Fort Morgan, Colorado
Fort Morgan, Colorado
| |
|---|---|
 The Fort Morgan City Hall | |
 Location of Fort Morgan in Morgan County, Colorado | |
| Coordinates: 40°15′12″N 103°47′57″W / 40.25333°N 103.79917°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Morgan[1] |
| Incorporated | June 15, 1887[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home Rule Municipality[1] |
| • Mayor | Lyn Deal [3] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.92 sq mi (12.75 km2) |
| • Land | 4.85 sq mi (12.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) 1.32% |
| Elevation | 4,324 ft (1,297 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 11,597 |
| • Density | 2,338.35/sq mi (902.93/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes[6] | 80701 & 80705 |
| Area code | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-27810 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0204722 |
| Website | City of Fort Morgan |
Fort Morgan is the home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Morgan County, Colorado, United States.[7] The population at the 2020 census was 11,597.[5] The estimated population for 2022 was 11,453. [8]
History
[change | change source]A United States military fort was built along the Overland Trail in 1865. It was first named Camp Wardwell. The fort was built to protect people from attacks by local Native Americans. [9] The next year, it got a new name: Fort Morgan. In 1868, the fort was closed. The buildings became ruins over time.
Almost two decades later, on May 1, 1884, the town of Fort Morgan was platted. In 1889, it was made the county seat of the newly formed Morgan County, Colorado.
During World War II, the town had a military school at the Fort Morgan State Armory.[10]
In 1970, Morgan County Community College offered its first classes. In 1972, it had its first graduation ceremony. The next year, its name was changed to Morgan Community College (MCC). In 1978, construction began at its current location on Barlow Road on the east side of the town. Instruction at the new campus began in 1980. In 2016, MCC was ranked the best community college in Colorado. In 2022, it was ranked the best trade school in the state. [11]
In 2023, a reality television called Home Town Takeover worked with the city to make some changes in the community. [12] [13][14][15][16]
Economy
[change | change source]Fort Morgan's economy is mostly agricultural.
In 2017, there were 297 employer firms.[8]
Cargill has a meatpacking plant on the eastern edge of the town. It has about 2,000 workers.[17] Western Sugar has its main plant in Fort Morgan. Other major companies are Leprino Foods cheese factory, Dairy Farmers of America milk-processing facility, and Smirks, a seed-processing company.[17]
Education
[change | change source]High school
[change | change source]There are three high schools in Fort Morgan.
Higher education
[change | change source]- The main campus of Morgan Community College is in Fort Morgan.[18]
- The Colorado Biblical University is centered in Fort Morgan.[19] Its location is in the former Lincoln School, 914 State Street, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Harvest University is a school offering a master's in divinity. [20] It is located in a former middle school.
Cultural resources
[change | change source]- The city has a public library and a history museum. Both are located just north of the downtown.[21][22]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ↑ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ↑ "Election 2021: Voters choose Lyn Deal as new mayor of Fort Morgan". 3 November 2021.
- ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 25, 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "QuickFacts: Fort Morgan city, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ↑ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Fort Morgan city, Colorado". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ↑ https://archives.colorado.gov/search/search?keys=Fort+Morgan#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Fort%20Morgan&gsc.page=1
- ↑ Futrell, Robert F. (July 1947). Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States: 1939-1945 (Report). Vol. ARS-69: US Air Force Historical Study No 69 (Copy No. 2). Air Historical Office. p. 108 (pdf 117)
- ↑ https://www.morgancc.edu/about-mcc/history/
- ↑ https://heavy.com/entertainment/hgtv/home-town-takeover-fort-morgan-drama/
- ↑ https://www.fortmorgantimes.com/2023/03/16/hgtvs-home-town-takes-fort-morgan-viral-in-april/
- ↑ https://www.etonline.com/inside-home-town-takeovers-massive-renovation-of-fort-morgan-colorado-exclusive-188225
- ↑ https://www.hgtv.com/shows/home-town-takeover/articles/season-2-location-announcement
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBDFLp4t1g
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "In Brief | Fort Morgan, CO". www.cityoffortmorgan.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ↑ "Morgan Community College |". Colorado Community College System. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
- ↑ "Fort Morgan welcomes Colorado Biblical University and Colorado Biblical University Academy". The Fort Morgan Times. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
- ↑ "Graduate". Harvest University. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ↑ "Fort Morgan Museum | Fort Morgan, CO". cityoffortmorgan.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ↑ "Library | Fort Morgan, CO". cityoffortmorgan.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
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