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. SECTION I II CARBONDALE BACKGROUND CARBONDALl TOWN HISTORY The Carbondale area waS first settled around 1881, and by 1883, twenty families had moved into the area. Aspen, at that time, was in the middle of the biggest silver boom in history and had grown to about 10,000 people. The supply of fuel was an ever-increasing problem; and with the discovery of coal in the Carbondale area, coal mining was established to supply Aspen. Around 1887, it waS apparent that the Rio Grande Railroad was going to build a line between Glenwood Springs and Aspen which would link up with the Colorado Midland Railroad. At that time, the Carbondale Town and Land Company filed for subdivisions of the present Town. The name of Carbondale was chosen after the coal town of Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The railroad became a reality, and Carbondale was incorporated in 1888. I. Carbondale grew rapidly until 1893 when panic struck with the demonetiza- tion of silver and prosperity in the Roaring Fork Valley faded. Carbondale grew very slowly during the early 1900's; agriculture and mining provided a fairly stable eCl>nomy with potato farms thriving. During the de- pression, the railroad quit running, and the population dwindled. Mining activity slowed, and farming and ranching became the principal activity of the area through the fifties. During the sixties, Aspen became an important ski and recreation area, and this brought new tourist-related activities to Carbondale. The population began to grow again, and property values increased. Town and ranch land was subdivided into home sites. Today, Carbondale is primarily a residential community, serving the business interests of the valley. Coal mining and construction activities are the principle industries. . L