Loveland, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado
, United States
. Loveland is situated 46 miles (74 km) north of the Colorado State Capitol
in Denver
. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado
. The United States Census Bureau
that in 2010 the population of the city of Loveland was 66,859. The city forms part of the Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area
, as well as the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area
and the Front Range Urban Corridor
. The city's public schools are part of the Thompson R2-J School District
.
, near its crossing of the Big Thompson River
. It was named in honor of William A.H. Loveland, the president of the Colorado Central Railroad. The city was founded one mile (1.6 km) upstream from the existing small settlement of St. Louis, the buildings of which were moved to the site of Loveland. For the first half of the 20th century the town was dependent on agriculture. The primary crops in the area were sugar beet
s and sour cherries. In 1901, the Great Western Sugar Company built a factory in Loveland, which remained as a source of employment until its closure in 1985. During the late 1920s the Spring Glade orchard was the largest cherry orchard west of the Mississippi River
. At that time the cherry orchards produced more than $
1 million worth of cherries
per year. A series of droughts, attacks of blight and finally a killer freeze destroyed the industry. By 1960 cherries were no longer farmed. In the late 20th century, the economy diversified with the arrival of manufacturing facilities by Hewlett-Packard
, Teledyne
, and Hach, a water quality
analysis equipment manufacturer. A new medical center
has added a substantial amount of employment in that sector as well.
The city is south of Fort Collins
, its larger neighbor and the county seat. The two cities have been steadily growing towards each other over the last several decades and are considered to be a single metropolitan area by the U.S. government. The establishment of county-owned open space between the two communities in the 1990s was intended to create a permanent buffer to contiguous growth. Loveland has aggressively expanded its incorporated limits eastward to embrace the interchange of Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34, and is currently developing the area. In the last decade, the intersection has become a primary commercial hub of northern Colorado
, with the construction of shopping centers and the Budweiser Events Center
. A new medical center and mall have also been built on the Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34 interchange. This area is known as Centerra. The interchange is shared with its smaller neighbor Johnstown
, of Weld County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 25.5 square miles (66 km²), of which, 24.6 square miles (63.7 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (3.68%) is water.
The city is south of Fort Collins
, its larger neighbor and the county seat. The northward city limits are now contiguous with those of Windsor
, which has expanded westward from Weld County across Interstate 25.
Loveland Pass
, also named after William A.H. Loveland, is not located near the town of Loveland.
Loveland has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification
BSk).
of 2000, there were 50,608 people, 19,741 households, and 14,035 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,059.7 people per square mile (795.3/km²). There were 20,299 housing units at an average density of 826.2 per square mile (319.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.85% White, 0.37% Black, 0.69% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.21% from other races
, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.57% of the population.
There were 19,741 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,119, and the median income for a family was $54,337. Males had a median income of $38,971 versus $26,714 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,889. About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
.com offers regular passenger airplane service into the nearby Fort Collins / Loveland Airport
. Denver International Airport
, which is 70 miles (112.7 km) to the south, is served by nearly twenty airlines. Loveland can be approached from Denver by car via Interstate 25.
U.S. Highway 34 runs East to West into the mountains through Loveland. It becomes Eisenhower Blvd. in the city, dividing it in half. Loveland's two main zip code
s (80538 and 80537) are separated by this highway.
The city bus system in Loveland is called COLT -- City of Loveland Transit.
Loveland is connected to Fort Collins, Berthoud
, and Longmont via the FLEX regional bus route.
, USA Today
, AARP the Magazine
, and others. There is a large population of artists in Loveland, which has drawn three foundries
, an art museum, and the annual sculpture shows in August. Loveland has a reputation as being somewhat conservative in its politics, with a large and active population of Evangelical Christians. The city is a major business center for northern Colorado.
The city is located in the Colorado Front Range
region at the base of the foothills just east of the mouth of Big Thompson River
Canyon at the intersection of U.S. Highway 34 and U.S. Highway 287. Longs Peak
and other mountains of the Front Range
are visible from much of the city. Lake Loveland, an early agricultural reservoir in the irrigation
system of the region, is located in the city limits and provides a recreational facility for the city residents.
