Pitkin County is a rural, mountainous region and home to the resort communities of Aspen and Snowmass. Boasting some of the highest real estate prices in the country, development pressures are extreme, making land conservation both costly and daunting. Pitkin County residents have not been deterred. In 1990, voters passed a ballot measure creating the Open Space and Trails (OST) program. Two subsequent ballot measures have extended a 3.75 mill property tax to 2020, and a total of $38 million in General Obligation bonding authority has been authorized. Grants and partnerships have leveraged significant funds for the program ($.43 for every OST dollar spent). To date, Pitkin County has preserved 14,000 acres of farmland, wildlife habitat, open space, recreational assets, and trails.
The county's success in preserving undeveloped land can be attributed to its strong partnerships with myriad public and private entities, a spectrum of conservation tools, and long-standing relationships of trust with local landowners. Pitkin County, Colorado is located in the west central part of the beautiful Rocky Mountain Region of the State, in the Colorado River watershed. Its eastern boundary is the Continental Divide. The Crystal, Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers flow into Pitkin County from the north: and tributaries of the Roaring Fork, including Castle and Maroon Creeks, flow into the southern part of the County. Pitkin County covers an area of 818.63 square miles with elevations range from 6,625 to 14,259 feet atop Castle Peak.
With a full time population of nearly 15,000, and a high season population greater than 25,000 the County has two primary population centers in the towns of Snowmass Village and Aspen. There are also a number of rural residential areas that are organized by local caucuses including Redstone, Thomasville, Old Snowmass, Brush Creek Village, Owl Creek, Woody Creek and Castle/Maroon Creek. Located high in the Rocky Mountains, Aspen is the 53rd largest city in the state. 200 miles southwest of Denver and 130 miles east of Grand Junction, it is at the southeastern end of the Roaring Fork Valley. The Roaring Fork Valley stretches from Glenwood Springs and the Northwest end to Aspen on the Southeast end. Aspen is surrounded by the White River National Forest. Aspen encompasses 3.66 square miles, is a relatively flat valley floor surrounded on three sides by Aspen, Smuggler and Red Mountains. It was founded in 1880 and incorporated in 1881. Aspen is internationally renowned as a winter and summer resort.
Pitkin County Demographics and Statistics
County: Pitkin
County Seat: Aspen
Aspen Zip Code: 81611
Aspen Elevation: 7,908 ft. at city base
