About Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins is nestled against the Rocky Mountain Foothills in Northern Colorado and offers all the amenities of a larger city with the convenience of a small town. With an outstanding public school system, a vibrant cultural scene, and a flourishing downtown business district, Fort Collins continues to receive national recognition as a great place to live and thrive.
Quick Facts About Fort Collins
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- Population 2020: 169,810
- 58 miles north of Denver
- Founded as a military fort in 1864
- Approximately 5,000 feet above sea level
- On average residents enjoy 300 days of sunshine and 14.5 inches of precipitation
- The City maintains more than 600 acres of parks, 40,000 acres of natural areas, 20 miles of off-street hike/bike trails, three golf courses, a racquet center, three swimming pools, an ice rink, and a community center.
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- Average Household Size: 2.4
- The current estimated number of housing units in Fort Collins is 65,518
- 40.3% Single, 47% Married
- 27.4% homes with kids, 72.6% homes without kids
- Average Commute Time: 20 minutes
- Median Age: 29.3
- Total Population: 158,600. Male: 49.9% Female: 50.1%
- Approximately 51.9% of the population has completed 4 or more years of college
- Unemployment rate: 3.1%
- Median Household Income: $53,359
- Average Rent: $1,217
Sources: http://www.zillow.com/ http://www.fcgov.com http://factfinder2.census.gov/ http://quickfacts.census.gov/
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- Advanced Energy Industries Inc
- Anheuser Busch
- Banner Health
- Colorado State University
- Columbine Health Systems
- EKS&H
- Exodus Moving & Storage
- First National Bank
- FirstBank of Northern Colorado
- Fort Collins Coloradoan
- Hensel Phelps
- Hewlett-Packard Company
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- Hilton Fort Collins
- Kaiser Permanente
- Meritage Homes
- Noosa
- Platte River Power Authority
- The Group Inc.
- The Neenan Company
- Tolmar/Zila
- University of Colorado Health
- Water Pik
- Wells Fargo Bank
- Woodward
- Xcel Energy Co.
Poudre School District serves the local community and exceeds state scores. PSD is consistently one of the best districts in the state, and is the 9th largest school district in Colorado! Use the Neighborhood School Locator to help determine the schools that serve a particular address!
Vital Statistics
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- 31 Elementary Schools
- 10 Junior High Schools
- 7 High Schools
- 2 Charter Schools/1 K-12 Online School
The Thompson School District is the 16th largest school district in Colorado. TSD includes the cities of Loveland, Berthoud, and the southern part of Fort Collins as wel as parts of Larimer, Weld, and Boulder counties. The district’s TCAP scores are consistently above state averages.
Vital Statistics
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- 20 Elementary Schools
- 5 Middle Schools
- 5 High Schools
- 2 Charter Schools
Colorado State University is a land-grant institution and a Carnegie Research University. Founded in 1870, it was one of 68 land-grant colleges established under the Morrill Act of 1862. In 1935, the school became the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and was renamed Colorado State University in 1957. To date, more than 230,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees have been conferred at Colorado State, including more than 6,000 in 2011-2012. Our 184,586 living alumni are active in 27 geographic alumni groups representing 17 states (4 in Colorado and 23 out of state) and 16 common interest groups.
Vital Statistics
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- Enrolls about 30,650 total students
- 22,412 undergraduate students
- 3,808 graduate students
- 8 colleges
- Student-Faculty Ratio:18.6 to 1
- Over 1,600 international students and scholars from more than 90 countries
- In 2012, the University had more than $375.9 million in annual research expenditures
As the largest community college in Colorado, Front Range Community College serves more than 25,000 people annually from three campuses, one learning center, and numerous outreach sites associated with the campuses.
Vital Statistics
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- FRCC is the largest community college in Colorado
- 8,800 students
- Median age: 23
- 1/3 of students are 26 or older
- Over 350 online classes
- Courses in Career Development, Nonprofit Management, Real Estate, Workplace Skills, and Job Search Tactics
Bicycling is a great way to get to know Fort Collins. With relatively flat terrain, 280+ miles of wide bike lanes, and 30+ miles of bike trails that follow both the scenic Poudre River and Spring Creek, bicycling is a fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly way to see all that Fort Collins has to offer. The Fort Collins Bicycling Library lends bicycling to visitors, students, and residents looking to explore the city. They offer a variety of self-guided tours from the “Bike the Sites” collection, including a Brewery Tour, Environmental Learning Tour, and the Historic Tour. The Bike Library is centrally located in Old Town Square. Look for the Café Bicyclette! For more information, please visit the Fort Collins Bike Library or call (970)419-1050.
Biking Resources:
City of Fort Collins Bicycle Map Fort Collins Bicycle Library City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Lory State Park Horsetooth Mountain Park
Mountain Biking in Fort Collins
If it’s mountain biking you are after, the area has miles upon miles of great mountain biking minutes from downtown. Visit Fort Collins Natural Areas for information on riding the foothills trails or check out the trails and pump track at Lory State Park, or Horsetooth Mountain Park. Also, the City’s Spring Canyon Park offers a challenging mountain bike skills course and you can find a fast BMX course at Edora Park.