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This full service city, a rapidly urbanizing community operates under a sophisticated and comprehensive development plan. Rankings for Fort Collins have been high. Fort Collins has been ranked "Best Place to Retire" by Money Magazine in July of 2000 and 4th Best for Business Opportunity Business Opportunity Index 2000. The city of Fort Collins reinvests in community improvements including the new Gateway Park, Edora Skate Park, the new City office building at 215 N. Mason, the Downtown Transit Center and the Civic Center Parking Structure. There are also plans for numerous street improvements, a second sheet of ice for Edora Pool and Ice Center and a new Community Horticulture Center.
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Fort Collins Education
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Educational opportunities abound in Northern Colorado. Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University and an outstanding public school system. The Poudre School District, with 44 schools and 24,000 students, is a two time gold medal award winner for outstanding student test scores and graduation rates. The quality of the region's public school districts reflects communities that value education. Three doctoral level universities and two community colleges produce some 14,652 graduates every year. Colorado State ranks among the top universities in America with eight colleges offering more than 70 undergraduate and numerous graduate and professional degree programs. Approximately 42.7 percent of Fort Collins' population has completed four or more years of college.
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Fort Collins Employment
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Fort Collins is a place where people work, learn and play in the shadow of the majestic Rockies. A place with a diversified, thriving economy and a number of distinct towns dotting the Northern Colorado region and their close proximity to one another, provides Fort Collins homeowners with numerous employment options and opportunities. Fort Collins offers a broad employment base with business residents representing a stable mix of industry, government and services with an economy that remains strong in Northern Colorado. In fact, the growing Fort Collins-Loveland area is the fourth strongest ranking economy in the United States. Colorado is the fifth fastest growing state in the Country. Fort Collins has the third best economy in the country. Every major industry category in Northern Colorado experienced growth during the first quarter of 2000, the highest of which were government, manufacturing, retail trade and construction. Northern Colorado truly does mean business with a regional workforce numbering close to half a million, three major universities, a thriving community college system and legendary quality of life, the region is a new economic force in the Rocky Mountain West. It's no wonder this growing economy is home to an increasingly diverse community of businesses in the high-tech, biotech, telecommunications, publishing and manufacturing realms, among others. Hewlett-Packard Company, Agilent Technologies, Eastman Kodak, LSI Logic, Woodward, Hach Company, Celestica, WaterPik Technologies and Anheuser-Busch are just a few who call this vibrant region home. Fort Collins' median household income is $60,800 for a family of four.
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Fort Collins History
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Fort Collins was founded as a military fort in 1864 and incorporated as a town in 1873.
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Fort Collins Housing
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2000 Census data show the majority of households across
the nation (51.7%) are headed by married couples. Larimer County (53.6%)
closely follows the national trend. Fort Collins had a lower percentage of
married couple households at 45%, while Wellington had the highest
percentage in the county at 61%. Estes Park had the highest percentage of
householders living alone (31%).
While the Median Family Income in Fort Collins increased 58% ($21,841),
the average sale price of a home increased 107% ($100,416) from 1990 to
2000. The Housing Opportunity Index dropped from 63.9% in 1997 to 44% in
2000, meaning fewer homes were affordable to households earning area
median income.
Fort Collins has 51,236 housing
units. Affordable housing projects and programs are available within the
City of Fort Collins, including:
Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International is a
nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to
eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make
decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
The Woodlands Private
developer was Kaufman and Broad, 116 one, two and three bedroom rental
apartment units, Target population: 50 - 60% AMI, Completed in April
1997
Rose Tree Village co-sponsored
by Neighbor to Neighbor (non-profit) and Shields Street Corporation, through an
equally owner Colorado Limited Liability Company, Affordable Housing
Ventures, LLC
Fort Collins Housing Authority Dedicated to eliminating substandard
housing and homelessness and to making adequate, affordable shelter a
matter of conscience and action.
Neighbor to
Neighbor Neighbor to Neighbor's mission is to empower people and
promote housing opportunity through education, advocacy, counseling and
partnering with the community. Neighbor to Neighbor fosters positive
outcomes for people along all points of the housing continuum, from
homelessness through ownership.
Care Housing Inc CARE Housing Inc. is a non-profit housing provider
committed to providing you and your family with affordable, attractive
housing based on income in distinct apartment communities.
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Fort Collins Lifestyle
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Historic Old Town is a local
favorite pedestrian mall that preserves the city's historic center, with
the hippest shops and interesting restaurants all in a pleasant outdoor
setting. Fort Collins' Foothills Fashion Mall has 110 stores,
including several national chains.
Fort Collins is a big city, a
shopper's heaven, a diner's delight, fast-paced and laid-back, upscale and
low key, the Old West and the New West all rolled into one fantastic place
to own your next home!
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While the Median Family Income (MFI) in Fort Collins increased
58% ($21,841), the average sale price of a home increased 107%
($100,416) from 1990 to 2000.
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The Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) dropped from
63.9% in 1997 to 44% in 2000, meaning fewer homes were affordable to
households earning area median income.
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In 1999, Fort Collins & North Larimer County had a higher average
home sale price in both single-family new and resale, while Loveland has
a higher average sale price in multi-family homes. Overall, both North &
South Larimer County average home sale prices are about the same.
