Aspen History

Pre 20th Century

The earliest residents of the area now known as Aspen were Ute tribes, who called the region the 'Shining Mountains'. Many different Native American groups occupied the Rocky Mountains when the first Europeans ambled into the area, and the Utes' Colorado territory stretched from the Uinta Mountains and the Yampa River in the north to the San Juan River in the south, and as far east as the Front Range.

The first Europeans to spot the Rockies were Spaniards moving north from Mexico at the end of the 16th century; by the early 19th century Spanish influence extended through most of the western half of present-day Colorado. In the late 1800s, explorers hoping to strike it rich in the silver mines settled into Ute City, which was renamed Aspen in 1880.

The year of its official renaming, Aspen's population was a mere 300; within the next booming 10 years, filled with excitement and mining fortune, the population leapt to 12,000. In 1887, Aspen became the first Colorado town to provide electricity to its whole population. The high life bred two railroads, four schools, six newspapers, 10 churches, brothels and an opera house. Many of the historical buildings still standing today, such as the Wheeler Opera House, were created during this short stretch of time. By 1891, Aspen was the country's largest silver-producing district.

The boom didn't take long to reach bust, however, and Aspen's mining luck ended in 1893, with the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act under President Cleveland. Gold became the national standard once again, and the area's large mines shut down. Aspen held onto its status as a county seat due to its ranching and farming industries.

Modern

By the 1930s, Aspen's population had dwindled to 700. The silvering days were long over, and the next economic boost the area saw would be the result of its winter snow, which was certainly in no shortage. Plans to construct a ski resort were deferred by WWII, but in 1947 the floodgates began to part: Aspen Mountain opened for commercial business. Both Buttermilk Mountain and Aspen Highlands opened in 1958, and Snowmass joined the fun in 1968. At the same time, Aspen was also gaining status as an international arts-and-culture stop. With all this, and its serenely beautiful landscapes, it's no wonder that everyone from well-to-do tourists to adventure-seekers didn't take long to discover the area.

Recent

While Colorado's vulnerability to economic rollercoasting - always a feature of its history -has continued into the new millennium, Aspen continues to enjoy its status of mountain playground to the botoxed bold and the beautiful. There is affluence here by the SUV-load, and that tends to keep the economy humming along, impervious to the booms and busts that have marked the history of other areas of the state.