Fort Morgan, Colorado

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. Lincoln High School (9th - 12th grades), a public high schoolhttps://www.cityoffortmorgan.com/facilities/facility/details/lincolnhighschoolgrades9-12-46 Fort Morgan High School (9th - 12th grades), a public high schoolhttps://www.cityoffortmorgan.com/facilities/facility/details/fortmorganhighschoolgrades9-12-41 GOAL High School https://goalac.org/northeast/fort-morgan/ Higher education The main campus of Morgan Community College is in Fort Morgan. The Colorado Biblical University is centered in Fort Morgan. Its location is in the former Lincoln School, 914 State Street, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Harvest University is a school offering a master's in divinity. It is located in a former middle school. Cultural resources The city has a public library and a history museum. Both are located in one building just north of the downtown. 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