Fort Collins Achievements

Fort Collins, Colorado continues to receive national recognition for its quality of life!

Best Place to Live!

The "#1 Best Place to Live in America", Money Magazine August 2006
Best BoomerTown
The "#2 Best Place to Live in America", CNN Money Magazine August 2008
The #4 of the '50 Best Places to Live in the US', Men's Journal May 2003
'One of the 50 Best Places to Live in North America'
Best Small Town in the West - Money Magazine
American Dream Town-one of the Best Towns in the US - Outside Magazine 2005
#4 'Best Places to Live in the US' - Men's Journal 2005

Best For Retirement

The 'Top 5 Places to Retire', MSN July 2003
#5 Best Places to Retire-Money Magazine 2000
Nationally accredited Senior Center
Best Place to Retire-Retirement Places Rated 1999
'Fort Collins Reaches the Summit of Retirement Spots' USA Today
#1 Place in the Country to retire for it's history, continuing education opportunities, active lifestyle, friendly community and picturesque surroundings-Where to Retire 2005
'A' rating as an ideal place to retire in "The New Retirement" 2005
The 'Top Retirement Spot' by Where to Retire magazine 2005

Best Place for Business and Employment

Forbes

CNN Money

Fort Collins leads US in 20 year income growth 1982 - 2002 -Amercian City Business Journals
One of the 30 Fastest Cities in the World

Fast Company

#16 on Forbes list of best places for business and careers in America's small cities
17th Best Place to Live & Work in America-Employment Review 2002
'A Pocket of Prosperity' Wall Street Journal 2001
'The Best Places to Start and Grow a Small Business' - Inc Magazine
#4 for Business Potential -Business Opportunity Index
City of Fort Collins 'Best of the Web' #1 U.S. City Web Site -Center for Digital Government
5th Best Economy in the Nation -Policom Corp 1999
Fort Collins led the entire nation in 'entrepreneurship and innovation' and these two forces are the key drivers of economic health, according to a recent national study by the Small Business Administration

Best for Family, Health and Education

Larimer County received and A+, one of just four counties in the eight state (280 counties) Rocky Mountain Region -State of the Rockies Report Card, Colorado College
#6 Best Place to Raise ad Family -Frommer's Travel Guide
#8 Best Midsized Metro Area for relocating families -Worldwide ERC
Colorado State University's veterinary medicine program ranked #2-U.S. News and World Reports
Colorado State University ranked 52nd out of 361 as one of the top schools in the nation-Princeton Review
One of the ten best places to raise a family-Best Places to Raise a Family
3rd Best Place to Raise a Family -Readers Digest 1997
#1 Best Place to Reinvent Your Life, AARP May 2003
America's Best Drivers - 2nd best in the nation according to Allstate Insurance Company
One of America's Promise 100 Best Communities for Young People
#8 College Town by ePodunk-the power of place.
Poudre School District named a 'Blue Ribbon District'. Must rank in the upper third of all school districts nationally, with judging in areas of graduation rates, a community's financial commitment to education and the community's adult education and income levels
'Directors Certificate of Recognition' water quality award from the Partnership for Safe Water, awarded to the Fort Collins Water Treatment Facility-the first in Colorado and just one of 51 in the country
The Fort Collins Housing Authority recognized by HUD as a 'High Performer'

Best for Everything

Best for Outdoor Adventure

One of the most 'Nature-Friendly areas in the US -Nature Friendly Communities
One of the Best Running Cities in America for its "awe-inspiring routes, passionate runners and great races" - Runners World 2005
9th Best for Affordable and Accessible Golf -Golf Digest 1999
ICLEI 5-Star Award for efforts to reduce global warming and pollution -2002
Silver Award for being a "place where citizens feel safe and comfortable riding their bikes for fun, fitness and transportation" - The League of American Bicyclists-2005

About Fort Collins