View source for Aspen, Colorado

{{Short description|Home-rule city and seat of Pitkin County, Colorado, USA}}
{{infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info ----------------->
| name                    = Aspen, Colorado
| official_name           = City of Aspen
| settlement_type         = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|Home rule city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=December 30, 2024}}</ref>
| image_skyline           = Downtown of Aspen, Colorado.jpg
| image_caption           = Downtown Aspen (2005)
| image_flag              = Flag of Aspen, Colorado.png
| flag_size               = 130px
| image_blank_emblem      = Aspen, CO Logo.png
| blank_emblem_type       = Logo
| named_for               = [[Aspen|Aspen trees]] around the city
| image_map               = Pitkin County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Aspen Highlighted 0803620.svg
| map_caption             = Location within [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin County]] and [[Colorado]]
<!-- Pushpin map -->
| pushpin_map             = USA#USA Colorado
| pushpin_relief          = 
| pushpin_label           = Aspen
| pushpin_label_position  = right
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of the City of Aspen, Colorado.
<!-- Location -->
| coordinates             = {{coord|39.1911|-106.8175|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204686|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=204686|name=Aspen, Colorado|access-date=December 30, 2024}}</ref>
| elevation_ft            = 7891
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/>
| elevation_max_ft        = 8460
| elevation_max_point     = At SW corner of city boundary
| elevation_min_ft        = 7660
| elevation_min_point     = [[Roaring Fork River|Roaring Fork]] at N corner of city
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Colorado]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[List of counties in Colorado|County]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=January 17, 2025}}</ref>
| established_title       = Settled
| established_date        = 1879
| established_title1      = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporation]]
| established_date1       = 1881
| government_type         = [[Council–manager]]
| leader_title            = City manager
| leader_title1           = Mayor
<!-- Area --------------------->
| unit_pref               = US
| area_footnotes          = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = 9.992
| area_land_km2           = 9.992
| area_water_km2          = 0.000
<!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_as_of        = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes    = <ref name=2020_Census/>
| population_total        = 7,004
| population_density_sq_mi = 1,815
| population_metro        = 79,043
| population_blank1_title = [[Edwards-Glenwood Springs, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
| population_blank1       = 134,774
<!-- General information ----------------------->
| timezone1               = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset1             = −07:00
| timezone1_DST           = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = −06:00
| postal_code_type        = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code             = 81611, 81612 ([[PO Box]]es)
| area_code               = [[Area code 970|970]]
| blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
| blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|204686}}
| blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
| blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|2409743}}
| blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank2_info             = {{FIPS|08|03620}}
| website                 = {{url|https://www.aspen.gov|aspen.gov}}
}}

'''Aspen''' is the [[List of municipalities in Colorado|most populous municipality]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Pitkin County, Colorado]], United States.<ref name = "GR6">{{cite web|url = http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date = June 7, 2011|title = Find a County|publisher = National Association of Counties|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date = May 31, 2011|df = mdy}}{{nonspecific|date = July 2017}}</ref><ref name=CountySeatsCO>{{cite web|url = http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/cntyseat.html|title = Colorado County Seats|publisher = [[State of Colorado]], Department of Public Health and Environment}}{{nonspecific|date=July 2017}}</ref> The city population was 7,004 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=2020_Census/> Aspen is in a remote area of the [[Rocky Mountains]]' [[Sawatch Range]] and [[Elk Mountains (Colorado)|Elk Mountains]], along the [[Roaring Fork River]] at an elevation just below {{convert|8000|ft}} on the [[Western Slope of Colorado|Western Slope]], {{convert|11|mi}} west of the [[Continental Divide]]. Aspen is now a part of the [[Glenwood Springs, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and governed as a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]].

Founded as a mining camp during the [[Colorado Silver Boom]] and later named Aspen for the abundance of [[aspen]] trees in the area, the city [[boomtown|boomed]] during the 1880s, its first decade. The boom ended when the [[Panic of 1893]] led to a collapse of the silver market. For the next half-century, known as "the quiet years", the population steadily declined, reaching a nadir of fewer than 1000 by [[United States Census, 1930|1930]]. Aspen's fortunes recovered in the mid-20th century when neighboring [[Aspen Mountain (Colorado)|Aspen Mountain]] was developed into [[Aspen Mountain (ski area)|a ski resort]], and industrialist [[Walter Paepcke]] bought many properties in the city in the 1950s and redeveloped them. Today it is home to three institutions, two of which Paepcke helped found, having international importance: the [[Aspen Music Festival and School]], the [[Aspen Institute]], and the [[Aspen Center for Physics]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Aspen Center for Physics|url=http://www.aspenphys.org/|website=Aspen Center for Physics|access-date=July 12, 2017}}</ref>

