Breckenridge, CO

Breckenridge Welcome Sign

Breckenridge is a municipality in Summit County, Colorado. Founded in November 1859, Breckenridge was named after the prospector Thomas Breckenridge. Breckenridge started as a gold mining town before eventually becoming a big ski town.

Tom’s Baby

In 1887, Tom Groves and another prospector found the largest nugget ever seen in Colorado. Nicknamed “Tom’s Baby”, this nugget weighed 13 lbs. 7 oz. The gold rush lasted until the early 1900s and skiing was then introduced in the early 1960s.

Beaver Run

In 1961, skiing was introduced to Breckenridge with multiple trails opening up between then and 2013. Breckenridge now averages 1.5 million skiers per year on its slopes. The ski resorts open mid-November until the end of May with Breckenridge getting on average 350 inches of snow annually. As a result, Breckenridge has many part time residents as well as visitors.

Breckenridge Town Hall

Some things to do in Breckenridge include skiing and snowboarding during the winter, hiking and mountain biking in the summer, taking a tour of the gold mines, and also whitewater rafting in the Blue River.

Breckenridge Stats

• County: Summit

• Incorporated: March 3, 1880

• Area: 6.05 sq. mi.

• Elevation: 9,594 ft

• Population: 5,078