Longmont: Tech and Brewing on the St. Vrain
Longmont was platted in 1871 by a Chicago-based colonization company that wanted to establish an agricultural settlement on the plains between Denver and the mountains. The town grew slowly as a farming community, and sugar beet processing was a major employer through the mid-twentieth century. Today Longmont has approximately 92,100 residents and sits primarily in Boulder County, with a small portion extending into Weld County.
Technology companies began arriving in the 1970s and 1980s. IBM had a significant presence, and although that operation closed, the tech workforce stayed and dispersed into smaller firms and startups. The city's municipal broadband network, NextLight, launched in 2014 and provides gigabit fiber to nearly every address in town, a draw for remote workers and small tech firms. Seagate Technology maintains operations in the area as well.
Craft brewing is a visible part of the local economy. Left Hand Brewing, Wibby Brewing, and several smaller operations are scattered along or near Main Street. The downtown area has been slowly revitalizing, with restaurants and shops filling storefronts that were empty a decade ago. The St. Vrain Creek runs through the city and was the site of serious flooding in September 2013, which caused over $100 million in damage and prompted major flood mitigation projects.
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Longmont was platted in 1871 by a Chicago-based colonization company that wanted to establish an agricultural settlement on the plains between Denver and the mountains. The town grew slowly as a farming community, and sugar beet processing was a major employer through the mid-twentieth century. Today Longmont has approximately 92,100 residents and sits primarily in Boulder County, with a small portion extending into Weld County.
Technology companies began arriving in the 1970s and 1980s. IBM had a significant presence, and although that operation closed, the tech workforce stayed and dispersed into smaller firms and startups. The city's municipal broadband network, NextLight, launched in 2014 and provides gigabit fiber to nearly every address in town, a draw for remote workers and small tech firms. Seagate Technology maintains operations in the area as well.
Craft brewing is a visible part of the local economy. Left Hand Brewing, Wibby Brewing, and several smaller operations are scattered along or near Main Street. The downtown area has been slowly revitalizing, with restaurants and shops filling storefronts that were empty a decade ago. The St. Vrain Creek runs through the city and was the site of serious flooding in September 2013, which caused over $100 million in damage and prompted major flood mitigation projects.
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