The nine rural counties within northeast Colorado that make up the High Plains communities encompass 15,000-square-miles. The economy is largely agricultural, with a population of approximately 90,000. Based on the 2000 census 22% (range 20-29%) of the population is over 50, which is higher than the state as a whole (20%) or the Denver Metropolitan Statistical Area - MSA (18%). There is not a single MSA in the High Plains region and most of the region is a frontier area and therefore considered an underserved community.