Vail, CO

Vail, Colorado

Introduction to Vail, Colorado

Vale is a popular ski resort town situated in Eagle County in the Rocky Mountains. It's surrounded by the White River National Forest and features one of the top ski mountains in the entire world. It's a popular summertime destination for hiking, bicycle riding, fishing and other outdoor activities. Tourism is the primary factor for the economy. Most places are accessible by walking. The city offers majestic scenery, quality restaurants and nightlife.

History

The Ute Indians were the original inhabitants. During the late 1800's ranchers and miners seeking gold and silver arrived in the region. It was named in tribute to Charlie Vail, a state highway engineer. The population significantly increased due to the construction of a highway connecting the city with Denver. During World War II Vail was utilized for mountain survival training by the 10th Mountain Division. In 1962 the U.S. Forest Service granted a permit to Peter Seibert and Earl Eaton and Vail Mountain was officially available for skiing.

Attractions

• Vail Film Festival.
• Bravo Vail Valley Music Festival offers the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Colorado Ski Museum includes extensive information regarding the history of skiers and snow boarders.
• Numerous luxurious spas.
• Piney Lake is known for its beautiful views.
• Lazy J Ranch.

Outdoor Activities

Vail is one of the top ski destinations in the world. Vail Mountain has a vast amount of acreage for skiing. Snow boarding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are popular activities. The well known Vail Ski Resort includes seven bowls and is the biggest single mountain ski resort in the country. A gondola provides transportation to the mountain top for non-skiers who want to enjoy the magnificent view. The nearby Beaver Creek Resort is a prominent United States ski resort and often hosts Alpine Skiing World Cup competitions.

The ski trails are utilized for mountain biking during the summer months. Bicycle riders can take lifts to the mountain top and enjoy the thrilling ride down the mountain. The trails have been rated for difficulty. The Berry Picker Trail provides hikers access to the top of the mountain. The Eagle River flows through the valley and provides excellent opportunities for rafting. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy the numerous quality golf courses.

Nightlife and Accommodations

Quality accommodations including hotels, condominiums, resorts and lodges are available. The Roost Lodge, the Sitzmark Lodge, Wren at Vail, the Vail Racquet Club Town Homes and Condominiums, Bighorn Vail Marriott Resort and Spa and the Lion Square Lodge are some of the top locations to stay at.

There are more than 100 restaurants and nightclubs. Vail Village is popular for dining and nightlife. Visitors enjoy the piano and sports bars, the romantic restaurants and the active nightspots. There are a large number of shops and quality art galleries.

Transportation

The city is served by the Vail/Eagle County Airport. An extensive free shuttle bus system is available.

High Points

Vail strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Colorado):

Category	Trophy
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers)	Top 1%
Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers)	Top 1%
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 2%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. Peers)	Top 6%
Median Family Income (vs. Peers)	Top 8%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 9%
Short Commute Times (vs. Peers)	Top 10%
People in Middle Class or Better (vs. Peers)	Top 15%
Low Violent Crime (vs. State)	Top 18%

Comparative Profile of Vail, CO

Comparing Vail to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Colorado (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Male Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Men
Well-Paid Single Women
Racial Diversity
Age of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old
Senior Citizens
Female Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Public Transportation Use
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Housing Recently Built
People Living Alone
Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime

Vail Almanac

Vail Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Vail Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Vail Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Vail residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Vail, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Vail Hospitals

VAIL VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
(Voluntary non-profit - Other)
181 W MEADOW DRIVE
(970) 476-2451
Emergency Service: Yes

Starbucks in Vail

Vail Colleges

(List of All Colorado Colleges)

NEW: Community Comments below!