Vail is home to 4,500 permanent residents, plus another 5,000 part-time residents of vacation properties. Her you can share and value a lifestyle that combines one of the best alpine resorts in the world with a friendly, small-town feel. Not only can you enjoy the bountiful recreational and cultural opportunities that are available, you can also take pride in a quality of life that provides alpine living at its best. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the 1,100 acres of open space accounting for 30 percent of Vail’s town-owned land; 350,000 surrounding acres of national forest, crowned by 5,289 skiable acres on the of the largest and best mountains in the world, 15 miles of recreation paths, the highest botanical gardens in the world and an outdoor amphitheater named for Vail’s most famous resident, President Gerald R. Ford. Besides being one of the favorite ski destinations in the world, Vail is a community people love to live in. There are numerous employment opportunities, especially during the ski season when valley employers hire over 4,000 employees during peak season. Full-time professional opportunities also are available and many employers offer housing assistance programs, free transportation, parking programs, plus competitive wages and benefits. Vail was founded as a ski resort in 1962, incorporated as a town in 1966 and became a Home Rule Charter in 1972. Vail has a council-manager form of government and is led by a 7-member town council elected-at-large. A $34 annual budget provides essential services such as police and fire protection, plus additional amenities such as the largest free transportation system in the country, which reduces pollution and traffic congestion year-round. With world renowned skiing, diverse shops and restaurants, luxurious accommodations, friendly neighborhoods and breath-taking mountain views, Vail is arguably the finest resort destination in the world. See for yourself, Vail is a great place to live or visit.