Estes Park is a statutory town found in Larimer County, United States. Estes Park belongs to the Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor. Estes lies along the Big Thomson River and has famous landmarks like; The Stanley Hotel and the Baldpate Inn. According to the 2020 United States Census, the town’s population stood at 5,904.
Geography
Estes Park sits at an elevation of 7,522 feet on the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and its location is 40°22′22″N 105°31′09″W. As per the 2020 census, the town had 4,414 acres, including 48 acres of water.
History Of Estes Park
The history of Estes Park is tied with the powerful geological forces of nature, which led to the formation of the Rocky Mountains and its magnificent mountain valleys. Until the late 1700s, the Ute dominated the western part of the mountain. They were increasingly forced to share their territory with the Comanche, Arapaho, and shonshe. Estes Park was named by William Byers, the founding editor of the Rocky Mountain News, in honour of his wife Patsy and Joel Estes. It was because Byers and his party were on their way to climb Long Peak in 1864, stayed with the Estes family
Abner Sprague platted the town of Estes Park in 1905. Sprague surveyed a small part of the town, and the land was bought up quickly, laying the foundation for what would become Estes Park. Most of the town’s early infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, and sewerage system, was developed by steam car pioneer F.O. Stanley out of generosity while visiting the city. Rocky Mountain National park was established in January of 1915, and two years later, the town of Estes Park was incorporated. The newly formed local government began running the fast-growing community.
Modern day Estes Park
Modern-day Estes Park is a thriving town that receives thousands of visitors every year.
Living In Estes Park
Estes’ housing prices are some of the most expensive in America, mainly due to its tourism hotspot status. Esters park is somewhat ethnically diverse, with the majority identifying as whites, followed by native Americans. English is the most spoken language, while Spanish and Italian are also spoken. Estes Park is a convenient place to live in as it allows you to enjoy the cultural and commercial attractions while maintaining the feel of a rural town. If you enjoy the outdoors and value your privacy, then Estes Park might be the best fit for you, but you might want to reconsider if you are into the nightlife and part scene. Some of the popular neighbourhoods in Estes park include;
- Ranch Meadow
- Rockwood
- Saint Vrain
- Stanley Heights
- Tunnel road
- Windcliff
- Prospect Estates
- Grand Estates
- Bird Streets
Popular Places To Visit While In Estes Park
Estes Park is mainly known for being the base camp for the Rocky Mountains National Park. The mountain village of Estes Park offers modern amenities that you need with a touch of hometown hospitality. Estes Park is reputed for having unique wilderness activities. You will be guided by the tour guides, who are professionals through the wilderness activities, and you will also be trained with appropriate safety equipment. During the summer and fall, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, camping, and water sports such as whitewater rafting are some of the activities offered. Winter brings cold-weather activities such as sledging, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and even ice climbing.
Without lodging, shopping, or dining facilities inside the national park, travellers spend most of their time experiencing what the village offers. The scenic Riverwalk and the charming downtown, visits to local breweries and distilleries are some attractions. Concerts and festivals are also held throughout the year, while in winter, the town celebrates the elk rut, which is a mating season.
Trail Ridge Road, the most significant continuous paved highway in America, takes travellers on an adventure through the alpine wonderland.
Working In Estes Park
Estes Park is not predominantly blue-collar or white-collar in terms of jobs. The most common occupations are a mix of both, usually seasonal jobs. The town comprises sales and office workers, service providers, and professionals. Estes Park, interestingly also contains a high number of people working in computers and math. The income per capita in Estes Park in 2018 stood at 40,210 dollars which is relatively wealthy compared to the rest of the US. The primary industries in Estes Park are;
- Professional services like wellness, freelancer, software
- Outdoor recreation like athletic training, winter and indoor sports, outdoor gear design
- Artisan crafts, fine art, breweries, and distilleries
Significant employers in Estes Park include;
- Estes Valley Recreation and Park District
- Rocky Mountain Park inn
- Harmony Foundation
- Estes Park Medical Centre
Schools In Estes Park
Schools in Estes Park are highly ranked due to their performance and effectiveness in preparing learners for further studies, among other factors. Some of the schools in Estes, Colorado, are;
- Estes Park High School
- Estes Park Middle School
- Estes Park k-5 School
- Colorado Mountain School
Some of the colleges in and around Estes Park are;
- Ravencrest
- Pepperdine University
- Pingree Park Campus Colorado State
- Colorado State University
- Naropa University
- The University of Colorado at Boulder
Takeaway
Estes is primarily a tourist town with a rural feel but offers rich diversity and many amenities, not forgetting one of the most visited mountain resort towns! The city will be a good fit for you if you have the skills required to secure employment in the town or are looking to escape the city without giving up some of its luxuries.