Fort Collins, city, seat of Larimer County, northern Colorado, on the Cache la Poudre River, in the foothills of the Front Range; incorporated as a city 1873. It is located in an agricultural and tourist region; high technology has also become vital to the regional economy. Manufactures include computer hardware and software, microelectronic parts, and beverages. The city is the seat of Colorado State University and the gateway to numerous scenic areas. The community grew around a fort commissioned by (and named for) Lieutenant Colonel William O. Collins in 1864. Population 65,092 (1980); 87,758 (1990); 118,652 (2000).
