Town file
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado (Pitkin County, Colorado) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 527, "Killing The Princess" (12 September 2024). Nancy Merrill Fister was born on the fourth of July, 1956, the middle of three daughters of Art and Betty Fister, the couple who did more than anyone to create modern Aspen, Colorado.
- Town
- Aspen
- County
- Pitkin County
- State
- Colorado
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 527
- Approximate location
- 39.195, -106.837
Episode 527 / 12 September 2024 / 174 min / full
Killing The Princess
"We are going all the way to Colorado, we're going to Aspen, Colorado, one of the nicest places that the United States has to offer; this is in Pitkin County." about 0:04:31
The case: Murder of Nancy Fister (February 2014). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2024
- Population
- 7,109
- Median age
- about 41.2
- Median household income
- $94,338
- Median home value
- $2,994,800
- Two-bedroom rent
- $5,820
- Cost of living
- 220
- Property crime
- ▲ almost double the national average
- Violent crime
- ▼ about one third
History, in brief
- Originally named Ute City, from the Ute tribe; renamed Aspen in 1880. about 0:07:35
- In peak production in 1891 and 1892, Aspen surpassed Leadville as the most productive silver mining district in the United States. about 0:07:59
- The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 doubled the government's purchase of silver and expanded production. about 0:08:13
- The Aspen Skiing Company was founded in 1946 and the town became a resort almost immediately. about 0:08:28
- Aspen hosted the FIS World Championships in 1950. about 0:09:53
- Noted as the smallest radio market tracked by Arbitron, ranked number 302. about 0:10:19
- The Winter X Games have been held at Buttermilk in Aspen since 2002. about 0:10:31
- The Gentlemen of Aspen rugby team won the Super League in 1997, 2001 and 2002. about 0:10:50
- Hunter S Thompson ran for sheriff of Pitkin County in 1970 on the Freak Power ticket, won the city of Aspen but lost about 55 to 45, and lived at Woody Creek. about 0:06:48
The reviews read out
5 stars
"A local takes pride in Aspen but remembers a childhood of ski bums and employee housing, and says affordable housing is now almost impossible and millionaires are being pushed out by billionaires."about 0:12:39
4 stars
"Beautiful area with amazing views, but staff walked into the room without knocking and it was very loud from the people upstairs, a horrible experience."about 0:13:53
3 stars
"Amazing place to live with beautiful views, outdoor activities, friendly locals and a world class restaurant scene, but the skyrocketing housing market means the workforce needs four roommates to afford it and more subsidised housing is needed."about 0:14:20
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Gunnison, Colorado45 miles
- Breckenridge, Colorado47 miles
- Whitewater, Colorado88 miles
- Golden, Colorado95 miles
- Estes Park, Colorado106 miles
- Longmont, Colorado114 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.