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Brush, Colorado

11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1951 and the latest in 1980. It stands in the Brush census division. It lies in ZIP code area 80723. The Survey maps it on the Brush East quadrangle. 5,339 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 4,229 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Brush within Morgan County

On record in Brush

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 5 records

Population over time

2 figures

Brush fell from 5,463 to 5,339 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20105,463
20205,339-124 (-2%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

5 surveys from 11 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

69 since 2011

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 69 fires within 5 miles of Brush between 2011 and 2020, burning about 74 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined56
Equipment and vehicle use6
Recreation and ceremony3
Smoking2
Fireworks1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreBrush Fire DepartmentUNKNOWN
21 September 2019Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreColorado State Forest Service-State Headquartersnot named
11 September 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreBrush Fire DepartmentUNKNOWN
11 September 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreBrush Fire DepartmentUNKNOWN
7 August 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreBrush Fire DepartmentUNKNOWN
23 August 2016Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreBrush Fire DepartmentUNKNOWN
16 August 2016Smokingunder an acreBrush Fire DepartmentUNKNOWN
6 July 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresColorado State Forest Service-State HeadquartersFORT MORGAN

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Morgan County

Mines and quarries near this place

6 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Brush: 3 occurrences, 3 producers. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
UnknownClayOccurrenceSedimentary
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
SandpitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrenceSand

Every working recorded in Morgan County

Storms near this place

60 of 104 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Brush in 104 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 55 hail, 21 thunderstorm wind, 13 tornado, 7 flash flood. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1998HailBrush2 hurt, $2,200,000Large hail pummelled the towns of Greeley, Brush and Fort Morgan. In Brush, some roofs collapsed under the deluge and one roof was blown off. Two people received minor injuries. One woman was injured, while in her home, when large hail broke through the window. Hundreds of cars were also damaged and some were stuck in the hail, up to 18 inches deep, until snowplows could clear the roads off. Crops were shredded during the hailstorm and fields flooded. Approximately 140,000 acres of cropland in and around Brush were devastated. Damage estimates to homes and vehicle in the Greeley, Brush and Fort Morgan areas was estimated at $2.2 million. In addition, crop losses from the storm were expected to exceed $1.0 million.
August 2010Tornado (EF1)Brush$50,000A tornado touched down near a home. It uprooted trees and did some damage to the home, breaking windows some windows. Two horse trailers were picked up and thrown approximately 100 yards. Several hundred yards of fence were torn out of the ground, and several wood and steel fence posts were torn out of the ground. Debris was found up to a mile from where the tornado touched down. A small horse barn that had been recently built was also destroyed; one horse was badly injured and was later euthanized.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindBrush$50,000Damaging thunderstorm winds toppled two grain elevators and knocked a tree into a home. In addition, some empty trailers were blown onto their sides. Some outbuildings at High Plains Livestock suffered roof damage and broken windows. The combination of strong wind and marble size hail also caused extensive crop damage.
June 1997Tornado (F1)Brush$35,000A small tornado damaged an irrigation sprinkler and tore up several bales of hay. The irrigation sprinkler was picked up 3 to 4 feet into the air and flipped.
August 2024Flash FloodBrush$25,000Widespread Flash Flooding in reported in Brush due to 4 inches of rain. Exact location was estimated. No reports of damage, but there was likely some.
May 2015Flash FloodBrush$25,000Several roads in the Brush area were inundated by floodwaters.
May 2015Flash FloodBrush$25,000Heavy rain continued to produce flooding and flash flooding, inundating numerous roads across east central Morgan County.
July 2008Flash FloodBrush$10,000Floodwaters, up to one foot in depth, caused extensive flooding in Brush. Streets and yards were flooded, and the high water entered several homes.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindBrush$10,000Microburst winds damaged a garage and destroyed a small shed in Brush. The burst blew the roof off the garage and smashed the shed.
August 1994Thunderstorm WindBrush$20Thunderstorm winds caused several 4-5 inch diameter trees to blow over. A motor boat was tossed off a trailer.
August 2025HailBrush-The report was from mPING.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindBrush-Power poles down near the intersection of County Road 25 and County Road R. Time estimated.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindBrush-Multiple 3-4 inch diameter tree limbs down. Time estimated.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindBrush-Spotter and social media posts of at least one tree down on a house in Brush. Time and location estimated.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindBrush-Report from mping: 3-inch tree limbs broken; Power poles broken.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindBrush-Windows blown out in Brush, estimated due to high straight line winds.
August 2024Heavy RainBrush-Rainfall of 4.07 inches fell between 17:49pm to 19:09pm MST.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindBrush-Reports of powerlines and trees down.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindBrush-Intense straight-line winds snapped a large tree, 18 inches in diameter.
June 2023HailBrush-Large hail broke windows, damaged vehicles and shredded trees.
July 2022Tornado (EF1)Brush-A tornado touched down and snapped a utility pole near the 24500 block of County Road R.
July 2022Tornado (EF0)Brush-A tornado touched down briefly and caused minor damage.
July 2022Tornado (EF0)Brush-A tornado touched down and caused minor wind damage at 25512 Road R.
May 2021Tornado (EF0)Brush-A tornado touched down briefly in open country. No damage was observed.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindBrush-Intense winds uprooted a tree, approximately 18 inches in diameter. Several tree branches up to 6 inches in diameter were broken.
July 2018Tornado (EF2)Brush-A tornado touched down and uprooted many trees, with debris striking vehicles.
July 2018Tornado (EF2)Brush-A tornado touched down and destroyed Brush Municipal Airport. Small planes were flipped over and hangers were leveled. Major tree and roof damage was also observed.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindBrush-A severe thunderstorm toppled a 60-foot tall pine tree, 24 inches in diameter. In addition, a large tree, 12 inches in diameter, was blown on to a home. Another large cottonwood tree, fell on to a car.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindBrush-Damaging thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines.
July 2005LightningBrush-Lightning struck a home, damaging the roof and upstairs bedroom. Electricity was blown throughout the house.
May 2003Tornado (F1)Brush-A tornado touched down briefly causing tree and fence damage.
June 2003Flash FloodBrush-Thunderstorms producing heavy rain caused flash flooding in the Brush area. Many streets in Brush were covered with up to 6 inches of standing water. Several homes and businesses in town were also flooded.
July 2001Tornado (F0)Brush-A small tornado touched down but did no damage.
July 2001Flash FloodBrush-The combination of heavy rain and hail caused flooding and flash flooding problems in the Brush and Fort Morgan areas. Several roads as well as the basments of home and businesses were flooded.
July 2001Tornado (F0)Brush-A small tornado touched down but did no damage.
July 2001Flash FloodBrush-Heavy rain caused flash flooding in the town of Brush. Several low lying areas were flooded as well as a few of the businesses in town.
July 2000FloodBrush-Heavy rain and hail caused Beaver Creek to jump its banks. Extensive flooding was reported along the creek.
July 2000Tornado (F0)Brush-A small tornado touched down briefly but did no damage.
July 2000LightningBrush-Dry lightning sparked a large grassfire near the Pawnee Power Plant. No damage to the plant was reported.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindBrush-Thunderstorm winds of unknown intensity blew down a portion of a building under construction.
August 2025HailBrush-no account filed
May 2025Thunderstorm WindBrush-no account filed
August 2024Thunderstorm WindBrush-no account filed
June 2023HailBrush-no account filed
June 2023HailBrush-no account filed
June 2023HailBrush-no account filed
June 2023HailBrush-no account filed
June 2023HailBrush-no account filed
July 2022HailBrush-no account filed
May 2021HailBrush-no account filed
May 2021HailBrush-no account filed
August 2020HailBrush-no account filed
May 2018HailBrush-no account filed
May 2015HailBrush-no account filed
August 2015HailBrush-no account filed
June 2014HailBrush-no account filed
August 2013HailBrush-no account filed
August 2013HailBrush-no account filed
May 2011HailBrush-no account filed
June 2010HailBrush-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Morgan County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Nelson2.0 miles11
Lodi4.3 miles11
Dodd4.8 miles11
Camden5.0 miles11
Snyder5.1 miles11
Moseley6.9 miles8
Hillrose7.1 miles11
Hurley7.4 miles10

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on BrushAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q994352The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 204723. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.