In the late 20th century, the town became a popular retreat for celebrities. [[Gonzo journalism|Gonzo journalist]] [[Hunter S. Thompson]] worked out of a downtown hotel and ran unsuccessfully for county sheriff. Singer [[John Denver]] wrote two songs about Aspen after settling there. Both figures popularized Aspen among the counter-cultural youth of the 1970s as an ideal place to live, and the city continued to grow even as it gained notoriety for some of the era's hedonistic excesses (particularly its [[drug culture]]).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cowan|first=Jay|date=2019|title=Scandal Aspen|publisher=Blue Trail Ink|page=xxi-xxvi|isbn=9781096329879}}</ref>

Aspen remains popular as a year-round destination for locals, second-home buyers and tourists. Outdoor recreation in the surrounding [[White River National Forest]] serves as a summertime counterpart to the city's four ski areas. Prime residential real estate in Aspen is the most expensive of any ski resort in the world on a per-square-foot basis, according to a study of 44 global ski resorts.<ref name="savills">{{Cite web |title=Savills Prime Residential Index |url=https://www.savills.com/research_articles/255800/353532-0 |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=www.savills.com |language=English}}</ref> Aspen is the world's second-highest-rated ski resort in terms of "the quality and reliability of their conditions and their capacity to withstand climate change."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Savills |date=November 30, 2021 |title=Which ski resort is most resilient? |url=https://www.savills.com/research_articles/255800/321815-0 |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=Savills}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Silver mines, Aspen, Colorado, 1898.jpg|thumb|left|Silver mines in Aspen (1898)]]
[[File:Aspen, 1962, Kodachrome by Chalmers Butterfield.jpg|thumb|left|Aspen (1962)]]

The city's roots are traced to the winter of 1879, when a group of miners ignored pleas by [[Frederick Walker Pitkin|Frederick Pitkin]], Governor of Colorado, to return across the Continental Divide to avoid a [[Ute people|Ute]] uprising. The Utes were fighting to maintain possession of their land and communities. Originally named Ute City, the small community was renamed Aspen.  The Aspen, Colorado, post office opened on June 7, 1880.<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> [[Pitkin County, Colorado|Pitkin County]] was created on February 23, 1881, with Aspen as its first and only seat.<ref name=COcounty/> The Town of Aspen was incorporated on April 1, 1881.<ref name="MuniIncCO">{{cite web |title=Active Colorado Municipalities |url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |publisher=[[Colorado|State of Colorado]], [[Colorado Department of Local Affairs|Department of Local Affairs]], Division of Local Government}}</ref> In its peak production years of 1891 and 1892, Aspen surpassed [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]] as the United States' most productive silver-mining district.<ref>Charles W. Henderson, 1926, ''Mining in Colorado'', U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 138, p.176, 201.</ref>  Production expanded due to the passage of the [[Sherman Silver Purchase Act]] of 1890, which doubled the government's purchase of silver. In 1883, the [[Archdiocese of Denver|Apostolic Vicarate of Colorado]]'s [[Joseph Projectus Machebeuf|Bishop Machebeuf]] had the Reverend Edward Downey establish the first [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] mission in Aspen.<ref>{{cite book|title=Life of the Right Reverend Joseph P. Machebeuf, D.D.|last=Howlett|first=W.J.|page=392|location=[[Denver]]}}</ref>

By 1893, Aspen had banks, a hospital, a police department, two theaters, an opera house, and electric lights. Economic collapse came with the [[Panic of 1893]], when [[Grover Cleveland|President Cleveland]] called a special session of Congress and repealed the act. Within weeks, many of 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 [[People's Party (United States)|People's Party]] (populists) 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.

