Review of Fort Collins, Colorado


Stinky Town
Star Rating - 8/6/2007
We moved to Fort Collins a year ago to be in an acceptable climate with clean air and fairly high culture and growth potential. We were completely off on the later two requirements. Fort Collins is indeed a very pretty little college town with wonderful warm people, near access to an international airport in Denver, and apparently decent health facilities for those with insurance. However, home prices are in my opinion relatively high because of its inclusion on the Money Magazine's best place to live list a couple years ago, and the economy is in a slump with high white collar unemployment and depressed wages. Also, the town smells strongly of cow manure 7 or 8 months out of the year due primrily to the presence of a meat packing plant and stock yards to the Southeast. This previous winter was one of the harshest in recent history and the city has inadequate snow removal budgets for such an event. As in many cities, the summer temperatures spiked to record levels on several days this year, into the upper 90's and 100's. So, although Fort Collins might be an appropriate solution for some such as agricultural workers, college teachers or retirees, it is an awful place for us and we are seeking a more interesting, less odorouos city with a healthier economy.
Suzanne | ,
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OMG, I had no idea of this cow manure smell. Is it for real? It is now 2011. Can anyone comment on these smells? Do they still exist? I am considering taking a job in Ft. Collins in the spring. Please post. Thanks!
Rebecca | Tucson, AZ | Report Abuse

There are a lot of small dairys and feed lots near I-25 from Johnstown to Wellington. Bing maps "birds eye view" shows lots of them. It is not Greeley. We live at 57th & 287 in Loveland and the dairy near us will make you eyes water with the east wind. It is horrible after it rains.
John | Colony, KS | Report Abuse

I lived there for 3 wonderful years and regreted leaving. I too smelled the cow manure, but only a couple of times a year. I lived South of Harmony too. Now if your in Greeley where the source of the odor is, then I'm sure you'd smell it alot. As for the economy, it was starting to go through a bad period when we left almost 4 years ago.
Jenny | Santa Clarita, CA | Report Abuse

LOL... I'm not sure these folks lived in Fort Collins... they smelled Greeley (20mi. away) which has a lot of sheep stock yards & the meat packing plant. I've lived here 12 years and only smelled Greeley a handful of times when the wind was blowing backwards (to the West). Or they lived in the outskirts of the city limits because there are horses/cattle and ranches outside of the main city. But 7 to 8 months of stench... no way. And specifically there are excellent health facilities for those WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE. Obviously these folks didn't take the time to look into resources available. In 2007 we did have a big snow storm but that was the only one for that year and we got to have a snow day!! I love how people come for a small amount of time and make it seem like that short experience is how it always is. We've had extreme weather for a few DAYS several years apart. For the most part our weather is sunny and mild but we do have 4 seasons. This is a perfect place for all walks of life. not just ag, teachers, and retirees.
Laura | Fort Collins, CO | Report Abuse
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