Although its boundaries have changed over time, Lake County is one of the original seventeen counties created by the Colorado legislature in 1861. It sits at the head of the Arkansas River Valley, and is home to the highest point in the Rocky Mountains, Mt Elbert, elevation 14,440 ft.
The county seat is the incorporated city of Leadville, located ten minutes to the northeast of Fox Crossing Ranch. Mining began in the Leadville area in the late 1850s, but it wasn’t until the discovery of Silver in the 1870s that the town really began to take off. At its peak in 1880, Leadville boasted a population of 40,000, and was regarded as one of the West’s most unruly mountain towns.
Today, the pace of life is much more sedate. With the glory days of mining long gone,and a population of just under 3000, tourism and outdoor recreation are the lifeblood of the local economy. Leadville is home to the National Mining Museum and Hall of Fame, and the downtown area is recognized as a National Historic Landmark District.
Located in town are the St Vincent Hospital, two elementary, one middle and one high school, a well as the home campus for Colorado Mountain College.
Sunny days are the norm in Lake County, averaging 65% sunshine in the winter months up to 80% in the summer months. Average highs in December and January are around 32 degrees, pushing up to 75 degrees in the summer months.
Leadville is located approximately two hours drive time from Denver, two hours from Colorado Springs, forty five minutes from Vail, and one hour from Aspen in the summer time.