| Here
you will find some brief information on the Fort
Collins area.
Community
Profile
Fort Collins is a vibrant community of
125,740 nestled against the foothills of the Rocky
Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver.
As a regional center for employment,
shopping, and healthcare, Fort Collins offers the convenience
of a small town with all the amenities of a larger
city. With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year
and low humidity, Fort Collins experiences pleasant
weather year-round. There is always something happening
in this community. From musical concerts and powerful
plays, to food and beer tasting extravaganzas this
place has it all. Indoor and outdoor activities are
enjoyable in every season. Fort Collins was ranked
No. 8 among medium-sized cities in the ePodunk
College Town Index, 2002 which is easily seen when
in Fort Collins for it is a welcoming and flourishing
community. Learn more about Fort Collins – click
here for a list of links to area organizations.
Demographics
The population of Fort Collins is estimated
at 125,740 including over 24,000 students at Colorado
State University. Over the last ten years, the population
has grown an average of three percent annually and
is expected to continue at this rate well into the
future. Fort Collins' population is well educated,
and, with an average median family income of $54,000,
it is easy to enjoy the best of what Fort Collins has
to offer. Click
here for more information on demographics.
Climate
and Proximity
Fort Collins, with an average of 300
days of sunshine per year, low humidity, and moderate
winters, enjoys a mild climate year-round. The area
receives approximately 18 inches of rain and 55 inches
of snow per year. The average high temperature during
the summer months is 85 degrees. In the winter months,
it is 42 degrees.
Fort Collins sits on the plains, located
at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Just a few miles
to the west are the beautiful Foothills that offer
spectacular views of the city. Click
here to view the current weather in Fort Collins.
History
 Fort
Collins began as an army camp along the banks of
the Poudre River. In 1867, the camp was dismantled,
and the army moved out of the area. Although the
military was gone, a settlement remained. In 1873,
the city of Fort Collins was founded. Over the years,
Fort Collins has grown and changed, but you can still
see reminders of the past in the Historic Old Town
District and many other sites around the area. Click
here to learn more about Fort Collins’ colorful
history.
On
September 28, 2004, the Fort Collins Area Chamber
of Commerce officially turned 100! The Chamber celebrated
with events, programs and opportunities especially
in recognition of this monumental milestone. Click
here to learn more about the Fort Collins Area Chamber
of Commerce’s history.
Education
 Fort
Collins offers one of the best educational environments
available in the United States. Poudre School District
students exceeded the state average by 9 to 19 percentage
points in the proficient and advanced categories
for reading, writing, math, and science on the rigorous
CSAP tests and scored above the state on the 11th-grade
ACT assessment. There has been 11 new schools built
since 1986 providing excellent learning environments
for our youth.
Colorado
State University gives students a tremendous range
of educational opportunities from undergraduate to
graduate and professional programs. Colorado State
University was founded in 1870 as the state's only
land grant institution. Today, over 70 undergraduate
programs are offered in a curriculum that ranges
from liberal arts to veterinary sciences. A variety
of private schools located throughout Fort Collins
allow for additional educational options.
CSU
has over 24,000 students that come from all 50 states
and nearly 100 countries. In addition to being our
largest employer, CSU adds a recreational and cultural
flavor to Fort Collins that many communities twice
our size cannot replicate. World-renown speakers,
sporting events, and cultural celebrations all help
to give Fort Collins a personality you will love.
State-supported
Front Range Community College offers a college curriculum
as well as programs in vocational and technical areas.
Four thousand students attend the college in pursuit
of the 22 associate of art degrees, 17 high school
programs, and 25 occupational degrees. The Fort Collins
campus is the second largest and most rapidly growing
community college in the state. In 1997, Front Range
completed a new library in conjunction with the city,
a new student center, and a new classroom building.
Furthermore, most classes offered at Front Range
are designed to transfer to any university in the
state. Click here for more
information on education in Fort Collins.
Lifestyle
Colorado has earned a worldwide reputation
as an area that that offers an unparalleled lifestyle,
and Fort Collins represents the very best of Colorado.
Exciting recreation and sports activities, festivals,
cultural activities, high-quality healthcare and great
senior accommodations make Fort Collins a choice place
to call home. Recently named Best Small Town in the
West by Money Magazine, the community truly has something
for everyone.
 From
activities for the extreme athlete to the leisurely
weekend enthusiast, Fort Collins has it all. In town,
residents take advantage of the nationally renowned
park system with trails that offer scenic views of
the Poudre River and the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
Golfers of all abilities love Fort Collins'
eight beautiful courses, and everyone will enjoy swimming,
figure skating, or playing hockey at the popular EPIC
Center. If you want to escape the city limits, your
favorite ski resorts and cross-country trails are in
your backyard, and summertime offers opportunities
for hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, camping,
and more. Trout fishing and whitewater rafting are
popular activities on the nearby Cache la Poudre River.
