Chapter 13: Culture Regions

Aspen is not a culturally diverse city. 94% of its population is white and a majority of the other 6% does not reside in Aspen because they cannot afford to live there. 58% of the population is religious and 56% of that group is some type of Christian. Surprisingly, 0% are Jewish. The high end neighborhoods such as City Center and Thomasville/Nest constitute the higher portion of the wealthy because of its high property values. Independence/Ashcroft contains the middle-class people that can afford to live there.


http://www.coloradodirectory.com/aspenbasaltcamp/ABMap1.jpg
Basalt and Carbondale are near Aspen.


Sources:
http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Aspen-Colorado.aspx

Chapter 12: Human Impact

Although Aspen does rely on heavy industry pollution does exist. Aspen witnesses high levels of carbon monoxide and ozone. At least 83% of its particulate pollution comes from vehicles and water pollution comes as a result of urban runoff. Aspen is being proactive in attempting to fix its environmental issues. A new stromwater treatment system has been created to reduce water pollution. The new system is supposed to remove sediment, oil, and grease from water before it enters the river. Furthermore, not only does Aspen have the 2nd largest mass transit system in Colorado but it also has numerous hybrid busses. The city also contains numerous bike and walking trails that encourages walking and riding bicycles. Aspen’s Environmental Health Department also encourages people to recycle and brings awareness about proper chemical management. Lastly, 75% of Aspen’s electricity comes from renewable wind and hydro.

Sources:
http://www.aspenpitkin.com/pdfs/depts/44/historyaspenenviro.pdf

Chapter 11: Recreational Resources

http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/default.cfm
Beautiful site of the mountains in Aspen.


Aspen is tourist city and many of its visitors come for skiing or to see its beautiful natural environment. People from all over the country come to Snowmass, Buttermilk, and Aspen Mountains for recreation. These mountains offer some of the best skiing slopes at a price not many people can afford. The slopes are open between November and April. The mountains are not only good for skiing during the snowy season but they are also good for hiking when its dry. Many people from outside the city come and enjoy a small town atmosphere, while also skiing and hiking.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/andysmolak/465339976/
Skiing looks like fun.

Sources:
http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/default.cfm

Chapter 10: Neighborhoods

There are three neighborhoods in Aspen: Thomasville/Nest, Independence/Ashcroft, and City Center. All three neighborhoods are expensive with an average median home value being about $7 million. The most expensive, however, is City Center, followed by Thomasville/Nest and then Independence/Ashcroft. A very high majority of these neighborhoods are inhabited by whites because others cannot afford to live there. Thus, there is de facto segregation since only wealthy whites can afford to live in these areas. The lower classes have to resort to commuting from bedroom communities (Basalt and Carbondale). Here is a site for a good map of the neighborhoods in Aspen: http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/aspen/

Sources:
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/aspen/

Chapter 9: Cities

http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Aspen-Colorado.aspx


Although its population would allow Aspen to be considered a small town, the Colorado state Constitution allows it to declare itself a town or city. As a result, Aspen is a very small city in regards to population. There is not much cultural diversity in the city since about 94% of the population is white and is mostly a white-collar city. The city relies heavily on tourism and thus the city and natural environment are the main attractions. There are many people that cannot afford to live in the city and have to move outside the city and commute to work. The concentric model zone does apply for Aspen, but the lower class is taken out because they cannot afford to live in the city. The lower class and a certain portion of the middle class have to rely on commuting from bedroom communities such as Basalt and Carbondale.


http://www.ultimatetaxi.com/1999/aspen530.jpg
Picture of Aspen along the mountain during the winter.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado#Transportation
http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Aspen-Colorado.aspx#1

Chapter 8: Modern Transportation

Although Aspen has a small population it has 2nd largest mass transit system in Colorado. The average one-way commute in is about 15 minutes. A majority of people like walking instead of driving. 42% commute alone in their cars, 7% carpool, and 11% use mass transit. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority or RFTA provides bus service in Aspen. Local RFTA bus service is free when commuting within the city or when going to the airport. Aspen’s airport is Aspen-Pitkin County Airport and has only one runway. Highway 82 is the only highway that runs through Aspen. The city also contains numerous bike and walking trails that encourages walking and riding bicycles.


http://www.fta.dot.gov/TRO_8/TRO8_RFTA_Hybrid_Bus_rdax_300x175.jpg
Bike trails such as these encourage walking and bike riding.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/23437487@N00/2451356405/
Two small planes on the small runway of the Aspen airport.


http://rfta.com/biketrail.jpg
A hybrid bus of the RFTA.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado#Transportation
http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Aspen-Colorado.aspx
http://www.aspenpitkin.com/pdfs/depts/44/historyaspenenviro.pdf