Eventually, after wage cuts, mining revived somewhat, but production declined and by the 1930 census only 705 residents remained. Remaining, however, were stocks of old commercial buildings and residences, along with excellent snow. Aspen's development as a ski resort began in the 1930s when investors conceived of a ski area, but the project was interrupted by [[World War II]]. Friedl Pfeifer, a member of the [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]] who had trained in the area, returned to the area and linked up with industrialist [[Walter Paepcke]] and his wife [[Elizabeth Paepcke|Elizabeth]]. The [[Aspen Skiing Company]] was founded in 1946 and the city quickly became a well-known resort, hosting the [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1950|FIS World Championships in 1950]]. Paepcke also played an important role in bringing the Goethe Bicentennial Convocation to Aspen in 1949, an event held in a newly designed tent by the architect [[Eero Saarinen]]. Aspen was then on the path to becoming an internationally known [[Colorado ski resorts|ski resort]] and cultural center, home of the [[Aspen Music Festival and School]]. The area would continue to grow with the development of three additional ski areas, [[Buttermilk (ski area)|Buttermilk]] (1958), [[Aspen Highlands]] (1958), and [[Snowmass (ski area)|Snowmass]] (1967).

In the 1970s, Aspen became known as a playground for the rich and famous. Notable celebrities frequented the town and ski slopes, also John Denver was one of the more famous permanent residents.  In 1978, Aspen was thoroughly photographed for the [[Aspen Movie Map]] project funded by the [[U.S. Department of Defense]]. The Movie Map is one of the earliest examples of [[virtual reality]] software.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/411453/d-j-view/|title=Déjà View|last=SM '07|first=Erica Naone|website=MIT Technology Review|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2019}}</ref>

In 1999, the city council passed a resolution to petition the US Congress and [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]] to restrict US immigration. Aspen residents cited concerns about the environmental impacts of increased immigration on their community, including urban and suburban sprawl, pollution from the older automobiles typically driven by immigrants, and litter accumulating in the mountains attributable to the increasing population. The impetus for the resolution was the increasing number of trailer parks that housed the migrant workers employed locally in the service sector and ski industry. The parks were perceived to be degrading to the town's image, property values, and environment. The move was led by Terry Paulson, an Aspen City Council member, and supported and guided by national groups such as the Carrying Capacity Network, and the [[Center for Immigration Studies]]. The resolution was discussed on the ''American Patrol Report'' website, contributing to a controversy over whether or not the resolution was racially motivated. Councilman Terry Paulson and some Aspen citizens insisted that it was motivated entirely by environmental concerns.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Slums of Aspen|last1 = Park|first1 = Lisa Sun-Hee|last2 = Pellow|first2 = David Naguib|publisher = New York University Press|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-8147-6803-7}}</ref>

Aspen is notable as the smallest [[List of United States radio markets|radio market]] tracked by [[Arbitron]], ranked number 302.

Local media in Aspen include a public radio station, KJAX,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/|title=Aspen Public Radio|website=www.aspenpublicradio.org}}</ref> a public television station, the Grassroots TV network;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grassrootstv.org/|title=GrassRoots Community Network|website=GrassRoots Community}}</ref> three commercial radio stations, [[KSNO]], [[KTND]], and [[KSPN-FM|KSPN]]; two daily newspapers, ''[[Aspen Times|The Aspen Times]]'' and ''[[Aspen Daily News|The Aspen Daily News]]''; three local lifestyle magazines, ''Aspen Sojourner'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspensojo.com/|title=Aspen Sojourner|website=Aspen Sojourner}}</ref> ''[[Aspen Magazine]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aspenmagazine.com/|title=Maintenance|website=www.aspenmagazine.com|access-date=June 17, 2011|archive-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707175256/http://www.aspenmagazine.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the biannual ''[[Aspen Peak]]''; and a local, live, commercial lifestyle television channel, Aspen 82.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aspen82.com/about-us/|title=Aspen 82, About us|website=Aspen82|access-date=December 14, 2019}}</ref>

===Image===
[[File:Aspen Art Museum by Shigeru Ban.jpg|thumb|right|[[Aspen Art Museum]] (2015)]]
The city's character has transformed dramatically in recent decades by skyrocketing property values and the proliferation of second homes, increasingly shutting low- and middle-income workers out of the city and creating a large pool of commuters from nearby [[bedroom community|bedroom communities]] such as [[Snowmass, Colorado|Snowmass]], [[Basalt, Colorado|Basalt]], [[Carbondale, Colorado|Carbondale]], and [[Glenwood Springs, Colorado|Glenwood Springs]]. At the same time, in stark contrast to its historic character, the city has emerged into international fame as a glitzy playground of the wealthy and famous. Aspen has become a second and third home to many international jet-setters. Many people from the U.S. and abroad vacation in Aspen, especially during the winter.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/03/wealthy-aspen-legends |title = How Aspen became the billionaire's retreat|magazine = Vanity Fair|date = January 23, 2014|issue = March|last1 = Seal|first1 = Mark}}</ref>

