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