The city sits on the cusp of the high plains of eastern Colorado, but is sheltered on the west by the lower foothills of the Rockies, giving residents plenty of nearby hiking and mountain biking opportunities. By plugging a couple of gaps in the foothills with dams, Fort Collins created Horsetooth Reservoir, which you can't see from town. To view the high mountains, you’ll need to head up into Lory State Park or Horsetooth Mountain Park, just west of town. A walk through Old Town Square and the neighborhoods to its south and west demonstrates Fort Collins’s focus on historic preservation and the arts—music is everywhere, especially during summer. The city has more than 20 microbreweries and produces 70% of Colorado’s craft beer, earning it the title of Craft Beer Capital of Colorado.
The city was established in 1868 to protect traders from the natives, while the traders negotiated the treacherous Overland Trail. After the flood of 1864 swept away Camp Collins—a cavalry post near today’s town of LaPorte—Colonel Will Collins established a new camp on 6,000 acres where Fort Collins stands today. The town grew on two industries: education (Colorado State University was founded here in 1879) and agriculture (rich crops of alfalfa and sugar beets). Today there are plenty of shops and art galleries worth visiting in this relaxed university city.