The downtown has been largely transformed into an [[luxury goods|upscale shopping]] district that includes high-end restaurants, salons, and boutiques.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.discoverourtown.com/CO/Aspen/Shopping-1317.html |title = Shopping Aspen CO Colorado + Outlet Mall - City Guide}}</ref> Stores such as [[Gucci]], [[Prada]] and [[Fendi]] dot South Mill Street and act as a "Rodeo Drive" of Aspen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-shop-aspen|title=How to Shop Aspen, the West's Weird Luxury Oasis|date=February 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
The city sits along the southeast (upper) end of the Roaring Fork Valley, along the [[Roaring Fork River]], a tributary of the [[Colorado River (U.S.)|Colorado River]] about {{convert|40|mi|km}} south of [[Glenwood Springs, Colorado]]. It is surrounded by mountain and wilderness areas on three sides: Red Mountain to the north, Smuggler Mountain to the east, and [[Aspen Mountain (Colorado)|Aspen Mountain]] to the south.

Aspen is located along [[Colorado State Highway 82|State Highway 82]].

At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|9.992|km2|acre|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Aspen has a [[humid continental climate]] (Köppen: ''Dfb''). It has a large [[diurnal temperature variation]] with moderately warm summer days very cold winter nights. Summer lows and winter highs are relatively moderate, and frosts are rare in summer and winter days often averaging above freezing.
{{Weather box
|location = Aspen, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1980&ndash;present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 58
|Feb record high F = 60
|Mar record high F = 68
|Apr record high F = 74
|May record high F = 86
|Jun record high F = 88
|Jul record high F = 91
|Aug record high F = 88
|Sep record high F = 86
|Oct record high F = 78
|Nov record high F = 70
|Dec record high F = 62
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 48.6
|Feb avg record high F = 51.7
|Mar avg record high F = 59.4
|Apr avg record high F = 67.3
|May avg record high F = 76.1
|Jun avg record high F = 82.8
|Jul avg record high F = 85.4
|Aug avg record high F = 83.4
|Sep avg record high F = 79.5
|Oct avg record high F = 72.9
|Nov avg record high F = 60.6
|Dec avg record high F = 50.2
|year avg record high F = 85.8

|Jan high F = 32.0
|Feb high F = 35.3
|Mar high F = 42.7
|Apr high F = 49.7
|May high F = 60.0
|Jun high F = 70.6
|Jul high F = 75.5
|Aug high F = 73.1
|Sep high F = 66.9
|Oct high F = 55.2
|Nov high F = 41.6
|Dec high F = 31.9
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 20.9
|Feb mean F = 23.9
|Mar mean F = 31.2
|Apr mean F = 38.1
|May mean F = 47.5
|Jun mean F = 56.4
|Jul mean F = 61.8
|Aug mean F = 60.1
|Sep mean F = 53.4
|Oct mean F = 42.5
|Nov mean F = 30.5
|Dec mean F = 21.1
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 9.9
|Feb low F = 12.5
|Mar low F = 19.8
|Apr low F = 26.6
|May low F = 35.0
|Jun low F = 42.2
|Jul low F = 48.1
|Aug low F = 47.1
|Sep low F = 40.0
|Oct low F = 29.8
|Nov low F = 19.4
|Dec low F = 10.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -6.4
|Feb avg record low F = -4.5
|Mar avg record low F = 2.7
|Apr avg record low F = 12.3
|May avg record low F = 22.6
|Jun avg record low F = 31.2
|Jul avg record low F = 40.2
|Aug avg record low F = 39.5
|Sep avg record low F = 28.1
|Oct avg record low F = 13.1
|Nov avg record low F = 1.3
|Dec avg record low F = -7.7
|year avg record low F = -10.9

|Jan record low F = −20
|Feb record low F = −25
|Mar record low F = −14
|Apr record low F = 0
|May record low F = 15
|Jun record low F = 20
|Jul record low F = 29
|Aug record low F = 29
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = −5
|Nov record low F = −13
|Dec record low F = −23
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.93
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.23
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.59
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.68
|May precipitation inch = 2.17
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.06
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.97
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.75
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.89
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.09
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.09
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.00
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.7
|Feb precipitation days = 12.7
|Mar precipitation days = 11.3
|Apr precipitation days = 13.0
|May precipitation days = 11.0
|Jun precipitation days = 6.9
|Jul precipitation days = 11.3
|Aug precipitation days = 12.5
|Sep precipitation days = 10.0
|Oct precipitation days = 9.4
|Nov precipitation days = 9.9
|Dec precipitation days = 12.2
|year precipitation days =

