In the little eastern Colorado community of Cheyenne Wells, the coffee shop talk at Nan’s convenience store reveals locals have had it with gun control laws, marijuana shops, green energy policies, steps to embrace gay marriage and illegal immigrants according to a recent article in the New York Times.
Lyle Miller owns Nan’s. “I would’ve never believed the state of Colorado would become this liberal,” said Miller, “I’m afraid for my grandchildren. I want them to have the same heritage I had.”
Rod Pelton is a county commissioner in Cheyenne. His family moved from Kansas during the dust bowl. He grows wheat and dryland corn. He says he believes in the possibility of New Colorado, no matter how long it takes. “There’s going to be a revolution of some kind,” he said. “This is the peaceful way to go about it.”
Come November, this rural county, along with 10 others will vote on whether to secede from Colorado to form their own state. One that would cherish farm towns and conservative ideas that have been ‘lost in Denver’s glassy downtown lofts or Aspen’s million-dollar ski condos.’
For a glimpse Cheyenne County life, here’s the editor’s choice slideshow.
Secession is not a new concept. Michael J. Trinklein has written a book about the attempts throughout the history of the United States. It’s called, “Lost States.”
