The History of Fort Collins Colorado

Ft. Collins Colorado was founded as a military post in 1864 and incorporated in 1873. Long before that however there were people living and passing through this area as far back as 6-10,000 years ago. These people are called by scientists the original Native American. They were mostly nomadic tribes passing through while chasing down dinner in the form of Mastodons, giant sloth's and a saber toothed tiger or two. As close as they can figure at this time the first settlers were here about 1200BC.They were the first agricultural citizens.

The Native Americans as we know them arrived well before around 1300AD . As to recent history the Apache first passed through around 1525 or before. Coronado arrived in Southern Colorado in 1540 bringing horses with them. These horses were promptly stolen or were given to the Apaches and others. Written and physical evidence say this took place in 1600-1680. This has been horse country ever since. It also allowed the Apache, Cheyenne, Arapahoe and others to become the most fearsome horse cavalry around. In 1720 the first Spanish gold prospectors arrived at the South Platte River South and East of Ft Collins. Lewis & Clark went by North of here in Wyoming in 1804 and the Utes were in Estes Park.

In 1835 there was a fort established on the South Platte. The Oregon trail was used in 1840's North of Ft Collins. Laporte just west of present day Ft Collins was established in 1858 as the town of Colona. That brings us to 1864 when Camp Collins was established. It was also the infamous year of the Sand Creek massacre. Then in 1873 the town of Ft Collins was incorporated.

In 1955 when I first arrived from Denver to visit a high school classmate Colorado A&M (now Colorado State) had 4800 students. I later came back and graduated from CSU and it had grown to 5200. CSU now has 25,000 students. As the old advertisements say. "We have come a long way baby" Follow the links below for more history.

Avery House

Waterworks

Municipal Railway

Ft Collins Information