Aspen, Colorado

Maroon Bells Mountain, Colorado
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maroon_Bells.jpg
Author: Frank Kovalchek


Aspen is a famous ski resort destination in Colorado. Covering 3.5 sq mi (9.1 sq km), it is the main city in Pitkin County. The city has a population of 6,000 people (2011 estimate). It is surrounded by high mountains, and is itself located at an elevation of 7,890 ft (2,405 m).

Aspen is in the Mountain Standard Time, which is seven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-7), and six hours behind during Daylight Saving Time in summer. The phone area code here is 970.

Aspen, Colorado
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aspen_downtown.jpg
Author: Daniel Schwen


The city of Aspen has been associated by a number of celebrities, particularly John Denver, who wrote a number of songs about it. The city began as a mining town in 1879. It was originally called Ute City, but was renamed Aspen after the many aspen trees growing in the area.

In its early days, Aspen was a major producer of silver, particularly in in 1891 and 92. Its economy was entirely dependent of the government buying silver through the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. Unfortunately when the act was repealed in 1893, it brought an economic collapse to Aspen.

In the 1930's, someone saw the mountains for the snow, and Aspen got a new lease on life, this time as a ski resort. But the plans was put on hold due to the outbreak of World War II. As soon as the war was over, the town moved into high gear in developing itself as a ski destination. It established the Aspen Skiing Corporation in 1946, and from then on, it grew from strength to strength, further boosted by the arrival of celebrities.

Dixon-Markle House (listed on National Register of Historic Places), Aspen
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dixon-Markle_House_east_side,_Aspen,_CO.jpg
Author: Daniel Case


Today Aspen has become a mecca forf rich people. The drawback of this is that its high property prices has forced those in the low and medium-income out of the city to live in nearby bedroom communities and commute to work there. Even its commercial precincts are lined with upscale boutiques and high-end restaurants catering to rich customers.

Visiting Aspen, Colorado

You can fly to Aspen, landing at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport. However, flying into Aspen is a touch-and-go affair dictated by weather. It is safer to fly to Denver International Airport and then drive to Aspen.

Places of Interest in Aspen, Colorado

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