Because of its location along U.S. 34, at one of the principal access routes to Estes Park
and Rocky Mountain National Park
, Loveland receives a significant amount of pass-through tourist
traffic, especially in the summer months. In addition, the city serves as a "bedroom" community to commuters in many directions: to employment locations in Boulder
, Westminster
and other parts of the Denver Metropolitan area; and also to the college towns of Fort Collins (CSU
), Greeley
(UNC
), and Boulder
, (CU
).
Re-Mailing Program. For decades people from across the world have sent their valentines to Loveland, Colorado, to be hand-stamped with a cachet and verse, and a specially designed postal cancelation. A new verse and stamp are selected each year through a contest held by the Loveland Chamber of Commerce and residents can submit their poems and artwork to be judged. On average, this program re-mails more than 160,000 cards from the United States and more than 110 countries. Loveland’s Valentine Re-mailing Program has inspired many other Valentine’s Day programs including the Official Loveland Valentine, Miss Loveland Valentine and the Thompson Valley Rotary Heart’s Program. Information on all these programs is available through the Loveland Chamber of Commerce website. The Loveland Chamber of Commerce and the Loveland Post Office sponsor the Loveland Valentine Re-mailing Program.
Loveland’s Valentine Re-mailing Program began in January 1947 by Ted Thompson and Elmer Ivers, the Loveland postmaster after Ivers received about 30 valentines from individuals requesting to have the cards postmarked from Loveland for, “a romantic extra touch.” The two thought re-mailing valentines would be an opportunity to advertise Loveland, and the Loveland Chamber of Commerce agreed to promote the service. Thompson designed a cachet with the message, “A Valentine Greeting from Sweetheart Town, Loveland, Colorado,” and the image was a heart pierced by an arrow over the Rocky Mountains. The cachet was used twice, then Thompson started the tradition of changing it each year at the request of collectors. Since then, a different verse and design have been used every year.
The Sculpture in the Park show, hosted by the Loveland High Plains Arts Council, takes place annually in August and exhibits artwork from artists from the United States and the world.
and serves as the driving force for business in Loveland, promoting business and community prosperity. The Chamber promotes business and community prosperity by focusing on four core competencies: connections, visibility, education and advocacy. It plays an important role in advocating for businesses regarding public policy. The Loveland Chamber is one of the founding members of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, along with the Fort Collins and Greeley chambers of commerce. The organization’s mission is to lead and influence local, state and federal policy issues affecting the business interests of northern Colorado. With the assistance of a legislative affairs committee, the Loveland Chamber takes a position on certain legislation and campaigns in the community for or against it.
The Chamber is an essential contributor to the business community by providing an array of events, programs and opportunities to help its investors, both large and small, gain the skills and resources necessary to thrive and prosper in today's economy. The Chamber is responsible for the Old Fashioned Corn Roast Festival, one of Loveland’s largest community festivals and the world famous Loveland Valentine Re-mailing Program in addition to supporting day-to-day events in the Loveland community.
Larimer County, Colorado
Larimer County is the seventh most populous and the ninth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is located at the northern end of the Front Range, at the edge of the Colorado Eastern Plains along the border with Wyoming...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Loveland is situated 46 miles (74 km) north of the Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. The building is intentionally reminiscent of the United States Capitol. Designed...
in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
that in 2010 the population of the city of Loveland was 66,859. The city forms part of the Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area located in the Fort Collins and Loveland region of the U.S. state of Colorado. The Fort Collins-Loveland MSA is defined as Larimer County, Colorado. The Census Bureau...
, as well as the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area
Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area
thumb|300px|Map of the 12-county Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaThe Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Combined Statistical Area located in the Denver region of the state of Colorado...
and the Front Range Urban Corridor
Front Range Urban Corridor
The Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
. The city's public schools are part of the Thompson R2-J School District
Thompson R2-J School District
The Thompson R2-J School District is located in Loveland, Colorado and covers schools in Loveland, Berthoud, Masonville, Drake, and the southern part of Fort Collins...
.