|Jan snow inch = 28.1
|Feb snow inch = 28.3
|Mar snow inch = 26.9
|Apr snow inch = 20.9
|May snow inch = 7.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.4
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 1.0
|Oct snow inch = 10.2
|Nov snow inch = 20.5
|Dec snow inch = 27.5
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 12.0
|Feb snow days = 11.6
|Mar snow days = 9.5
|Apr snow days = 8.4
|May snow days = 2.5
|Jun snow days = 0.2
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.7
|Oct snow days = 4.0
|Nov snow days = 8.3
|Dec snow days = 11.3

|Jan snow depth inch = 29.1
|Feb snow depth inch = 36.5
|Mar snow depth inch = 35.3
|Apr snow depth inch = 21.2
|May snow depth inch = 4.2
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.2
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.5
|Oct snow depth inch = 5.0
|Nov snow depth inch = 11.3
|Dec snow depth inch = 19.2
|year snow depth inch = 39.0

|Jan humidity = 62.9 
|Feb humidity = 60.0 
|Mar humidity = 54.1 
|Apr humidity = 50.1
|May humidity = 46.9 
|Jun humidity = 42.8 
|Jul humidity = 47.4 
|Aug humidity = 52.3 
|Sep humidity = 50.6 
|Oct humidity = 52.3 
|Nov humidity = 59.7 
|Dec humidity = 64.5

|Jand sun = 7
|Febd sun = 8
|Mard sun = 8
|Aprd sun = 9
|Mayd sun = 10
|Jund sun = 11
|Juld sun = 10
|Augd sun = 9
|Sepd sun = 9
|Octd sun = 8
|Novd sun = 6
|Decd sun = 6

|Jan uv = 2
|Feb uv = 4
|Mar uv = 6
|Apr uv = 8
|May uv = 10
|Jun uv = 11
|Jul uv = 11
|Aug uv = 10
|Sep uv = 8
|Oct uv = 5
|Nov uv = 3
|Dec uv = 2

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00050372&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Aspen 1SW, CO
|access-date = November 26, 2022
}}
</ref><ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Junction
|access-date = November 26, 2022
}}
</ref> Weatherbase (humidity)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=79257&cityname=Aspen,+Colorado,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Aspen, Colorado Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> Weather Atlas (daily sunshine hours and UV index)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/colorado-usa/aspen-climate|title=Aspen, CO - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|publisher=Yu Media Group|website=Weather Atlas|language=en|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Henry Webber House, Aspen, CO.jpg|thumb|right|Henry Webber House (2010)]]
[[File:The John Denver Sanctuary in Rio Grande Park, Aspen, Colorado.jpg|thumb|The John Denver Sanctuary in Rio Grande Park]]
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 5108
|1900= 3303
|1910= 1834
|1920= 1265
|1930= 705
|1940= 777
|1950= 916
|1960= 1101
|1970= 2437
|1980= 3678
|1990= 5049
|2000= 5914
|2010= 6658
|2020= 7004
|footnote=[[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website  }}{{nonspecific|date=July 2017}}</ref> of 2003, there were 5,914 people, 2,903 households, and 1,082 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,675.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,354 housing units at an average density of 1,233.5 per square mile (476.2 per km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 94.94 percent [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.44 percent  [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.24 percent  [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.45 percent  [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.08 percent  [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.64 percent from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.2 percent from two or more races.  [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.14 percent of the population.

There were 2,903 households, of which 16.5 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.8 percent were [[marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.6 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 62.7 percent were non-families. Single individuals composed 43.8 percent of all households, and 4.8 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.67.

