We are glad to have you here and look forward to getting to know you & welcoming you into our unique mountain community.
Who Lives in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley?
What is unique about Aspen is its ability to blend communities. Young and old, rich and middle class, workers and retirees, and seasonal employees, you'll find all of these people and more in our vibrant community. Together, we cherish our community by committing to the Aspen Pledge.
Aspen is situated at the head of the Roaring Fork Valley. The valley is named after the Roaring Fork River, whose headwaters begin near Independence Pass, just east of town. The river runs through Aspen and turns down valley past Snowmass Village and through the towns of Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood, where it eventually flows into the mighty Colorado River.
The area surrounding Aspen is dominated by White River National Forest public lands. The spectacular Elk Mountains rise to the south and west of Aspen, with the Williams Mountains and the Sawatch Range to the east. Much of the high mountain areas surrounding Aspen lie within designated wilderness areas in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass, Hunter-Fryingpan, and Collegiate Peaks wildernesses.
These majestic ranges create the beautiful alpine valleys in which our residents live. The Roaring Fork, Maroon Creek, Castle Creek, Hunter Creek and Castle Creek valleys are home to approximately 26,000 people.
The people who live here are attracted by the mountains, the rivers, the culture and the all-around high quality of life. The result is an extraordinary citizenry: thoughtful, vocal, diverse and involved.
Situated high in the Rocky Mountains, Aspen is the 53rd largest city in the state of Colorado. It was founded in 1880 and incorporated in 1881. It is located 200 miles southwest of Denver and 130 miles east of Grand Junction, at the southeastern end of the Roaring Fork Valley. The Roaring Fork Valley stretches from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. Aspen is surrounded by the White River National Forest, encompassing 3.66 square miles, and sits on a relatively flat valley floor surrounded on three sides by Aspen, Smuggler and Red Mountains. Aspen is the county seat of Pitkin County which extends to Basalt and Redstone communities.
County: Pitkin
County Seat: Aspen
Aspen Zip Code: 81611
Aspen Elevation: 7,908 feet, at city base
For information on voting including sample ballot, mail-in ballot, polling places and additional information please click here.
For up-to-date information on City and County meetings and agenda items, click on the following links: City Council and/or Board of County Commissioner Records.