History
The city was founded in 1877 along the newly-constructed line of the Colorado Central RailroadColorado Central Railroad
The Colorado Central Railroad was a U.S. railroad company that operated in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming in the late 19th century. Originally founded in the Colorado Territory in the wake of the Colorado Gold Rush to ship gold from the mountains, it eventually expanded from its initial...
, near its crossing of the Big Thompson River
Big Thompson River
The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles long, in the U.S. state of Colorado.- Course of the river :...
. It was named in honor of William A.H. Loveland, the president of the Colorado Central Railroad. The city was founded one mile (1.6 km) upstream from the existing small settlement of St. Louis, the buildings of which were moved to the site of Loveland. For the first half of the 20th century the town was dependent on agriculture. The primary crops in the area were sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
s and sour cherries. In 1901, the Great Western Sugar Company built a factory in Loveland, which remained as a source of employment until its closure in 1985. During the late 1920s the Spring Glade orchard was the largest cherry orchard west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. At that time the cherry orchards produced more than $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1 million worth of cherries
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
per year. A series of droughts, attacks of blight and finally a killer freeze destroyed the industry. By 1960 cherries were no longer farmed. In the late 20th century, the economy diversified with the arrival of manufacturing facilities by Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
, Teledyne
Teledyne
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated is an industrial conglomerate primarily based in the United States but with global operations. It was founded in 1960, as Teledyne, Inc., by Henry Singleton and George Kozmetsky....
, and Hach, a water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
analysis equipment manufacturer. A new medical center
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
has added a substantial amount of employment in that sector as well.
The city is south of Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
, its larger neighbor and the county seat. The two cities have been steadily growing towards each other over the last several decades and are considered to be a single metropolitan area by the U.S. government. The establishment of county-owned open space between the two communities in the 1990s was intended to create a permanent buffer to contiguous growth. Loveland has aggressively expanded its incorporated limits eastward to embrace the interchange of Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34, and is currently developing the area. In the last decade, the intersection has become a primary commercial hub of northern Colorado
Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado is a region in the northern portion of Colorado. It borders Northwestern Colorado, Northeastern Colorado, the north portion of Central Colorado, and the northwest state of Wyoming. Northern Colorado receives over 300 days of sunshine per year, and has a Semi-arid climate...
, with the construction of shopping centers and the Budweiser Events Center
Budweiser Events Center
The Budweiser Events Center is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Loveland, Colorado .Construction was completed and doors opened for the first event on September 20, 2003 with a sold-out exhibition hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers.The Arena is located on The...
. A new medical center and mall have also been built on the Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34 interchange. This area is known as Centerra. The interchange is shared with its smaller neighbor Johnstown
Johnstown, Colorado
Johnstown is a Home Rule Municipality in Larimer and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 3,827 at the 2000 census. As of 2010 the US Census Bureau estimates the population of Johnstown at 9,887.-Geography:...
, of Weld County
Weld County, Colorado
As of the census of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
.
Geography and climate
Loveland is located at 40°24′17"N 105°5′9"W (40.404789, -105.085868).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 25.5 square miles (66 km²), of which, 24.6 square miles (63.7 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (3.68%) is water.
The city is south of Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
, its larger neighbor and the county seat. The northward city limits are now contiguous with those of Windsor
Windsor, Colorado
The Town of Windsor is a Home Rule Municipality in Larimer and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town was 18,644. Windsor is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Windsor is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in...
, which has expanded westward from Weld County across Interstate 25.
Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass, elevation 11,990 ft. above sea level, is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, U.S.A.....
, also named after William A.H. Loveland, is not located near the town of Loveland.
Loveland has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 50,608 people, 19,741 households, and 14,035 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,059.7 people per square mile (795.3/km²). There were 20,299 housing units at an average density of 826.2 per square mile (319.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.85% White, 0.37% Black, 0.69% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.57% of the population.
There were 19,741 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,119, and the median income for a family was $54,337. Males had a median income of $38,971 versus $26,714 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $21,889. About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Continuing education
- Aims Community CollegeAims Community CollegeAims Community College is a two-year college serving northern Colorado with three campuses in Greeley, Fort Lupton and Loveland. Aims offers more than 160 degree and certificate programs and provides many diverse programs as both day and night classes. Aims was founded in 1967 and the first class...
