The Heart of Summit County

This page is the Silverthorne, Colorado - Mountain Habitat Community Profile. As you exit the tunnel on I-70, you see the dramatic mountains before you. After doing that a few times, it evokes that "I'm home" feeling for a lot of mountain dwellers. The first exit brings you to the Town of Silverthorne and is the crossroads for highways going north towards Arapahoe Basin, the Colorado River and Rocky Mountain National Park. It truly is the heart of Summit County in many ways.

Silverthorne, Colorado - Mountain Habitat Community Profile

A river runs through it. No, really it does. The Blue River flows to the north and provides seasonal rafting, but many anglers fish year round. Other locals and visitors choose to take advantage of the Outlet stores and mall type atmosphere created by the multiple groupings of shops. A new community performance center and REI are opening this year, and new ideas for a downtown core revitalization are being discussed.

Government officials realize the opportunities that are to be found in Silverthorne and are making the plans to improve the Silverthorne experience.

What Life is Like in Silverthorne

From Dina: What I love about Silverthorne the most is the access to the Gore Range. Those mountains are part of the Eagles Nest Wilderness and have a different feel from the manicured trails of Breckenridge. Look up Boulder Lake for an alpine trek you won't forget. A wildflower-filled odyssey is to be found at Lower Cataract Lake, and is good for families to explore the Gore Range without getting too deep into the wild.

Stats and Data

Silverthorne is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous town in Summit County, Colorado. According to 2010 Census, the population of the city is 3,887.
The town was named for Judge Marshall Silverthorn who served as the judge of the miner's court in Breckenridge. The judge first came to town as a prospector and claimed a section of the Blue River in 1881. After patenting his claim in April 1882, he was disappointed to find the gold to be sparse and the claim a poor bet. The land passed to his daughters on his death in 1887 and was then sold several times to various mining companies. In 1953, Clayton Hill bought the property and subdivided it for homes and stores.
Silverthorne served as a makeshift camp for workers during the construction of the Dillon Reservoir from 1961-1963, and later as a stop along Interstate 70. It was eventually incorporated on April 5, 1967.
More info on Wikipedia