Fort Collins: Colorado's Little Big Town

Fort Collins, CO, is the virtual antithesis to its larger, more metropolitan neighbors like state capital, Denver and the home of The University of Colorado, Boulder. While still sporting its own university, Colorado State University - or CSU to those who matriculate there - this increasingly popular Colorado destination is home to a diverse population that is comprised of as many college students as it is professionals and commuters to Denver.

While technically, Fort Collins is a smaller college town, the inherent popularity of both its small town feel and the amenities usually found in cities twice the size, the city does boast a healthy population of approximately 128,000. The fifth most populous city in the state, Fort Collins is also the largest city and county seat of Larimer county. Sitting in the north central portion of the large state of Colorado, the city itself sits on the popular recreational area of the Colorado Front Range.

With the great appeal of the city not only limited to the educational benefits of Colorado State University, there are potential great benefits to professionals and retirees. In 2000, Fort Collins was named one of the best cities to retire in by Money magazine. Furthering the magazine's fascination with the city, they further complimented Fort Collins in 2006 by awarding it the number one position on Money magazine's best places to live in America. There is also great high-tech interest through one of the city's largest employers, Hewlett-Packard, which not only employs a great number of people, but also keeps the city and the surrounding areas on the cutting edge of technology.

Much of Fort Collins' appeal has to do with its willingness to allow the culture therein to be dictated mainly by the college community. Old Town, a popular hub of the city's commercial traffic, not only houses, in a community aspect, the many locally owned and operated businesses and restaurants, but perpetuates that traffic by playing host to numerous annual festivals, which sees both the college-aged and older demographic enjoying what is offered. New West Fest, Fort Collins' largest community festival, occurring typically in late August, celebrates the establishment of the city along the banks of the Cache la Poudre River. The three-day festival typically includes plenty of live music, food and local business involvement. Festivals of this nature thrive in areas like Fort Collins, in a large amount because of the thriving local music scene as well as a nationally recognized beer culture.

The Anheuser-Busch brewery, which is located just north of the city is the largest and most well known brewery in the area, but is still only one of many. Included are Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins Brewing Company and the largest of the three, New Belgium Brewing Company. Having three local microbreweries and one of the nation's largest and widely recognized breweries, it would be natural to assume that a beer festival would find its way to the streets of Old Town. Annually, in late June, Fort Collins sees the Colorado Brewer's Festival feature beers from over 45 brewers from all over the state and an average attendance of 30,000 persons.

Home to a diverse population, a great educational system, low crime and seemingly countless outdoor recreational activities, Fort Collins not only earns this year's seat as the nationally recognized destination for people of all ages, but will surely deserve accolades for many years to come.