Nineteenth-century bird’s-eye view of Fort Collins.
Fort Collins was founded as a military outpost of the United States Army in 1864. There was a previous encampment, known as Camp Collins, on the Cache La Poudre River, near present-day Laporte. Camp Collins was erected during the Indian wars of the mid-1860s to protect the Overland mail route that had by this time detoured through the region. Travelers crossing the county on the Overland Trail would camp there, but a flood destroyed it in June 1864. Afterward, the commander of the fort wrote to the commandant of Fort Laramie in southeast Wyoming, Colonel William O. Collins, suggesting that a site several miles further down the Poudre would make a good location for the fort. The post was manned originally by two companies of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and never had walls.
Settlers began arriving in the vicinity of the fort nearly immediately. The fort was decommissioned in 1868 after Indian hostilities had diminished and the mails had been transferred to the newly completed railroads. The original fort site is now adjacent to the present historic “Old Town” portion of the city.
Stone quarrying, sugar beet farming, and sheep were among the area’s earliest industries. Beet tops proved to be an excellent and abundant food for local sheep, and by the early 1900s the area was being referred to as the “Lamb feeding capital of the world.” In 1903 the Great Western sugar processing plant was built in the city. The 1880s saw the construction of a number of elegant homes and commercial buildings. Fort Collins was incorporated on February 12, 1883.
Fort Collins gained a reputation as a very conservative city in the twentieth century, with a prohibition of alcoholic beverages being retained from the late 1890s until 1969. Although the city was affected by the Great Depression, it nevertheless experienced slow and steady growth throughout the early part of the twentieth century. During the middle of the century the population doubled and an era of economic prosperity occurred. Old buildings were razed to make way for new, modern structures. By the 1960s, though, citizens had formed a group to preserve and restore the older buildings that today add beauty and character to the city. The Fort Collins Historical Society was formed in 1974 to encourage the preservation of historic buildings and documents and to provide educational opportunities for people to learn about the city’s past.
Fort Collins, facing west (1875)
Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University, Colorado’s original land-grant college (formerly known as Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College). Other large employers include Hewlett-Packard, Poudre Valley Health System, and Poudre School District.
In 2000, Money named Fort Collins one of the best places to retire in America. In 2006, Money ranked Fort Collins as the best place to live in America,[3] proclaiming that “great schools, low crime, good jobs in a high-tech economy and a fantastic outdoor life make Fort Collins No. 1.”
For more information on local history see the Fort Collins Public Library‘s local historical archives.
Fort Collins Geography and climate
Fort Collins is located at 40°33’33″N, 105°4’41″W (40.559238, -105.078302)GR1. The city is situated just east of the Rocky Mountain foothills of the Northern Front Range approximately 65 miles north of Denver, Colorado and 45 miles south of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Elevation is 5,003 feet above sea level. Prominent geographic landmarks include Horsetooth Reservoir and Horsetooth Mountain—so named because of a tooth shaped granite rock that dominates the city’s western skyline.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 122.1 km² (47.1 mi²). 120.5 km² (46.5 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (1.27%) is water.
The city experiences about 296 days of sunshine per year and 22 days with 90º + weather. The average temperature in July is 71.2º. Annual snowfall averages 57.4 inches, and the snow generally melts within a few days. Average precipitation overall is about 15 inches.
All Fort Collins Geography and Climate text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fort Collins Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 118,652 people, 45,882 households, and 25,785 families residing in the city. This was an increase from 108,905 in 1998, 87,491 in 1990, 64,092 in 1980, 43,337 in 1970, 14,937 in 1950, and 8,755 in 1920. The metropolitan statistical area (MSA) includes Loveland. When this city is included, the population increases to 251,494 for 2000. The population density was 984.4/km² (2,549.3/mi²). There were 47,755 housing units at an average density of 396.2/km² (1,026.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.4% White, 3.01% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 2.48% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 3.61% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. 10.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In 2000, there were 45,882 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 22.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,459, and the median income for a family was $59,332. Males had a median income of $40,856 versus $28,385 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,133. About 5.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
All Fort Collins Demographics text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fort Collins Culture
The 2004 Colorado Brewers Festival in Fort Collins
Much of Fort Collins’ culture is centered on the students of Colorado State University. Driven by a large college-age demographic, the city has a thriving local music circuit, and is home to a number of well-recognized microbreweries. Old Town, a historic downtown shopping district, hosts a number of large festivals each year. For example, the New West Fest occurs in late summer, featuring local cuisine, music, and businesses. The Lincoln Center is home to the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and regularly attracts national touring companies of Broadway plays. Beyond the city limits, the Fort Collins Balloon Festival attracts hot air balloon enthusiasts from around the world.
