FLOOD11712 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

In 1849 and again in 1858 and 1859 the siren call of "gold" resounded through the land to entice many people to California and then to the Pikes Peak, Central City, and Boulder areas in search of quick riches. A few struck it rich, but the majority soon left in disappoint- nent. Those who knew how to farm settled in the St. Vrain valley, where rich soil and abundant wild game gave new hope. The Town of Old Burlington was started just south of present day Longmont in 1859. In the decade that fol- lowed, infinite labor and thought created a network of irrigation ditches that laced the landscape to water fertile soil, grow crops of wheat, corn, and sugar beets, and to raise herds of purebred Hereford cattle. Such prosperity did not go unnoticed, for in Nove~~er of 1870, a group of well-to-do Easterners founded the Chicago Colorado organization, whose purpose was to establish a new city in the West. In January of 1871, the Chicago Colony locating co~mittee visited the town of Old Burlington and the surrounding areas, were pleased with what they saw, and arranged to establish the Chicago Colony settlement on the high ground north and west of Old Burlington. The Town of Longmont was laid out in the square mile bounded by the present First Avenue, Martin Street, Ninth Avenue, and Bower Street. The little town grew and in the first year, 50 to 60 buildings were erected and over 400 people settled in the new community. In 1873, the Town of Longmont was linked to the outside world when the Colorado Central built a railroad from Golden to Longillont. Today, agriculture is still the economic base of Longmont, although nearby Denver and Boulder have influenced the growth of new co~~ercial and industrial development, as is typified by the plant built by the International Business Machines Corporation near Niwot. This influence is further reflected in the population trends of Longmont. The population figures for Longmont in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1975, and projected for 1980 and 1990 are 8,099; 11,489; 23,209; 35,000; 47,254; and 68,154, respectively. The climate is temperate--daily temperatures of 65 degrees from gay to September and 37 degrees from October to April. The average annual precipitation is 12 inches for the City of Longmont and nearly 17 inches in the nountains, with an average monthly rate of 1.5 inches from April to Septe~~er. The city lies within the St. Vrain Creek Basin with headwaters extending by way of the North and South St. Vrain Creeks into the Rocky Mountains up to the Continental Divide. Elevations range from 4,900 feet in 5