Routt County is a diverse environment offering breathtaking mountain vistas and picturesque ranch lands. Located in northwest Colorado, the county encompasses a total of 2,231 square miles. Communities located in Routt County include Clark, Hahns Peak, Milner, Phippsburg, and Toponas, the towns of Hayden, Oak Creek and Yampa, and the city of Steamboat Springs.
About 50% of the land in Routt County is publicly owned. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest makes up a large portion of the county. This includes the Mt Zirkel, and Sarvis Creek Wilderness areas. The local State Parks are Stagecoach Reservoir, Steamboat Lake, Elkhead Reservoir and Pearl Lake. These public lands provide residents and visitors with scenic recreational areas for hiking, picnicking, boating, hunting, fishing and water-skiing.
The 2005 census estimates the full time residential population of the county is approximately 21,906. During the winter months the resort town of Steamboat Springs thrives due to a world-class ski resort, while ranching, agriculture, forestry, mining and power generation provide a year-round economy in the surrounding areas. The entire county abounds with a variety of cultural events, outdoor activities and educational facilities, including a community college, several public and private schools and a renowned performing arts academy. The public school boundaries located on the above map identify the Steamboat Springs School District (RE2), Hayden School District (RE1) and SOROCO School District (RE3). School District RE50J attends schools in Eagle County.
The Steamboat Springs Multiple Listing Service serves all of Routt County, and often includes listings beyond. Routt County is divided by the MLS into the following areas, with their estimated census populations in parentheses:
North Routt with the Steamboat Lake and the towns of Clark (491), Hahns Peak (100) and Columbine (20) and the Elk River Valley; South Routt with the Flat Top Wilderness Area and the towns of Oak Creek and Stagecoach (combined pop. of 935), Yampa (482), Phippsburg (309) and Toponas(44); the South Valley from the outskirts of Steamboat Springs to the foot of Rabbit Ears Pass and south toward Yellow Jacket Pass; West Routt with the towns of Hayden (1,787) and Milner (110); and Steamboat Springs (10,846) as the county seat and neighborhood areas of Fish Creek, Downtown (aka Old Town), the Mountain Area surrounding the Steamboat Ski Area and Strawberry Park on the north part of town.
With the natural beauty of the area combined with warm, friendly people and the relatively low cost of living, it is no wonder Sunset Magazine recently named Steamboat Springs the ´Number 1 Place to Buy NowĄ!
