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Trend Toward Cremation Threatens Cemeteries

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Feb 22, 2009 4:24 pm US/Mountain

Trend Toward Cremation Threatens Cemeteries

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Evergreen Cemetery (File)
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Two historic cemeteries in Colorado Springs face a troubled future -- and not because the death rate is slowing.

The problem for Evergreen and Fairview cemeteries is that more people are choosing cremation over burial. The trend is even stronger in El Paso County, which cemetery manager Will DeBoer says has one of the highest cremation rates nationwide.

In 2007, the last year for which statistics were available, 63 percent of the 3,345 people who died in the county were cremated. And only 10 percent of the cremated remains were taken to Evergreen and Fairview cemeteries.

City officials are advertising nationally for potential partnerships with businesses to generate revenue for the cemeteries.