Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is the largest city and county seat of Pitkin County, Colorado. Founded as a mining camp in the Colorado Silver Boom, the city is now a ski resort and cultural center, named because of the abundance of aspen trees in the area. The city emerged as a skiing mecca following World War II and the foundation of the Aspen Skiing Company by Walter Paepcke, a Chicago industrialist who sought to create a utopian community of the mind and body. Paepcke's legacy of the Aspen/Snowmass resorts, along with such institutions as the Aspen Institute, have made the city a year-round international destination for recreation, business, and intellectual discourse. In the late 20th century, the city developed as an off-beat haven for misfits, attracting such free spirits as John Denver and Hunter S. Thompson, who was glorified by many locals for his embodiment of the "freak power" ethic of the community.

Description and history

The city sits along at the southeast (upper) end of the Roaring Fork Valley, along the Roaring Fork River, a tributary of the Colorado River about 40 miles south of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It surrounded by mountains on three sides: Red Mountain to the north, Smuggler Mountain to the east, and Aspen Mountain to the south.

Related Topics:
Roaring Fork Valley - Roaring Fork River - Colorado River - Glenwood Springs, Colorado - Aspen Mountain

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During the life of the silver boom in Colorado, the price of silver steadily declined. At first it was propped up by purchases by the Federal Government, but in 1893 purchases ceased. Within a few days all the Aspen mines were closed and thousands of miners were put out of work. It was proposed that silver be recognized as legal tender and the Populist Party adopted that as one of its main issues; Davis H. Waite, an Aspen newspaperman and agitator was elected governor of Colorado on the Democratic Ticket; but in time the movement failed.

Related Topics:
1893 - Populist Party - Davis H. Waite

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Eventually, after wage cuts, mining revived somewhat, but production declined and by the 1930 census only 705 residents remained. There was a fine stock of old business blocks and residences and excellent snow. Eventually Aspen was discovered and became a ski resort and cultural center, home of the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Related Topics:
1930 - Ski resort - Aspen Music Festival and School

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Need some verbiage about 10th Mountain Division

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