Formed February 23, 1881 (32nd county)
Pitkin County (17,358), Aspen (7,000)
A unique red brick, towered building is located in this mountain city. The courthouse is located on Main Street at Galena Street. It was built in 1890 in Classical Revival style. Colorado State Highway 82 is Main Street through the city. William Quayle is the building architect. The county was created from Lake County on February 23, 1881 as the 32nd county with Aspen as the only county seat. The county was named for Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin. The county seat name comes from the numerous trees in the area. The center of the county is 7 miles Northwest of Aspen nearer Snowmass Village.
Pitkin County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, manager, coroner, and treasurer (executive). It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.) Five District Court Judges serve Pitkin, Garfield, and Rio Blanco counties and a Trial Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve Pitkin County (judicial.) Pitkin County is in west central Colorado. The Continental Divide forms the eastern border of the county. The county is mountainous and a popular ski location in the winter. The county is surrounded clockwise by Eagle, Lake, Chaffee, Gunnison, Mesa, and Garfield counties.
The area of the county is 970.4 square miles. The county is 44 out of 64 in the state. It ranks 29 out of 64 in population in the state. It has a density of 17.9 persons per square mile making it 27 out of 64 in the state. Pitkin County has 64.3% of its population in its incorporated areas. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county. The county is shaped like a bowl. Aspen is located slightly east of center in the county. Aspen is the county seat and the largest city. It is 40.3% of the county population.
Aspen
Snowmass Village
Basalt
