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Pitkin County was carved out of Gunnison County in 1881 and the county seat is Aspen.   The first settlers came to the Roaring Fork Valley in search of silver in 1879.   Almost all of the early settlers arrived from Leadville, Colorado in neighboring Lake County, via Independence Pass. The largest silver nugget in the world, weighing over one ton, was found in Smuggler Mine in 1894.  The county contains 975 square miles of rugged terrain.   It's eastern boundary is the Continental Divide; the Crystal, Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers flow in from the north.  The town of Aspen, originally known as Ute City, was founded in 1880 and incorporated in 1881.  Aspen, elevation 7800 feet, is surrounded by 14,000 foot mountains and is located on State Highway 82 on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in the Roaring Fork Valley.  In 1948 Aspen was re-developed by Chicago industrialist Walter Paepcke into the world famous ski resort that it is today.   The town of Redstone is the site of the historic Redstone Castle, built by John C. Osgood.  Charming Redstone Castle is now a bed and breakfast facility and the site of many weddings.  Please note that Pitkin County is somewhat boxed in by high mountains. Parts of Gunnison and Garfield County play a large role in Pitkin County history. If you don't find what you are looking for here - be sure to check out these neighboring counties.