There is a thriving beer culture in the city. In addition to an Anheuser-Busch brewery — operating just north of the city since 1984 — there are three microbreweries, the New Belgium Brewing Company, the Odell Brewing Company, and the Fort Collins Brewery. New Belgium is the largest of the local microbreweries, with regional distribution west of the Mississippi. There are several brewpubs, including the original C.B. & Potts Restaurant and its Big Horn Brewery; CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing, a local mainstay since 1989; Lucky Joe’s Sidewalk Saloon, a local favorite. The Colorado Brewer’s Festival is held in late June annually in Fort Collins. The outdoor event is held in Fort Collins’ old town area and features beers from as many as 45 brewers from the state of Colorado and averages around 30,000 attendees.
The principal venue for the performing arts in Fort Collins is Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., at Meldrum Street <www.fcgov.com/lctix>. Built in 1978, the center includes the 1,180-seat Performance Hall and the 220-seat Mini-Theatre, as well as four exhibit galleries and an outdoor sculpture and performance garden. It is home to many local arts groups, including the Fort Collins Symphony, Opera Fort Collins, Canyon Concert Ballet, Larimer Chorale, OpenStage Theatre, and the Fort Collins Children’s Theatre. Concert, dance, children’s, and travel film series are presented annually. The center is wheelchair accessible and has an infrared sound system for the hearing impaired. Ticket prices vary considerably, but children’s programs are often free or less than $10, and big name acts and Broadway shows are $18 to $36. The center hosts nearly 1,750 events each year.
Old Town
A redbrick pedestrian walkway, flanked by street lamps and surrounding a bubbling fountain, is the focus of this restored historic district, which offers a look at the earliest roots of the city, and has plenty of good shopping opportunities. The main plaza, which covers several square blocks, extends diagonally to the northeast from the intersection of College and Mountain avenues; on either side are shops and galleries, restaurants, and nightspots. Outdoor concerts and a string of special events keep the plaza lively, especially from mid-spring to mid-fall. Self-guided walking-tour maps are available from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, individual merchants, and city offices; and the Fort Collins Museum conducts guided tours of Old Town during the summer on Saturdays at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. You’ll find public restrooms just east of the intersection of South College Avenue and Oak Street, open daily from 8am to 9pm.
All Fort Collins Culture text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fort Collins Education
Old Fort Collins High School, now part of Colorado State University
K-12 public education is provided through Poudre School District, the second-largest employer in Fort Collins after Colorado State University. Fort Collins is home to four major high schools and several charter schools with Jr. High and High School grades. They include Fort Collins High School, Rocky Mountain High School, Poudre High School, Fossil Ridge High School, Centennial High School, Pioneer School for Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound and the Peak School, a small alternative high school that serves at-risk youths [www.psdschools.org/schools/peak/], Ridgeview Classical Schools, and Fossil Ridge High School, which is currently in its third year. The educational system is run by Poudre School District.
For higher education besides Colorado State University, there is Front Range Community College. FRCC grants associate’s degrees in arts, science, general studies, and applied science. The college offers 17 high school vocational programs and more than 90 continuing education classes.
The Fort Collins Public Library was established in 1900, the sixth public library in the state. The library maintains the Barton Early Childhood Center and, in partnership with Front Range Community College, the Harmony Library. The library also participates in innovative cooperative projects with the local school district and Colorado State University. The library holds about 270,000 items and has a special local history archive.
Fort Collins has a great range of research institutes covering a myriad of subjects. Facilities are maintained by the Centers for Disease Control Division of Vector-Born Infectious Diseases, the Center for Advanced Technology and the Colorado Water Resource Research Institute. Other facilities include the Cooper Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, the Institute for Scientific Computing, the U.S. Forest Service Experimental Station, the National Seed Storage Laboratory, and the U.S.D.A. Crops Research Laboratory.
