Larimer County, Colorado

Ammons Hall Anderson, Peter, House Armstrong Hotel Arrowhead Lodge Avery House Baker House Baldpate Inn Bear Lake Comfort Station Bee Farm Benson, A.S., House Big Thompson River Bridge III Big Thompson River Bridge IV Bimson Blacksmith Shop Bingham Homestead Rural Historic Landscape Borland, Maude Stanfield Harter, House Botanical and Horticultural Laboratory Bouton, Jay H., House Buckeye School Cascade Cottages Chasteen's Grove Clatworthy Place Colorado and Southern Railway Depot Crags Lodge Downtown Loveland Historic District Dunraven Cottage-Camp Dunraven East Longs Peak Trail-Longs Peak Trail-Keyhole Route-Shelf Trail Edgemont Elkhorn Lodge Fall River Entrance Historic District Fall River Pass Ranger Station Fall River Pump House and Catchment Basin Fall River Road Fern Lake Patrol Cabin Fern Lake Trail First National Bank Building First United Presbyterian Church Flattop Mountain Trail Flowers, Jacob and Elizabeth, House Fort Collins Armory Fort Collins Municipal Railway Birnery Safety Streetcar No. 21 Fort Collins Post Office Fuller, Montezuma, House Gem Lake Trail Glacier Basin Campground Ranger Station Graves Camp Rural Historic District Great Western Sugar Company Effluent Flume and Bridge Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific Railroad-Stout Branch Harmony Mill Hewes-Kirkwood Inn Kelley House Kissock Block Building Lake Haiyaha Trail Laurel School Historic District Leiffer House Lost Lake Trail Loveland State Amory MacGregor Ranch Maxwell, R. G., House McCreery, William H., House McGraw Ranch McHugh-Andrews House Mills, Enos, Homestead Cabin Milner-Schwarz House Moraine Lodge Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater Mosman House Mountainside Lodge North Inlet Trail Old Town Fort Collins Opera House Block/Central Block Building Park Theatre Patterson House Peep O Day Park Pleasant Valley School Plummer School Preston Farm Provost Homestead-Herring Farm Rural Historic Landscape Rialto Theater Robertson, T. H., House Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building Rocky Mountain National Park Utility Area Historic District Schlichter, E.A., House Shaffer, Henry K. and Mary E., House Snogo Snow Plow Soloman Batterson Ranch (Rural Historic Landscape) Spruce Hall Stanley Hotel Stanley Hotel District Stanley Hotel District (Stanley Power Plant Boundary Increase) Swanson, Gustav and Annie, Farm Trail Ridge Road Truscott Junior High School Twin Sisters Lookout Vaille, Agnes, Shelter Virginia Dale Stage Station Waycott, Ernest, House White, William Allen, Cabins Willard, Beatrice, Alpine Tundra Research Plots Willow Park Patrol Cabin Willow Park Stable Wind Ridge Ypsilon Lake Trail

Larimer County, located in northern Colorado, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. Native American tribes such as the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne initially occupied the region, relying on the abundant natural resources for their livelihoods. The area became part of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and later the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1851.

In the mid-19th century, the Colorado Territory was established, and Larimer County was officially founded in 1861. It was named after General William Larimer Jr., a prominent figure in the early settlement of Denver. The county's first settlements were primarily mining communities, attracted by the discovery of gold in the nearby Cache la Poudre River. However, as the gold rush declined, agriculture took center stage in the region.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought significant development to Larimer County. The arrival of the Colorado Central Railroad in the 1870s spurred economic growth and facilitated the transportation of goods. The county's population steadily increased, and towns like Fort Collins and Loveland thrived. Agriculture became the backbone of the local economy, with sugar beet farming, cattle ranching, and dairy production becoming major industries.

Larimer County also played a role in the conservation and preservation movement in the early 20th century. The establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915 brought attention to the county's natural beauty and led to an increase in tourism and outdoor recreation. Today, Larimer County continues to embrace its heritage while also experiencing dynamic growth in areas such as technology, education, and outdoor industries. It remains a vibrant and diverse community with a deep appreciation for its history and natural surroundings.
Brief timeline of the history of Larimer County, Colorado:

  • 1800 - Native American tribes, including the Arapaho and Cheyenne, inhabit the area now known as Larimer County.
  • 1820 - Fur trappers and traders start exploring the region, establishing early contact with Native American tribes.
  • 1858 - Gold is discovered in the area, leading to a gold rush and the establishment of numerous mining camps.
  • 1861 - Larimer County is officially established as one of the original counties in the Colorado Territory.
  • 1875 - Fort Collins is founded as an agricultural colony and becomes the county seat.
  • 1881 - The Colorado Central Railroad reaches Fort Collins, stimulating further growth and development in the county.
  • 1901 - The Colorado Agricultural College (now Colorado State University) is established in Fort Collins.
  • 1930s - The construction of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project brings water from the west slope of the Colorado Rockies to Larimer County, enabling agricultural expansion.
  • 1990 - The City of Loveland becomes the second-largest city in Larimer County, surpassing Fort Collins in population.
  • 2000 - Larimer County's population reaches over 250,000, reflecting significant growth and development in the area.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Larimer County, Colorado.

Audiobooks about the history of Colorado.