Fort Morgan, Colorado

Fort Morgan, Colorado
eponym: 1865 Army fort
Home Rule Municipality
The Fort Morgan City Hall
The Fort Morgan City Hall
Location of Fort Morgan in Morgan County, Colorado
Location of Fort Morgan in Morgan County, Colorado
Coordinates: 40°15′12″N 103°47′57″W / 40.25333°N 103.79917°W / 40.25333; -103.79917
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyMorgan
IncorporatedJune 15, 1887
Government
 • TypeHome Rule Municipality
 • MayorKevin Lindell
Area
 • Total4.92 sq mi (12.75 km2)
 • Land4.85 sq mi (12.57 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)  1.32%
Elevation
4,324 ft (1,297 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,597
 • Density2,338.35/sq mi (902.93/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
80701 & 80705
Area code970
FIPS code08-27810
GNIS feature ID0204722
WebsiteCity 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. The population at the 2020 census was 11,597. The estimated population for 2022 was 11,453.

History

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. 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.

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.

In 2023, a reality television program called Home Town Takeover worked with the city to make some changes in the community.

Economy

Fort Morgan's economy is mostly agricultural.

In 2017, there were 297 employer firms.

Cargill has a meatpacking plant on the eastern edge of the town. It has about 2,000 workers. 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.

Education

The public school district is Fort Morgan Re-3 School District.

High school

There are three high schools in Fort Morgan.

https://goalac.org/northeast/fort-morgan/

Higher education

Cultural resources

Transportation

Rail

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service through Fort Morgan, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco.

References

  1. 1 2 "Active Colorado Municipalities". State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  2. ↑ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. 2004-12-01. Archived from the original on 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  3. ↑ "Mayor & City Council". City of Fort Morgan. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  4. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 25, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "QuickFacts: Fort Morgan city, Colorado". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  6. ↑ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  7. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. 1 2 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Fort Morgan city, Colorado". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  9. ↑ "Search | Colorado State Archives".
  10. ↑ 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)
  11. ↑ "MCC's History | Morgan Community College". 3 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-06-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ "HGTV's 'Home Town' takes Fort Morgan viral in April". 16 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "Inside 'Home Town Takeover's Huge Renovation of Fort Morgan, Colorado".
  15. ↑ "Season 2 of 'Home Town Takeover' — Here's What to Expect". HGTV.
  16. ↑ "Fort Morgan's DownTown Park Transformation | Home Town Takeover | HGTV". YouTube. 8 January 2024.
  17. 1 2 "In Brief | Fort Morgan, CO". www.cityoffortmorgan.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  18. ↑ "Morgan Community College |". Colorado Community College System. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  19. ↑ "Fort Morgan welcomes Colorado Biblical University and Colorado Biblical University Academy". The Fort Morgan Times. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  20. ↑ "Graduate". Harvest University. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  21. ↑ "Fort Morgan Museum | Fort Morgan, CO". cityoffortmorgan.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  22. ↑ "Library | Fort Morgan, CO". cityoffortmorgan.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.