When most people who know of Fort Collins, Colorado think of the city, its status as the home of Colorado State University first comes to mind. It's true that the university does contribute 33,000 students and 1,400 faculty members to the city's population 136,000 residents. But FortCollinsZip.com is here to show you that this city is more than just a big college town. While it is an excellent place to come for higher education and get your start in the world, Fort Collins has a rich culture and economy all of its own. If you're looking for a new home in the heart of Colorado, this city only fifty-seven miles from the capital may be right for you.

For those looking for some culture and entertainment, there are a number of options in Fort Collins. The downtown shopping district known as Old Town hosts a number of events and festivals throughout the year. The Fort Collins Lincoln Center is the home of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, as well as a number of concerts and performances year round. Lincoln Center has two performance spaces, four galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden. For the sportier resident, the Colorado Marathon goes through the Poudre Valley and finishes in Old Town.

There are three microbreweries in the city, the New Belgium Brewing Company, the Fort Collins Brewery and the Odell Brewing Company. Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewing company in the world, also has a brewery in the city. It is also the fourteenth largest employer in the city, providing almost one thousand jobs.

Fort Collins is strong in the manufacturing sector, with a number of major corporations having operations within the city. Some of these are Hewlett Packard, Agilent and Eastman Kodak. Colorado State University is the city's leading employer, providing nearly seven thousand positions. Government jobs are the next in line, including jobs in healthcare and education. There are several high-tech companies who have recently made the move to Fort Collins or are looking to do so in the future due to the large number of skilled workers provided by Colorado State University. Work in clean energy, biotechnology and agri-technology are also done in the city.

For those looking for a great education, Fort Collins and Colorado State are good options for finding it. But, Fort Collins may be even a better city for those finished with their studies and starting their life. The city has a cost of living of only 91.6 to the national average of 100. This is amazing for a city of its size.