All Fort Collins Education text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fort Collins Economy
Major industries and commercial activity
Fort Collins’ economy has been described as well-balanced, with a good mix of manufacturing and service-related businesses. Fort Collins has a strong manufacturing base; it is home to such firms as Hewlett Packard,Teledyne Water Pik, Woodward Governor, and Anheuser-Busch. Many high-tech companies have relocated to Fort Collins because of the resources of Colorado State University and its research facilities.
The largest employers of Fort Collins residents at the turn of the century were the following:
- Colorado State University (6,694 employees)
- Poudre School District (3,000)
- Hewlett Packard (3,000)
- Eastman Kodak (3,000)
- Celestica (1,800) (Intel moved into the Celestica building in late 2006)
- Poudre Valley Hospital (1,800)
- Agilent Technologies (1,200)
- Advanced Energy (825)
- Anheuser-Busch (750)
- Center Partners (700)
- LSI Logic Corporation (650)
- Woodward Governor (500)
- Teledyne Water Pik (500)
Since that time, the Celestica factory has shut down and Agilent has cut its workforce by about 350 people. Also, other companies, such as AMD, and Intel have moved in and added to the high-tech work force.
Items and goods produced
Pharmaceuticals, electronic components and accessories, aircraft and parts, scientific instruments, measuring and controlling instruments, radio and TV equipment, industrial chemicals, engines, turbines, and communications equipment.
Local incentive programs
The City of Fort Collins has established an economic development policy that allows the rebate of use taxes paid by qualifying firms on qualifying equipment. On a case-by-case basis, the county will consider negotiating financial incentives, giving up to a 50 percent credit towards a company’s personal property tax liability for up to four years. As of 1997, the community created the Fort Collins’ “Virtual Incubator,” a cluster of programs designed to nurture start-up businesses much like a concrete incubator does. The virtual incubator, rather than being based in one building, is a clearinghouse of information to focus help already available to new businesses and will obtain reduced-fee services from local experts to help launch new businesses.
The Fort Collins Economic Development Corporation supports existing employers and recruits new ones to the city. It assists local companies to grow and expand and, in partnership with Colorado State University, encourages technology transfer to nurture local start-up companies. Fort Collins can negotiate with individual taxpayers who have qualifying new business facilities an incentive payment equal to not more than the amount of the increase in property tax liability over pre-enterprise zone levels; and a refund of local sales taxes on purchases of equipment, machinery tools, or supplies used in the taxpayer’s business in the Enterprise Zone.
All Fort Collins Economy text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fort CollinsTransportation
Allegiant Air.com offers regular passenger airplane service into the nearby Fort Collins / Loveland Airport. Denver International Airport, which is 70 miles to the south, is served by nearly twenty airlines. Fort Collins can be approached from Denver by car via Interstate 25.
Fort Collins’ downtown streets form a grid with Interstate 25 running north and south on the east side of the city. U.S. Highway 287 becomes College Avenue inside the city and is the busiest street; It runs north and south in the northwest sector of the city.
The city bus system, known as Transfort, operates more than a dozen routes throughout Fort Collins Monday through Saturday, except major holidays. Most routes run from about 5:30am to 6:30pm, and additional runs are made, including some on Sundays, when CSU is in session. All buses have bike racks. Fares are $1.25 for adults, 60¢ for seniors 60 and older and those with disabilities; youths 17 and under ride free. Exact change is required. A 10-ride ticket costs $9.
Taxi service is provided for high, unregulated rates 24 hours a day by Shamrock Yellow Cab. Bicycling is a popular and viable means of transportation in Fort Collins. Just about the only place you can’t ride is College Avenue (Highway 287). There are more than 75 miles of designated bikeways in Fort Collins, including the Spring Creek and Poudre River Trails, both paved. There’s also a dirt trail, the 5.8-mile Foothills Trail, parallel to Horsetooth Reservoir from Dixon Reservoir north to Campeau Open Space and Michaud Lane.
Fort Collins also once had a trolley service with three branches from the intersection of Mountain and College Avenues. It was torn out after ceasing to be profitable in 1951. Currently, the Mountain Avenue branch has been reconstructed and provides weekend and holiday service.
Commercial shipping
Parcel service for Fort Collins is provided by Federal Express, Airport Express, DHL, Burlington Air Express, Emery, UPS, Pony Express, and Purolator. Fort Collins has two-day rail freight access to the West Coast or the East Coast and has eight motor freight carriers. Many local industrial sites have rail freight spur service. The city is served by Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads.
All Fort Collins Transportation text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
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