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Show Fewer Divorces Counted Among Local Residents How high is the divorce rate in Grand County compared with that in other communities? communi-ties? How many local residents are divorced? How many have remarried after being divorced? di-vorced? For the great majority of men and women in the local area marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime undertaking. For others, oth-ers, w ho start out w ith equally-high equally-high hopes, their marriages end up on the rocks. In general, the divorce rate has been on the rise for a number of years and is still mounting. This is indicated in the latest surveys by the Department of Commerce, the National Center for Health Statistics and others. In Grand County, it appears, the number of marital splits is on the low side. There are fewer divorces and separations, separa-tions, in proportion to population, popula-tion, than in most parts of the United States. According to the latest tabulations, some 42 out of every 1,000 local residents over the age of 14 are either divorced or separated from their spouses.' The comparable national average is 53 per 1,000. In the Mountain States the rate is 52 and, in the State of Utah, 40. During 1974, the figures show, there were approximately approxi-mately 970.000 divorces in the United States. That w as 57,000 more than in 1973. On the other hand, the number of marriages that took place in the year, 2.235,000, was unexpectedly small. It w as the first time since 1958. in fact, that a drop w as recorded. The decline, at a time w hen the population of marriageable age was larger than normal, is attributed to prevailing economic eco-nomic conditions. Many young people have postponed their marital plans. Because of the decrease in marriages and the increase in divorces, there was 1 divorce in the year for every 2.3 marriages. In Grand County, according to the most recent figures, there are some 180 men and women who are divorced or separated. Many others, w ho w ere once in the divorced column, have since remarried. In general, it has been found, there are about 2.5 such persons for every one who is currently divorced. On that basis, it is estimated that there are about 450 local residents in that categorv. |