There is no better place than Fort Collins
for spectator sports. Colorado State University fans
delight in watching the popular Ram football, basketball,
and volleyball teams. A short drive to Denver puts
you in the seats of a Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanche,
Colorado Rockies, or Denver Nuggets game. The annual
Greeley Independence Stampede and Rodeo in Greeley
and the nationally acclaimed Cheyenne Frontier Days
in Wyoming are popular summer day trips.
Healthcare
As a regional center for medicine, Fort
Collins is home to thousands of general practitioners
and specialists of every kind. Poudre Valley Heath
System is Fort Collins' full-service medical center.
With 37 specialties, the hospital is able to provide
the quality of care often found only in larger cities.
Nearly 2000 health care professionals give patients
personalized care using the most up-to-date technologies
and procedures. Fort Collins supports a variety of
specialized clinics for all types of patient needs
including the Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies and
the Family Medicine Center. Click
here for more information on the Poudre Valley Health
Care System.
Cultural
Activities
Cultural events and festivals abound
in Fort Collins. Local performing groups include Canyon
Concert Ballet, the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra,
and the OpenStage Theatre Company. In addition to local
groups, nationally acclaimed shows and musicians often
perform in Fort Collins. The Historic Old Town District
is home to numerous events including the annual New
West Fest in August and the free Concert Under the
Stars summer series. Fort Collins supports several
area museums as well. A favorite of tourists and locals
alike is the Sweatsville Zoo, a sculpture park of over
100 pieces made entirely from scrap metal. Click
here for a comprehensive community calendar.
Senior
Living
 Seniors
will find excellent amenities designed to suit their
specific needs in Fort Collins. Housing choices are
numerous, and a variety of programs offer employment,
volunteer, and educational opportunities. The City
of Fort Collins runs numerous activities through
its Senior Center. Programs include arts and crafts,
fitness, computer training, and outdoor recreation.
Day trips to popular destinations in Northern Colorado
are also done through the Center. Click
here to learn about the Fort Collins Senior Center.
Real
Estate and Housing
The Fort Collins housing market is on
fire! Fort Collins ranks as the 16th hottest housing
market in the United States. The average selling price
for a home in Fort Collins has increased an average
of 8 percent each year over the past five years, making
Fort Collins real estate a great investment. Residential
Property taxes are some of the lowest in the country,
and our mild climate reduces the number of both heating
and cooling days. For renters, over 600 apartment units
have been built in the past year. If you are buying
or renting, Fort Collins is one of the best choices
in terms of quality, variety, and return on investment. For
more information on real estate click here, for
new home information click here, or for
apartment information click here.
Business
and Employment
Fort Collins has a strong economy, and
the community is anxious to make you a part of it.
If you are starting a company or looking for a great
job, odds are Fort Collins is the perfect choice for
you.
In addition to career opportunities,
the area offers exciting shopping and dining and has
an excellent balance of unique local shops and prominent
national chains. Fort Collins is regarded as the regional
employment and retail center for Northern Colorado,
Southern Wyoming, and Western Nebraska. To access
a national job database and Fort Collins’ top
employers click here or to access
the Chamber’s Membership Directory click here.
Major
Employers
Fort Collins has several major employers
help fuel our economic growth and stability. Colorado
State University, Poudre
School District, Hewlett
Packard, Poudre
Valley Health System, Eastman
Kodak, Larimer
County, Agilent
Technologies, City
of Fort Collins, Celestica
Colorado, LSI
Logic, Advanced
Energy Industries, Anheuser
Busch, Woodward
Governor and Waterpik are
some of the largest employers in the area.
Shopping
 A
variety of choices make Fort Collins a great place
to shop. The
Foothills Fashion Mall, with over 100 nationwide
retailers and local stores and a tempting food court,
offers a variety of exciting shops. Historic
downtown Fort Collins boasts local specialty stores
and restaurants in an outdoor pedestrian mall. Several
neighborhood centers are scattered throughout the town,
making quick stops convenient wherever you may be. Click
here to access the Chamber’s Membership Directory and
search for retail outlets.
Dining
With more restaurants per capita than
most cities in the nation, Fort Collins offers a tantalizing
selection of places to satisfy your appetite. From
spicy Mexican to delicious Italian and exotic Vietnamese,
you can try a different cuisine every day. And don't
forget to try a great hamburger and a beer from one
of the local microbreweries. Fort Collins' local restaurants,
combined with nationwide chains, provide endless choices
of different styles of food to satisfy everyone's cravings. Click
here to access the Chamber’s Membership Directory and
search for dining establishments.
Compass
Report
Click
here for a living report on the quality of life
in Larimer County. The Compass site pulls together
data from various sources that indicate our community's
social, economic, and environmental health. |
Government
Affairs 
