About Fort Collins, Colorado

About the Ft. Collins, Colorado Area 

Fort Collins was established as a military outpost in the 1860’s, although it was more of a trading post for Indians and traders, who met in friendly fashion on the banks of the Cache La Poudre River. Today, Fort Collins is the largest city in Larimer County. The estimated population in July 2004 was 126,967. Colorado State University is located in Fort Collins, so the area has all the energy of a college town, with great dining, nightlife and cultural opportunities. Anheuser-Busch has a major Budweiser brewing operation here, with free tours and samples, and guests can see the world-famous Clydesdale horses. 

Location
Fort Collins is located in Larimer County, in north-central Colorado. It is the largest city, and the county seat of the county. Located between the plains and the mountains, it is the last city north on Interstate 25 before you cross the Wyoming border. 

Denver is the nearest city with a population of over 200,000. It is 58 miles south of Fort Collins. (Phoenix is the closest city with a population of over one million and is over 600 miles away.) The nearest towns to Fort Collins are Timnath, Laporte, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, Campion, Severance and Berthoud; all within 20 miles of Fort Collins. 

Geography
Fort Collins is in the Front Range region of Colorado, located between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. It is situated on the Cache La Poudre River. The elevation is 5003 feet, and the total land area is 46.5 square miles. Fort Collins is a gateway to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National park, and Roosevelt National Forest. 

Jobs
Fort Collins is the main business address for Heska Corporation (biological products), and Atrix Laboratories Inc. (pharmaceutical preparations). Anheuser-Busch has a major Budweiser brewing operation in Fort Collins.  

The major industries providing employment are educational, health and social services (24.3%), manufacturing (13.9%), retail trade (12.6%), professional, scientific, management, and administrative services (11.5%), and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (10.3%). 

Almost three quarters of the population also work in the city (73.4%). The average commute for residents, who are employed elsewhere, is 18.5 minutes.

Housing
In Fort Collins, there are homes available for every income bracket, with houses ranging for less than $250,000, to upwards of $600,000. 

The median home price in Fort Collins is currently $259,900. There are also many condominium units available, with the median price of $158,453.  

Recreation
Fort Collins is oriented toward the outdoors. The nearby national park, Lory Park, and Horsetooth State Park (and Horsetooth Reservoir) provide an abundance of recreational opportunities. In the summer months, there is boating and fishing. Other activities include horseback riding, camping, fishing, mountain biking and rock climbing. Additionally, there are many places for off-road driving and hiking. 

Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest are also near Fort Collins, and it is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. In cooler weather, The Edora Ice Center and Pool provides a place to skate or swim. 

There are numerous courses for golf enthusiasts in Fort Collins. The Fort Collins Country Club has a private 18-hole course, and the Ptarmigan Golf and Country Club has an 18-hole semi-private course. Public courses include the City Park Nine Golf Course and Mountain Vista Greens Golf Course (each with nine holes) and Collindale Golf Course, North Course, South Course, and SouthRidge Golf Course (all 18-hole public courses). 

Special Attractions/Events
Fort Collins has a full range of cultural attractions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, and a symphony orchestra.  

Other sites of interest in Fort Collins are the Discovery Center Science Museum, the Swetsville Zoo, and the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center. 

The Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art offers exhibitions and collaborations, community events, lectures, performances, and publications, to enhance the aesthetic appreciation of its residents, and provide the best in contemporary art.
The Rocky Mountain Raptor program provides raptor rehabilitation and public educational presentations teaching the value of wildlife, and environmental awareness. Raptors are birds of prey, along with eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and harriers, filling a critical role in the right balance of the ecosystem.
The Swetsville Zoo is a delightfully quirky attraction, which is free and fun for all ages. There are no live animals in this zoo, but it is an exhibit of mechanical creatures constructed by a retired farmer who suffered from insomnia! 

Interesting Facts
The community of Fort Collins was named for Colonel William Collins. Camp Collins (a former name) was established in 1864, to protect travelers on the Overland Mail route. 

Interesting historic sites in Fort Collins include the Historic Overland Trail, Fort Collins Museum, and the Avery House Victorian Home and Historic District. The Old Town Historic District is delightful, with a fine bookstore, galleries, and shops. You can take a self-guided tour through downtown, or ride an old trolley.  

Fort Collins was ranked number eight among medium sized cities in the ePodunk College Town index of 2002, and it was rated number fifteen on the Healthy Cities List, by Organic Style magazine, in September/October 2003. 

Request my Free Loveland, Greeley and Ft. Collins Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Loveland, Greeley and Ft. Collins, Colorado area. Don't move here without it! Remember: I'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and I will send it right out... 

It's my job to know EVERYTHING about Loveland, Greeley and Ft. Collins! Ask me any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly...