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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />III. THE CITY OF LONGMONT <br />A. History <br />The City of Longmont is located in north central Colorado, approximately <br />29 miles north of Denver .via Interstate 25. The City encompasses approximately <br />11.5 square miles and has an estimated 1986 population of 50,500. <br />The first settlement in the present day Lon9mont area was a trading fort <br />built in 1838 by Ceran St. Vrain and the Brent Brothers near the junction of St. <br />Vrain Creek and the South Platte. <br />The original settlers in the area were farmers and they began to settle <br />along St. Vrain Creek around 1861. Development continued at a progressive rate <br />until 1870 when the Chicago Colorado Colony Organization was founded. Colony <br />Organization was a concept being introduced in the Midwest; finding the concept <br />successful, a group of businessmen from Chicago formed the Chicago Colorado <br />Colony. After locating in an area just north of the town of Burlington, the <br />Colony proceeded to name themselves Longmont, and began selling lots. <br />The City was first incorporated in 1873. The original population was <br />approximately 773. The population steadily increased to 7406 people in 1940 and <br />has accelerated tremendously over the last 27 years as can be seen from the <br />following population statistics. <br /> <br /> CITY OF <br /> LONGMONT <br />YEAR POPULATION <br />1940 7,406 <br />1950 8,099 <br />1960 11,489 <br />1970 23,209 <br />1980 42,356 <br />1986 50,500 <br /> <br />Although still influenced by surrounding agriculture, the City's economic <br />base has diversified. Current major employers in and around the Longmont area <br />include IBM, St. Vrain Valley School District, Longmont Foods (turkey food <br />products), City government, and the Federal Aviation Administration. <br />-7- <br />