- Colorado Christian UniversityColorado Christian UniversityColorado Christian University is a private, interdenominational Christian liberal arts university in Lakewood, Colorado in the United States...
(Northern Colorado Center satellite site)
High schools
- Harold Ferguson High SchoolHarold Ferguson High SchoolFerguson High School was originally known as the Washington Alternative High School from 1972 to 1981.In 1982, FHS was moved to their second location at 804 East Eisenhower; they were there until January 2009 when...
- Loveland High SchoolLoveland High School (Colorado)Loveland High School is a public high school located in Loveland, Colorado. It is one of the five high schools in the Thompson R2-J School District. Founded more than one hundred years ago, it is the oldest high school in the district. The first class of graduates left the institution in 1894, and...
- Mountain View High SchoolMountain View High School (Colorado)Mountain View High School is a secondary school in Loveland, Colorado. Mountain View opened in 2000 and is the fourth public high school in the city, and the fifth high school in the Thompson R2-J School District. The principal of Mountain View is Kevin Aten...
- Thompson Valley High SchoolThompson Valley High SchoolThompson Valley High School is located at 1669 Eagle Drive in Loveland, Colorado. Its mascot is the Eagle and it is one of four high schools in the Thompson R2-J School District, along with Loveland High School, Mountain View High School, and Berthoud High School.-Athletics:Thompson Valley hosts...
Middle schools
- Bill Reed Middle School
- Conrad Ball Middle School
- Lucile Erwin Middle School
- Walt Clark Middle School
- New Vision Charter School
Elementary schools
- B.F. Kitchen Elementary School
- Big Thompson Elementary School
- Carrie Martin Elementary School
- Centennial Elementary School
- Cottonwood Plains Elementary School
- Coyote Ridge Elementary School
- Garfield Elementary School
- Laurene Edmondson Elementary School
- Lincoln Elementary School
- Mary Blair Elementary School
- Monroe Elementary School
- Namaqua Elementary School
- New Vision Charter School
- Ponderosa Elementary School
- Sarah Milner Elementary School
- Stansberry Elementary School
- Truscott Elementary School
- Winona Elementary School
- Van Buren Elementary School
Private schools
- Campion Academy
- HMS Richards Adventist School
- Immanuel Lutheran School
- Heritage Christian Academy
- Loveland Protestant Reformed Christian School
- Resurrection Christian School
- Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School
- Seven Oaks Academy & Little Acorns
Transportation
Allegiant AirAllegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
.com offers regular passenger airplane service into the nearby Fort Collins / Loveland Airport
Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport
Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport is a public airport located nine miles southeast of Fort Collins and northeast of Loveland, both cities in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The airport covers and has two runways...
. Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
, which is 70 miles (112.7 km) to the south, is served by nearly twenty airlines. Loveland can be approached from Denver by car via Interstate 25.
U.S. Highway 34 runs East to West into the mountains through Loveland. It becomes Eisenhower Blvd. in the city, dividing it in half. Loveland's two main zip code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s (80538 and 80537) are separated by this highway.
The city bus system in Loveland is called COLT -- City of Loveland Transit.
Loveland is connected to Fort Collins, Berthoud
Berthoud, Colorado
Berthoud is a Statutory Town in Larimer and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Berthoud is situated north of the Little Thompson River, approximately halfway between the cities of Fort Collins, Colorado and Denver, Colorado along the Front Range Urban Corridor...
, and Longmont via the FLEX regional bus route.
Atmosphere
The Loveland-Ft Collins metropolitan area has received numerous awards as a great place to live, by Money MagazineMoney Magazine
Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...
, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, AARP the Magazine
AARP The Magazine
AARP The Magazine is a bi-monthly magazine published by AARP, which focuses on aging issues. Established in 1958, it was known until 2002 as Modern Maturity. The editor is Nancy Perry Graham ; the managing editor is John Stoltenberg...
, and others. There is a large population of artists in Loveland, which has drawn three foundries
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
, an art museum, and the annual sculpture shows in August. Loveland has a reputation as being somewhat conservative in its politics, with a large and active population of Evangelical Christians. The city is a major business center for northern Colorado.
