Gunnison County was home to the ancestral Ute Indians. As early as 1810, beaver trappers entered the area trading with the Utes. Explorers and surveyors were next including John Gunnison. Gold and silver miners followed in the mid-1800’s as they did through-out the Colorado Rockies. These placer miners worked the many streams of Gunnison County panning for gold and silver. Silver mining boomed in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s with countless mining camps of up to 4,000 people each. Crested Butte was established in 1880.
As gold and silver mining began to fade, high quality bituminous coal was discovered nearby and supported the economy. By 1882, the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company and its predecessors developed the Crested Butte area into the state’s largest coal producing region. Crested Butte's economy included smelters, mining supply companies and railroads. By 1952, the last of the major coaling operations closed.
Ranching sustained the area’s economy through the 1950’s. In 1961, Mt. Crested Butte was incorporated a few miles outside of the Town of Crested Butte. The Crested Butte Mountain Ski Resort was created within Mt. Crested Butte. Shuttle buses connect the Town with the Ski Resort as well as self-park lots for ski guests.
The streets of Crested Butte are lined with turn-of-the-century merchant buildings, hotels, saloons and Victorian houses. They are painted in the wonderfully gaudy colors of the era making for a fun and festive visual display. Laid-back is often used to describe the essence of Crested Butte. Even the full-time residents seem like they are on vacation. You can learn to relax in Crested Butte!