Independence and Independence Mill Site | |
Location | White River National Forest, CO |
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Nearest city | Aspen |
Coordinates | 39°06′26″N 106°36′21″W / 39.1072°N 106.6059°W |
Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
Built | 1880s |
MPS | Mining Industry in Colorado |
NRHP reference No. | 73000484 |
Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
Independence is an extinct town located in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. It is located at an elevation of 10,913 feet (3,326 m) 2.2 miles (3.6 km) directly west of Independence Pass. It was the first settlement established in the Roaring Fork Valley, after gold was struck in the vicinity on Independence Day, July 4, 1879, hence its name. Independence was served by three differently named post offices: Farwell from July 14, 1881, until July 3, 1882; Sparkill from February 1, 1882, until October 18, 1887; and Chipeta from April 20, 1899, until October 17, 1899.[1] It has also been known historically as Mammoth City, Mount Hope, and Hunter's Pass.
In 1973, it was recognized as a historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Independence and Independence Mill Site.
Like other early settlements in the upper Roaring Fork Valley, it lost population over the course of the decade as Aspen emerged as the ideal location for commerce in the region,[2] and then became the county seat. It was never able to overcome the severe winters that resulted from its location at a high elevation in the mountains, and at the end of the 19th century all but one of the remaining residents abandoned Independence en masse after a particularly heavy snowstorm to settle in Aspen.
It has been a ghost town since at least 1912. The remaining structures, all log cabins of various sizes, are now on land partially in White River National Forest. It is one of the few abandoned mining camps in the state where any buildings are left.[3] In the late 20th century they were restored and interpretive materials added.