The city is located in the Colorado Front Range
Colorado Front Range
The Colorado Front Range is a colloquial geographic term for the most populous region of the state of Colorado in the United States. The area is located just east of the foothills of the Front Range, aligned in a north-south configuration on the western edge of the Great Plains, where they meet the...
region at the base of the foothills just east of the mouth of Big Thompson River
Big Thompson River
The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles long, in the U.S. state of Colorado.- Course of the river :...
Canyon at the intersection of U.S. Highway 34 and U.S. Highway 287. Longs Peak
Longs Peak
Longs Peak is one of the 53 mountains with summits over 14,000 feet in Colorado. It can be prominently seen from Longmont, Colorado, as well as from the rest of the Colorado Front Range. It is named after Major Stephen Long, who explored the area in the 1820s...
and other mountains of the Front Range
Front Range
The Front Range is a mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains of North America located in the north-central portion of the U.S. State of Colorado and southeastern portion of the U.S. State of Wyoming. It is the first mountain range encountered moving west along the 40th parallel north across...
are visible from much of the city. Lake Loveland, an early agricultural reservoir in the irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
system of the region, is located in the city limits and provides a recreational facility for the city residents.
Because of its location along U.S. 34, at one of the principal access routes to Estes Park
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park is a town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Estes Park had a population of 5,858 at the 2010 census...
and Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado.It features majestic mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments—from wooded forests to mountain tundra—and easy access to back-country trails...
, Loveland receives a significant amount of pass-through tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
traffic, especially in the summer months. In addition, the city serves as a "bedroom" community to commuters in many directions: to employment locations in Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, Westminster
Westminster, Colorado
Westminster is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Westminster is a northwest suburb of Denver. The Westminster Municipal Center is located north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol. The United States Census Bureau that the city population...
and other parts of the Denver Metropolitan area; and also to the college towns of Fort Collins (CSU
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
), Greeley
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
(UNC
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
), and Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, (CU
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
).
The Valentine Re-Mailing Program
Loveland is the home of the ValentineValentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
Re-Mailing Program. For decades people from across the world have sent their valentines to Loveland, Colorado, to be hand-stamped with a cachet and verse, and a specially designed postal cancelation. A new verse and stamp are selected each year through a contest held by the Loveland Chamber of Commerce and residents can submit their poems and artwork to be judged. On average, this program re-mails more than 160,000 cards from the United States and more than 110 countries. Loveland’s Valentine Re-mailing Program has inspired many other Valentine’s Day programs including the Official Loveland Valentine, Miss Loveland Valentine and the Thompson Valley Rotary Heart’s Program. Information on all these programs is available through the Loveland Chamber of Commerce website. The Loveland Chamber of Commerce and the Loveland Post Office sponsor the Loveland Valentine Re-mailing Program.
Loveland’s Valentine Re-mailing Program began in January 1947 by Ted Thompson and Elmer Ivers, the Loveland postmaster after Ivers received about 30 valentines from individuals requesting to have the cards postmarked from Loveland for, “a romantic extra touch.” The two thought re-mailing valentines would be an opportunity to advertise Loveland, and the Loveland Chamber of Commerce agreed to promote the service. Thompson designed a cachet with the message, “A Valentine Greeting from Sweetheart Town, Loveland, Colorado,” and the image was a heart pierced by an arrow over the Rocky Mountains. The cachet was used twice, then Thompson started the tradition of changing it each year at the request of collectors. Since then, a different verse and design have been used every year.
The public arts program
Loveland has just under 300 pieces of art in its public arts collection. The arts collection consists primarily of sculpture; however, the collection also includes murals and other flat work. Over 100 pieces of the city's sculpture can be found in Loveland's Benson Sculpture Garden.The Sculpture in the Park show, hosted by the Loveland High Plains Arts Council, takes place annually in August and exhibits artwork from artists from the United States and the world.
