Leadville

In years gone by, Leadville was a prosperous little town rich with mountains filled with gold and silver. Due to the prosperity of the town, many notable (and now famous) people visited here; names such as Doc Holiday, Susan B. Anthony, Harry Houdini (who performed at the Tabor Opera House), Jesse James, and Buffalo Bill were all in Leadville. People came any way they could: on foot, by burro, and eventually the railroad. Many fortunes were made in Leadville, by people with names such as Guggenheim and Boettcher. The town had originally been named Cloud City, but the name was changed to Leadville, which means 'source of silver.'

Today residents of Leadville work mainly in construction, then accommodation and food services. There are numerous hotels and bed & breakfast places here, catering to tourists and outdoor adventure seekers. Hiking near Leadville is great and there is a really fun festival held every year called Leadville Boom Days. This three day event has numerous vendors for food and crafts, burro races, people in period costume roaming about, a street fair, contests, and other fun activities. It's fun for the whole family. It's typically held in August when the temperatures this high up are really nice.

Walking down main street can be almost like a trip into the past. There are numerous older buildings that have withstood the test of time. Many of the homes are from the turn of the century and built in the old victorian style, common to many mountain towns in Colorado.

The cost of living in Leadville is lower than the state average, but so is the median household income. Even if you're not looking to move, Leadville is a great place to spend a few days or even a week. Hikers will love the mountains and historians will love the stories.