Chapter 7: Industrial and Commercial Organization

As stated earlier, mining was the industry the city of Aspen was founded upon. Furthermore, with the decline in mining came the decline in population as jobs became scarce. The jump in population in the mid 20th century was a result of a revamped economy based on tourism and skiing. Thus, Aspen’s main industries were skiing and tourism and continue to be today. Tourism has become so popular that homes are being bought as a vacation home for the people that can afford it. As a result, property values rise and so does everything else. Now, Aspen is an expensive city to work and live in, while also an attractive spot for celebrities and the wealthy to vacation. A perfect example of the wealth of Aspen are the availability of a Dior, Channel, Louis Vuitton , Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Tod’s, and Burberry boutique, 3 of which are the only locations in Colorado. With a low population, factories and high-production industries do not exist in Aspen. Just how Aspen depended heavily on the mining industry in the late 19th century, the city depends on the tourism and skiing industries today.


http://skitour.com/gif/resort/aspen.jpg


http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado#cite_note-3

Chapter 6: Agriculture, Gathering, and Extractive Industries

Being located on a mountain and experiencing heavy snowfall, agriculture and farming are not industries that can exist in Aspen. Mining was the reason why Aspen was founded and thus was an important industry. Mining, however, declined heavily by the end of the 19th century and is now almost non-existent. As of 2007, 7% of all males in Aspen worked in the fishing, forestry, and mining sector. Most of that percentage belongs to forestry because of the abundance of trees. With a lack of agricultural resources, Aspen depends on importing its vegetables and fruits.


http://www.ultimatetaxi.com/2007/aspen_colorado_feb3.jpg

Sources:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html

Chapter 5: Political Geography

Aspen is the county seat and most populous city in Pitkin County, Colorado. Based on Article XX of the Colorado Constitution, it can choose to declare itself a city or town, which is why it is a city even though it has a very small population. Although Aspen was founded in 1879, it was not incorporated until 1881. The local governing body consists of a mayor and a city council. In regards to voting, 68.4% of the population are registered Democrats, 30.1% are Republicans, and 1.5% Independent.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_municipalities#Home_Rule_Municipality
http://www.aspenpitkin.com/depts/39/deptmain.cfm

Chapter 4: Populaiton Geographies since 1950

After 1950 the population began to greatly increase. Now that investors created Aspen into a ski resort, the new jobs attracted people. In 1960 the population was 1,101 and continued to rise to 5,843 in 2000. The population in 2007 was 5,785 while 90.8% were white, 6.1% Hispanic, 0.6% American Indian, 0.5% Chinese, and 1.6% was other race. Now that Aspen has high real estate values it is flourishing economically. The high prices, however, have led to a high concentration of wealthy people living in the city. Many people with a low to medium income cannot afford to live in the city and are forced to live outside it and commute to work.


http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html

Sources:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado

Chapter 3: Settlement Patterns before 1950

A small community named Ute City was founded in 1879 and a year later was renamed Aspen. From the very beginning Aspen has had a small population. Founded as a mining town the population depended heavily on the work available. Thus, at its peak production in 1891 and 1892, the population was also at its highest. The population of 1890 was 5108, but then with the Panic of 1893 production declined and so did the population down to 3303 in 1900. Population continued to decline up to 1930 when it reached its lowest point of 705. After World War II, investors began to develop Aspen into a ski resort, which brought in more jobs and increased the population. In 1940 the population was 777 and 906 in 1950.


Aspen Lumber Company in 1882.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado#cite_note-3

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado

Chapter 2: Physical Features

The city has an area of 3.5 square miles and none of it is water. The city sits along the upper end of the Roaring Fork Valley, along the Roaring Fork River. It is surrounded by Red Mountain to the north, Smuggler Mountain to the east, and Aspen Mountain to the south. It lies at an altitude of 7,850 feet and is about 100 miles southwest of Denver. Aspen receives about 19 inches of rainfall and 138 inches of snow per year. Throughout the year, the city experiences about 110 days with some type of measurable precipitation and 246 sunny days. The city is surrounded by a vast vegetation, mostly aspen trees.


http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html


http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/03/29/aspen.plane.02/map.colorado.aspen.jpg


http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html


http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html


http://www.city-data.com/city/Aspen-Colorado.html

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado
http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-ofaspen.htmhttp://www.bestplaces.net/city/Aspen-Colorado.aspx

Chapter 1: Intro

Aspen is a small and expensive city in Colorado and is a vacation spot where I want to visit. The city was founded as a mining town during the silver mining boom in 1879, but today is known as a tourist center for skiing. Property values have been skyrocketing and its per capita is one of the highest in the country. As a result, a majority of the lower and middle income families are forced to live on the outskirts of the city, such as Basalt and Carbondale. The fact remains, however, that the city has a beautiful scenery and is great for skiing.

http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc34974.php


http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc9295.php

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen,_Colorado