Longmont    [check the resources]

In 1871, members of the "Chicago Colorado Colony" purchased 50,000 acres along the St. Vrain River near the old Burlington stage stop. The first settlers picked a bluff directly east of the 14,526 ft. Longs Peak for the town site, naming the town after the peak. Longmont became a hub for the farming of sugar beets, alfalfa, beans, potatoes and peas. The Great Western Sugar Factory manufactured sugar from sugar beets, and the Empson cannery processed vegetables.
Today, Longmont is the second largest city in Boulder County, with over 62,000 people occupying over 20 square miles. A warm and friendly town, it is still growing, drawing start-up businesses, as well as, relocating established businesses because of its small town atmosphere and close proximity to the University of Colorado. It has a growing retail base of department stores, restaurants and professional services and boasts public events year-round, from rodeos to fairs (including the Boulder County Fair). The desire to live in an area where you can work, live, shop and play without leaving the city limits draws many newcomers.