The ages of the population were 13.1 percent under the age of 18, 9.8 percent from 18 to 24, 42.1 percent from 25 to 44, 27.6 percent from 45 to 64, and 7.4 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,750, and the median income for a family was $70,300. Males had a median income of $41,011 versus $32,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $40,680. About 3.6 percent of families and 8.2 percent  of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4 percent of those under age 18 and 2.6 percent of those age 65 or over.
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===Housing===
Aspen's single-family home prices are among the highest of any town in the country. Real estate supply is restricted due to a moratorium on new housing construction, housing renovation and short-term rentals.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Blevins |first=Jason |date=December 9, 2021 |title=Aspen suspends new home construction permits as it drops the hammer in the name of affordability |url=http://coloradosun.com/2021/12/09/aspen-emergency-ordinance-permits-residential-construction-strs/ |website=[[The Colorado Sun]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Small |first=Lori and William |title=Small: 2022 real estate predictions: Is the market about to shift? |url=https://www.aspendailynews.com/business/small-2022-real-estate-predictions-is-the-market-about-to-shift/article_599fff92-7cb9-11ec-9eb6-c33ab861992f.html |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Aspen Daily News |date=January 24, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The median sales price of a single family home in 2021 in Aspen was $9.5 million.<ref name=":1" /> A 2023 study by Savills, a global real estate broker, declared that prime Aspen real estate was the most expensive on a per-square-foot-basis of the 44 global ski resort markets it studied.<ref name="savills" />

Relatively less expensive housing can be found outside the city limits, in nearby Snowmass Village (median single family home price $5.2 million in 2021),<ref name=":1" /> or in the city's condos, many of which date to the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 8, 2021|title=Estin Report Aspen Snowmass Real Estate 2021 ws|url=https://www.estinaspen.com/estin-reports/estin-report-aspen-snowmass-real-estate-ws-2021/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=Tim Estin|language=en-US|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506231010/https://www.estinaspen.com/estin-reports/estin-report-aspen-snowmass-real-estate-ws-2021/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Affordability of housing is a severe challenge for workers in the Aspen area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2021 |title=Skyrocketing Real Estate Prices Could Bring "Significant Cultural Change" To Aspen And Snowmass |url=https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/2021-05-17/skyrocketing-real-estate-prices-could-bring-significant-cultural-change-to-aspen-and-snowmass |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Aspen Public Radio |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority oversees an extensive program of properties intended for people who primarily live and work in the [[Roaring Fork Valley]] and whose income falls below certain limits, known as Employee Housing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=APCHA, CO {{!}} Official Website|url=https://www.apcha.org/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=www.apcha.org}}</ref> Homes purchased through Employee Housing programs typically contain deed restrictions to maintain a degree of affordability for local residents, but even deed-restricted properties in the area can cost close to $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Kaya|title=Coffey Place lottery to offer deed-restricted housing in Snowmass|url=https://www.aspentimes.com/snowmass/coffey-place-lottery-to-offer-deed-restricted-housing-in-snowmass/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=www.aspentimes.com|date=January 13, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:2017 World Cup Ski Run, Aspen.jpg|thumb|Ski Run from the 2017 World Cup]]
The [[Winter X Games]] sports event has been held in Aspen at [[Buttermilk (ski area)]] since 2002. Aspen natives [[Torin Yater-Wallace]] and [[Alex Ferreira]] are both [[freestyle skiers]] who compete in the Winter X Games and have very successful careers. Both Torin and Alex have represented the United States of America in Men's Ski SuperPipe at the [[Olympic Games]].

The [[Gentlemen of Aspen RFC|Gentlemen of Aspen]] is the local rugby team. The Gentlemen of Aspen won the [[Rugby Super League (United States)|Rugby Super League]] several times: 1997, 2001, 2002.

==Government==
[[File:Aspen City Hall.jpg|thumb|City Hall, formerly Armory Hall|alt=A brick building with trapezoidal roof overhanging the sidewalk on its right side at an intersection. Signs say it is at the 100 block of South Galena Street and the 500 block of East Hopkins Avenue.]]

Aspen is a [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule municipality]]<ref name=COMun /> under Colorado law. It has a [[council-manager government]]. An elected council of four members and the mayor supervise the city's operations, managed on a day-to-day basis by the city manager, an appointed official who serves at their pleasure.

The city's main office is at City Hall, the former Armory Hall listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] at the intersection of South Galena Street and East Hopkins Avenue. Because of its expansion in the late-20th century, it has outgrown that space. Several city departments are housed in satellite offices around the city.

==Education==
{{as of|2012}}, based on data from the 2009–10 school year, according to ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'', [[Aspen High School]], the only high school in the [[Aspen School District]], is the top ranked high school in Colorado and ranked 59th in the United States. The high school has grades 9 to 12, 540 students, and 41 teachers. Olympic cross-country skier [[Noah Hoffman]] is a 2007 graduate.

