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Our mountain community is a place where city and mountain living come together – to a place where, truly, the elk
and deer roam. The best things in life come together in this mountain locale – friendly people, beautiful mountain
vistas, thick pine forests, wildlife, and an abundance of recreational activities. While Evergreen offers many
amenities – shopping, schools, health care, etc. -- Denver and the surrounding suburbs are just 30 minutes away.
Evergreen is cradled in the Rocky Mountains at about 7,200 feet in elevation. At one time, Evergreen was primarily a summer community with many cabins near the lake and the quaint Main Street town. Today, the cabins remain but have been updated for year round use, Evergreen Lake is still a focal point offering fishing and boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter, and Main Street still has that quaint small-town feel. The community has expanded around these landmarks. There are approximately 21,000 people in the central Evergreen area, but they are hidden away in the forested hills and valleys living with abundant wildlife in the clean, crisp mountain air! Evergreen is easily accessed from Interstate 70 and has public bus transportation to Denver. Denver International Airport is 53 miles via I-70 and the closest ski area, Loveland Basin, is just 28 miles away on I-70. Downtown Denver is just 31 miles from Evergreen. Climate: Average summer temperatures range from the mid 80’s to the lower 70’s (Fahrenheit). Summer usually brings sunny days with an occasional afternoon rain shower. Autumn is a gorgeous time of year here, the temperatures are warm during the day to enjoy the golden leaves against the bright blue skies! Autumn evenings are cool and crisp. Average winter temperatures are in the mid 40’s. Winter storms are generally brief and are followed by periods of warm sunny days. Spring can be a wardrobe challenge in that one day can feel like the beginning of summer and the next day – snow! Our mountain communities are typically 10-15 degrees cooler than Denver, which is a blessing in summer. In winter, Denver suffers from temperature inversions where frigid and polluted air settles over the city. Mountain air is clear and mild. At 7,000+ feet in altitude, the sun is stronger and your lungs weaker. Water takes longer to boil, hard-boiled eggs take longer to cook, and you’ll need more flour when you bake! Average days of sunshine: 252/yr Average precipitation: 18.75”/yr Average humidity: 40% Average snowfall: 83.9”/yr Population Snapshot: (based on 2000 Census) Population: 21,048 Households: 8,044 Median Age: 41.2 Per Capita Income: $42,032 Median Household Income: $81,386 Educational Attainment: 58% - Bachelors/Graduate Degree Housing: Several areas of Evergreen are well-established neighborhoods, however there are newer residential areas as well. The Evergreen Metropolitan Water and Sewer district serves most homes in the central and north Evergreen area (north of Evergreen Lake). The average home price is north Evergreen is $540,294. Homes south of downtown Evergreen have wells and individual septic systems. For this reason, these homes are typically located on larger parcels of land (1 acre or more) to accommodate the required spacing of wells and septic systems. The average home price in south Evergreen is $413,135. Single family homes are predominate in the mountain area with a small selection of town homes and condominiums most of which are in the north or central Evergreen areas. Condominiums range from $111,000 to $849,000. Home prices range from $124,000 to multi-million dollar estates. Vacant land is becoming scarce and prices vary greatly depending on several factors such as location, topography, views, trees, access, availability of power, etc. Most lots are re-sales in established subdivisions, and most new homes are built on “fill-in” lots – lots surrounded by existing residences. The average price for a vacant lot in north Evergreen is $314,000, and $216,848 in south Evergreen. Property Taxes: Your property taxes are determined by multiplying the tax rate, (set by local government entities) by the assessed, or taxable value of your property. To ensure equalization, the assessor must determine residential property values by using only appropriate market information. Where you live within a county determines the taxing entities to which you will pay your taxes. Assessed values are calculated by multiplying the actual value by a percentage, which is subject to change by the Colorado Legislature each odd numbered year. By Constitutional mandate, the change in percentage maintains the present balance of the tax burden between residential and all other taxpayers. The current percentage will be shown on your Notice of Valuation. The multiple listing service information of available properties shows the property taxes for each property. Government: Evergreen is not incorporated, so all services (police, road maintenance, courts, etc) are provided by either Jefferson County or Clear Creek County. There are several special districts set up within the Evergreen area for fire protection. The county seat for Jefferson County is located in Golden and in Georgetown for Clear Creek County. Employment: There are many employment opportunities in the Evergreen area, however the majority of residents commute to the Denver Metropolitan area. Check the Help Wanted section in the Classifieds section of the local newspaper or online at www.canyoncourier.com for current local opportunities. Health Care: Twenty-four hour ambulance service is available by calling 911. The Flight for Life helicopter is on call at all times. A full range of physicians and specialists in private practice offer medical services including pediatrics, obstetrics, dermatology, osteopathic, family practice, etc. and are listed in the local phone directory. A wide range of dental care is also available including oral surgery, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, etc. Mt. Evans Hospice and Home Health Care, Inc. offers a licensed hospice program and complete care of the homebound due to illness, disability or injury. Elk Run Assisted Living is located in Evergreen and accommodates 68 residents. It features apartments with kitchenettes as well as a central dining room, and ample health and personal services. The Life Care Center is located in Evergreen and offers skilled and intermediate nursing care, along with respite care and a senior day care program. Occupational, speech and physical therapy are offered. The Life Care Center includes a chapel, gift shop, ice cream parlor, two dining rooms, an activity room and a physician’s exam room. Senior Services: Support groups for the senior citizens in the mountain area are provided by the Senior Resource Center in Evergreen. The center offers social and educational programs as well as legal aid, health screening, tax and energy assistance, transportation, counseling, and homes visiting referral. Utilities: Electricity/Gas: Xcel Energy supplies electricity and natural gas to central and north Evergreen while Intermountain Rural Electric Association supplies electricity to south Evergreen. Area homes use one or more of the following for heat: electric baseboard or radiant, natural gas or propane forced air or hot water. There are several propane suppliers in the area. Many homes offer wood burning or gas fireplaces, wood burning stoves or pellet stoves. Water & Sewer: The central and north Evergreen area is primarily serviced by the Evergreen Metropolitan Water and Sewer District, and there are a few smaller water and sewer districts in the area. However there are some homes in this area as well as the south Evergreen areas that have individual wells and septic systems. When buying a home with a well and septic system, buyers should always have these systems tested to make sure they are working properly. Cable TV is available in some areas while others use satellite dishes. Phone service is available in all areas from Qwest Communications, which also offers high speed Internet to many locations. There are a few local companies that offer high speed Internet via satellite dish as well. Road Maintenance: Newcomers often ask about road maintenance in our mountain communities. Roads are maintained by the county and the state. Since most residents commute to Denver and the children depend on school buses, the road crews are very prompt with snow removal. Your driveway is yours to maintain, so it’s a good idea to arrange for snow removal before you need it! Front wheel drive, all-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles do the best here. Primary Schools/Colleges/Day Care/Libraries: Primary schools in the Evergreen area are located in two counties – Jefferson and Clear Creek. The school system is determined by the county of residence. All mountain area schools follow the traditional 9-month school year calendar. Opening and closing hours are staggered at each level to enable busses to run efficiently. There are several private schools in the area as well. For a complete list of schools, area colleges/universities and child care/pre-schools, click on “Info Links”. There are two libraries in the mountain area, one located in Evergreen and the other inside the Conifer High School. |