Loveland Chamber of Commerce
The Loveland Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization of more than 700 companies and 16,000 individuals in northern ColoradoNorthern Colorado
Northern Colorado is a region in the northern portion of Colorado. It borders Northwestern Colorado, Northeastern Colorado, the north portion of Central Colorado, and the northwest state of Wyoming. Northern Colorado receives over 300 days of sunshine per year, and has a Semi-arid climate...
and serves as the driving force for business in Loveland, promoting business and community prosperity. The Chamber promotes business and community prosperity by focusing on four core competencies: connections, visibility, education and advocacy. It plays an important role in advocating for businesses regarding public policy. The Loveland Chamber is one of the founding members of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, along with the Fort Collins and Greeley chambers of commerce. The organization’s mission is to lead and influence local, state and federal policy issues affecting the business interests of northern Colorado. With the assistance of a legislative affairs committee, the Loveland Chamber takes a position on certain legislation and campaigns in the community for or against it.
The Chamber is an essential contributor to the business community by providing an array of events, programs and opportunities to help its investors, both large and small, gain the skills and resources necessary to thrive and prosper in today's economy. The Chamber is responsible for the Old Fashioned Corn Roast Festival, one of Loveland’s largest community festivals and the world famous Loveland Valentine Re-mailing Program in addition to supporting day-to-day events in the Loveland community.
Notable natives and residents
- Wayne AllardWayne AllardAlan Wayne Allard is a member of the Republican Party, and was a United States Senator from Colorado. He did not seek re-election in 2008.-Early life:...
- Former United States Senator from ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains... - Jeremy BloomJeremy BloomJeremy Ryan Bloom is a three-time World Champion, two-time Olympian and eleven-time World Cup gold medalist in freestyle moguls skiing. In 2005, he won a record six straight World Cup events, the most in a single season in the sport's history....
- Olympic skier; former wide receiver and punt returner at the University of ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at BoulderThe University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
; drafted2006 NFL DraftThe 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2006. - Jeff ByersJeff ByersAfter going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, Byers signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks.-External links:*...
- Offensive guard for University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaThe University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. - Alexi GrewalAlexi GrewalAlexi Singh Grewal ' is a Sikh-American Olympic gold medalist and former professional road racing cyclist. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Grewal became the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in road cycling...
- Olympic gold medal winning cyclist - Kyle HowardKyle HowardKyle Alan Howard is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Kyle Howard grew up in Loveland, Colorado. He has worked in both film and television...
- American film and television actor - Jeff LucasJeff LucasJeff Lucas is a popular international author, speaker and broadcaster.-Career:Jeff Lucas is an international speaker, author and broadcaster. He is a teaching pastor at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. He broadcasts on radio - In Good Company [Premier Radio], and daily thoughts on UCB...
- Writer/broadcaster - Don MarosticaDon MarosticaDon Marostica is a real estate developer and former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado, currently serving as director of the state's Office of Economic Development and International Trade....
- Colorado director of Economic DevelopmentEconomic developmentEconomic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area... - Marilyn MartinezMarilyn MartinezMarilyn Martinez was a Hispanic American stand up comedian and actress. She was a regular performer at The Comedy Store in Hollywood....
- Comic - Scot McCloughanScot McCloughanScot McCloughan is the former General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers. On March 18, 2010, he was relieved of his duties.-Notes and references:...
- Former San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
general manager - James NiehuesJames NiehuesJames Niehues is a resort and panoramic illustrator. Having done roughly 75% of the "large resorts", most of Niehues' business comes from custom mapmaking. His large format watercolor paintings are hand painted and airbrushed to reveal the fine details of the natural landscape.- External links :*...
- Panoramic illustrator famous for his ski area trail maps
See also
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- Front Range Urban CorridorFront Range Urban CorridorThe Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
- Loveland Chamber of CommerceLoveland Chamber of CommerceThe Loveland Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization of more than 700 companies and 16,000 individuals in northern Colorado and serves as the driving force for business in Loveland, promoting business and community prosperity. The Chamber focuses on four pillars to accelerate and...
- Medical Center of the RockiesMedical Center of the RockiesMedical Center of the Rockies, located in Loveland, Colorado, is the sister hospital of Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. Both are operated by the Poudre Valley Health System, and Regional West Health Services of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, who is also a co-owner of MCR...
- State of Colorado