of the broader context in which modern Brush developed, and local heritage efforts have increasingly acknowledged these deep roots.
Over time, the community grew from its agrarian origins into a small but established city with recognizable neighborhoods, institutions, and a built environment reflecting multiple generations of local development. Historical records and community memory have been preserved in part through groups such as the History of Brush Colorado organization, which has documented the architectural and social history of the area, including structures such as the Von's furniture building, through archival photos and community contributions.[3]
The heritage of Brush is also reflected in its public-facing cultural and horticultural offerings. The Just What Grows Garden is a set of outdoor gardens located in the countryside of Brush, Colorado, offering visitors a connection to the agricultural character and natural landscape of the region.[4] The garden underscores Brush's enduring relationship with the land and reflects the city's ongoing interest in connecting residents and visitors with its rural and agricultural identity.
Geography and Location
Brush is located in the northeastern plains of Colorado, within Morgan County. The city lies roughly 90 miles northeast of Denver, placing it within a regional corridor that includes other High Plains communities connected by highways and agricultural supply chains.[5] The surrounding landscape is characterized by the flat to gently rolling terrain typical of the Colorado plains, with agriculture — including row crops and livestock operations — dominating the land use outside of the city's developed core.
The geographic position of Brush along major transportation routes has historically made it a practical location for both agricultural processing and energy-related industries. Its proximity to Denver allows for reasonable access to larger markets while retaining the character of a small plains city.
Economy
Agriculture and Food Processing
Agriculture has long been the economic backbone of the Brush area, and the city remains home to significant agribusiness operations. Among the most notable employers in the area is the Kelley Bean Company, which operates a facility in Brush. The Kelley Bean Company facility has been the site of agricultural processing operations consistent with the region's strong bean and crop production history. The facility gained national attention following a workplace incident in which Raymond Segura Jr. was pronounced dead after efforts to reach him alive failed — he had been buried under a mound of pinto beans at the Brush facility.[6] The incident drew significant media coverage and raised broader questions about worker safety in agricultural processing environments.
The Kelley Bean Company's presence in Brush is emblematic of the wider agricultural economy that sustains northeastern Colorado, where bean production, corn, and other crops are central to local livelihoods. Processing facilities of this type serve as critical links in the supply chain connecting farm production to regional and national markets.
Energy Industry
In addition to agriculture, the Brush area is home to energy infrastructure that contributes to both the local economy and the broader regional power grid. The Manchief power plant is located near Brush, Colorado, and is associated with Epcor Power, a company owned by institutional and retail investors.[7] The Manchief facility represents the kind of energy generation infrastructure that has become increasingly prominent in rural Colorado communities, providing employment and contributing to the tax base while serving the power needs of the region.
Epcor Power's involvement in the Brush area through the Manchief plant reflects a broader trend of energy companies situating generation facilities in rural Colorado, where land availability, transmission access, and regulatory environments can be favorable for such operations. The plant's power has been subject to supply agreements with regional utilities, further integrating the Brush area into the broader regional energy market.[8]
Notable People
Brush, Colorado has produced individuals who have gone on to careers of regional and national significance. One such individual is a corrections professional noted as a native of Brush, Colorado, who accumulated 40 years of corrections experience and was appointed to serve as warden — succeeding Warden Virginia — at a correctional facility in Wyoming. The appointment was announced by Wyoming Corrections Department Director Bob Lampert, who identified the individual as Catron and noted both his origins in Brush and the depth of his professional background in the corrections field.[9]
The example of Catron illustrates the way that small cities like Brush contribute to the broader public sector workforce across the Mountain West, with residents going on to serve in roles that affect communities well beyond their hometown.
Education
Brush is served by local educational institutions including Brush High School, which functions as a community anchor for students in the city and the surrounding area. The school has maintained a presence in the community as a site of local identity, and its alumni and community connections are reflected in ongoing local interest in the institution's history and the lives of its graduates and former students.[10]
The school represents an important institution within the fabric of Brush's community life, providing educational continuity across generations and maintaining connections among alumni who may have dispersed to other parts of Colorado and the nation.
Community and Culture
The community character of Brush reflects a blend of agricultural tradition and the practical, tight-knit social fabric common to small cities on the Colorado plains. Local historical organizations have worked to document and preserve the city's past, including through social media platforms where photographs, stories, and records related to the city's development have been shared and discussed.[11]
Residents and organizations in Brush have also maintained records related to the lives of community members through obituary archives, which serve as a form of community documentation and collective memory. These records reflect the generations of families who have lived and worked in the Brush area.[12]
The Just What Grows Garden, situated in the countryside surrounding Brush, offers a cultural and recreational dimension to the community's identity, drawing on the region's agricultural heritage and providing a point of connection between residents and the natural landscape of northeastern Colorado.[13]