Minorities, mostly Hispanic, make up 13 percent of the school's enrollment. Four percent of the students are economically disadvantaged. The school has a high rate of participation in the [[IB Diploma Programme|International Baccalaureate program]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Aspen High School Overview|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/colorado/districts/aspen-school-district-no-1-in-the-county-of-pitkin-and-sta/aspen-high-school-3974|access-date=June 4, 2012|newspaper=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>

==Transportation==
* [[Roaring Fork Transportation Authority]], or RFTA, provides free bus service within Aspen and Snowmass Village, and pay service to the surrounding communities of Basalt, El Jebel, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Rifle. [[Amtrak]] serves [[Glenwood Springs (Amtrak station)|Glenwood Springs]], offering in conjunction with RFTA an environmentally friendly way to travel to Aspen.
* Aspen's airport is [[Aspen-Pitkin County Airport]], also known as Sardy Field. The airport is an FAA Class 1 airport and has one asphalt runway, {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide and {{convert|8006|ft|m|abbr=on}} long. The airport is commercially serviced by [[American Airlines]], [[Delta Air Lines]], and [[United Airlines]].
* [[Colorado State Highway 82|State Highway 82]] is the only major road that provides access to Aspen. There are some mountain pass roads that lead to the city, but those require all-terrain vehicles and are typically impassable during the winter. Highway 82 east of Aspen is also impassable due to snow on [[Independence Pass (Colorado)|Independence Pass]], leaving Highway 82 west of Aspen as the only means of motor vehicle access during the winter. Highway 82 east of Aspen is typically closed from approximately the end of October to Memorial Day, depending on snow conditions.
* The [[Bike sharing|bike-sharing system]] WE-CYCLE serves Aspen and [[Basalt, Colorado|Basalt]] with 16 stations and 200 bikes. Docking stations and bikes are built by [[PBSC Urban Solutions]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aspentimes.com/news/6728593-113/bike-cycle-aspen-sharing|title=Bike sharing comes to Aspen {{!}} AspenTimes.com|website=The Aspen Times|access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref>

== Historic buildings ==
<gallery class="center" widths="180px">
File:Aspen Community church south facade.jpg|[[Aspen Community Church]]
File:Aspen Wheeler Opera House.jpg|[[Wheeler Opera House]]
File:Pitkin County Courthouse Aspen 2015.jpg|[[Pitkin County Courthouse]]
File:Aspen Armory Hall or Fraternal Hall.jpg|Armory Hall or Fraternal Hall ([[Aspen City Hall]])
File:Aspen Elks building.jpg|Elks building
File:Aspen Cowenhaven Ute City Banque building.jpg|Cowenhoven Ute City Banque building
File:Aspen Independence building.jpg|Independence building
File:Aspen Hotel Jerome.jpg|[[Hotel Jerome]]
</gallery>

==Sister cities==
Aspen's [[sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web |title=Aspen's Sister Cities|url=https://aspenchamber.org/about/aspens-sister-cities|publisher=Aspen Chamber Resort Association|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Abetone Cutigliano]], Italy
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Bariloche]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Chamonix|Chamonix-Mont-Blanc]], France
*{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Davos]], Switzerland
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Garmisch-Partenkirchen]], Germany
*{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]], New Zealand
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shimukappu]], Japan
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Aspen, Colorado}}

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Aspen anomaly]]
*[[The Aspen Business Luncheon]]
*[[Aspen Center for Physics]]
*[[Aspen Institute]]
*[[Aspen/Snowmass]]
*[[Colorado Silver Boom]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
*[[Rifle, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
*[[Smuggler Mine]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Berger, Bruce. ''The Complete Half-Aspenite'' WHO Press, 2005, {{ISBN|1-882426-22-3}}
* Rohrbough, Malcolm. ''Aspen: The History of a Silver Mining Town 1879–1893''  Oxford University Press, 1988, {{ISBN|0-19-505428-8}}
* Wentworth, Frank L.  ''Aspen on the Roaring Fork'', Sundance Publication, hardcover, {{ISBN|0-913582-15-8}} (earlier editions exist)

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[https://www.aspen.gov/ City of Aspen]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Pitkin County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Roaring Fork Valley}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Colorado}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Aspen, Colorado| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Pitkin County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Roaring Fork Valley]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Colorado]]
[[Category:1879 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1879]]