Pitkin County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pitkin County
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Pitkin County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
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 Colorado's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Founded | February 23, 1881 |
| Named for | Frederick Walker Pitkin |
| Seat | Aspen |
| Largest city | Aspen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 973 sq mi (2,520 km2) |
| • Land | 971 sq mi (2,510 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) 0.3%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,358 |
| • Density | 18/sq mi (7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Pitkin County is a special area in the state of Colorado, USA. It's like a big neighborhood with its own local government. In 2020, about 17,358 people lived here.
The main town and biggest city in Pitkin County is Aspen. The county got its name from Frederick Walker Pitkin, who was once the Governor of Colorado. Pitkin County is also part of a larger area that includes Glenwood Springs.
Contents
Exploring Pitkin County's Geography
Pitkin County is a large area, covering about 973 square miles. Most of this land is dry, with only a small part (about 0.3%) being water.
Highest Point in Pitkin County
The tallest spot in the county is Castle Peak. This mountain is super tall, reaching 14,265 feet high! It's located about 20 miles south of Aspen, right near the border with Gunnison County.
Neighboring Counties
Pitkin County shares its borders with several other counties. These are like its neighbors:
- Eagle County to the northeast
- Lake County to the east
- Chaffee County to the southeast
- Gunnison County to the south
- Mesa County to the west
- Garfield County to the northwest
Main Roads in Pitkin County
Two important roads help people travel through Pitkin County:
State Highway 82
State Highway 133
Protected Natural Areas
Pitkin County is home to some beautiful protected lands where nature is preserved. These include:
- White River National Forest
- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
- Holy Cross Wilderness
- Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
- Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
Trails and Scenic Drives
If you love exploring, Pitkin County has some amazing trails and scenic routes:
- American Discovery Trail
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
- West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
Population of Pitkin County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 8,929 | — | |
| 1900 | 7,020 | −21.4% | |
| 1910 | 4,566 | −35.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,707 | −40.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,770 | −34.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,836 | 3.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,643 | −10.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,381 | 44.9% | |
| 1970 | 6,185 | 159.8% | |
| 1980 | 10,338 | 67.1% | |
| 1990 | 12,661 | 22.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,872 | 17.5% | |
| 2010 | 17,148 | 15.3% | |
| 2020 | 17,358 | 1.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,640 | −3.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, about 14,872 people lived in Pitkin County. By 2020, this number grew to 17,358. The population has changed a lot over the years, as you can see in the table above.
The average age of people in the county in 2000 was 38 years old. About 16.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
Living a Long Life in Pitkin County
People in Pitkin County tend to live a very long time! In 2014, the average life expectancy here was 86.52 years. This was one of the longest in the entire United States. Both men and women in Pitkin County often live longer than people in most other places.
Experts say there are many reasons for this. People in Pitkin County often have good education and good jobs. They also have easy access to doctors and healthcare. Plus, many residents are very active and healthy, and fewer people are overweight compared to other areas. It seems like they are doing many things right for a healthy lifestyle!
In 2021, Pitkin County was even ranked as having the fourth-best life expectancy in the nation, at 93.4 years.
Towns and Communities
Pitkin County has several towns and communities where people live and work.
Cities
Towns
Special Designated Places
These are areas that are recognized for census purposes:
Other Small Communities
These are other smaller places within the county that don't have their own local government:
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pitkin para niños
