The Community
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. 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. Fort Collins is now a vibrant community. 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.
A host of arts and entertainment choices, including Old Town Gallery Tours, outdoor concerts, a busy performing arts schedule and annual community events make Fort Collins ideal for performers, artists and patrons.
Recreation excitement is endless and includes activities such as whitewater river rafting on the Cache la Poudre River, hiking, climbing or biking in the Rocky Mountain National Park, easy access to some of Colorado’s best ski areas or, if you prefer, a leisurely stroll along one of the many trails in and around the Fort Collins area.
Old Town Fort Collins was recently renovated to restore buildings and foster greater enjoyment. An array of restaurants, pubs, breweries and cafes scatter the streets in Old Town.
Smart planning has given the city a progressive public transportation system, more than 200 miles of hiking, biking and walking trails and dozens of superb parks and neighborhoods. Recently named Best Small Town in the West by Money Magazine, the community has something for everyone, from activities for the extreme athlete to the leisurely weekend enthusiast.
Shopping, Dining and Entertainment
A variety of choices make Fort Collins a great place to shop. Nationwide retailers and local stores offer a variety of exciting shops throughout town. 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.
Other nearby offerings include Promenade Shops at Centerra, Budweiser Event Center, Southridge Golf Course, Fossil Creek Park, and
Horsetooth Reservoir & Mountain Park.
Major Employers
Fort Collins has several major employers that help fuel our economic growth and stability. Colorado State University, Poudre School District, Hewlett Packard, Poudre Valley Health System, Medical Center of the Rockies, 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.
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.
Education Information
Fort Collins offers one of the best educational environments available in the United States. Colorado State University gives students a tremendous range of educational opportunities from undergraduate to graduate and professional programs. Over 70 undergraduate programs are offered in a curriculum that ranges from liberal arts to veterinary sciences. CSU students come from all 50 states and nearly 100 countries.
In addition to being Fort Collins’ largest employer, CSU adds a recreational and cultural flavor that many communities twice its size cannot replicate. World-renown speakers, sporting events and cultural celebrations all help to shape the Fort Collins personality.
Four thousand students attend Front Range Community College, offering a college curriculum as well as programs in vocational and technical areas. The Fort Collins campus is the second largest and most rapidly growing community college in the state.
The Thompson R2-J School District (serving the WaterLeaf community) serves more than 15,000 students at 18 elementary schools, five middle schools, and five high schools. The district is a leader in the area of modernizing curriculum, redesigning testing and aligning both with state academic standards.