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While the percentages of owner occupied (67.3%) and renter occupied
(32.3%) housing in Larimer County are almost identical to the state
figures (67.3% owner and 32.7% renter), there are marked differences
among the cities and towns.
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From 1990 to 2000, median monthly rent in Larimer County increased
by 84%, while Median Family Income (MFI) increased by 58%.
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According to the 2000 Census, 42% of Larimer County
renters were paying 30% or more of their household income for rent. Of
these households, almost half were paying 50% or more.
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There are considerably more households in Larimer
County (1,082) with Section 8 subsidy (a rental payment that stays with
the renter from residence to residence) than those living in public
housing (276) units (residential units that are usually owned by the
government or quasi-governmental agency such as a housing authority).
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Fort Collins Nature
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Fort Collins is just under an hour from
Rocky Mountain National Park and Big Thompson & Poudre Canyons
which make a perfect setting for a scenic drive and to
enjoy solitude and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains where over
60,000 Canadian geese winter in each year.
Many of Fort Collins'
homeowners enjoy listening to the elk bugle in the fall or
watching the deer at the salt lick munch on a twig or listen to the cry of
the coyotes at night or watching the ducks in a mountain pond
or wild flowers spread out over the hillsides.
During the winter months, residents also enjoy snow shoeing and cross
country skiing. See a wild elk gently
rub his nose against your cabin windows or fish the streams for brookies and fry them
up for breakfast.
Big Thompson Canyon - Located approximately 8
miles west of Fort Collins along Colorado State Highway 34 is an area called
"The Narrows", the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon. The Narrows is
a steep winding gorge created by erosion of the land beneath the river.
The Narrows is also home to Rocky Mountain Sheep. Towering on both sides
of the canyon are rock formations, that over time, have been tilted almost
90 degrees by the movement of the earth. This beautiful canyon and the Big
Thompson River both add to the scenic beauty as you drive between Fort
Collins and Estes Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park -
Established by Congress on January 26, 1915. Rocky Mountain National Park, about
35
miles southwest of Fort Collins, is a beautiful park encompassing over 265,000 acres
of land, including: 140 lakes, 590 campsites, 355 miles of trails, and 178
(10,000 foot high) mountain peaks. These great forests and valleys are
home to wildlife such as deer, moose, bighorn sheep, elk, and bear.
Winding through the park is the world famous Trail Ridge Road.
Longs Peak - the highest peak
in the park, is 14,259' in elevation. Because of the high elevation of the
park (8,000' to over 14,000') one should to take time to acclimatize.
Trail Ridge Road - Trail Ridge Road, the nation's highest
continuous paved highway is 50 miles long. The scenic drive follows the ancient Ute Indian Trail, between Estes Park
and Grand
Lake and takes you through elevations of over 11,000 feet. Due to the high
altitude, snow can be seen throughout the year, but the road is only open
from Memorial Day until first snow fall in mid-October.
Estes Park - Nestled at the entrance to the Rocky Mountain
National Park, Estes Park at an elevation of 7,522 feet and surrounded
by 14,000 feet high snow capped peaks, is a beautiful mountain village
with Victorian lights and sidewalk benches and plenty of things to do and
sights to see including gift shops, restaurants and a whole lot more.
Horsetooth Mountain Park and Reservoir - Located just 12 miles
northwest of Fort Collins, the scenic 2,100 acre Horsetooth Mountain Park and
Reservoir, set in the beautiful foothills, offers a 26 mile trail system
for hikers, bicycles, and horses and features a reservoir with many
recreational opportunities.
Poudre River Canyon - Located 18 miles northwest of
Fort Collins, the
beautiful 60 mile long Poudre River Canyon corridor, carved by the Poudre
River, stretches from the Continental Divide to the foothills of
Fort Collins and out into the plains. The "Wild and Scenic" Poudre is the
last river in Colorado untamed by a dam. Recreational opportunities are
seasonal and range from rafting to fly fishing.
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Fort Collins Recreation
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Fort Collins is a recreation paradise with plenty to do including 44 public parks, three golf courses, an ice skating rink, three swimming pools and over 20 miles of bicycle and hiking trails. Clean air, clear water and pristine mountains beyond beckon residents of Northern Colorado to partake in a long list of activities including skiing, skating, camping, hiking, golf, fishing, backpacking, biking, swimming, rafting and boating. Northern Coloradoans have an equally long list of indoor activities that includes a wide selection of galleries, restaurants, museums, clubs, indoor recreation facilities, boutiques and shopping malls.
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Fort Collins Transportation
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Interstate 25 traverses the extreme eastern edge of the Fort Collins while Colorado State Highway 34, a major traffic route, connects the interstate to the mountain areas and runs through community in an east to west direction. Highway 34 is the main access to Rocky Mountain National Park, located approximately 35 miles due west of Fort Collins. Interstate 70 is located 55 miles to the south in Denver, and Interstate 80 is 40 miles to the north in Cheyenne, Wyoming. A majority of commuters in Larimer County commute less than 30 minutes as of the year 2000 Census and fewer than 20% of commuters who drove to work were regular carpoolers. The Denver International Airport is only an hour and a half away and offers general aviation airport services, commuter service, hangar leases, fueling and maintenance.
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Fort Collins Weather
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