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 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.

### High school

There are three high schools in 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 just north of the downtown.

### 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.

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Fort Morgan, Colorado
- **other name**: eponym: 1865 United States Army, Army fort
- **settlement type**: List of cities and towns in Colorado#Home rule municipality, Home Rule Municipality
- **image skyline**: Fort Morgan City Hall.JPG
- **imagesize**: 250px
- **image caption**: The Fort Morgan City Hall
- **image map**: File:Morgan County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Fort Morgan Highlighted 0827810.svg
- **mapsize**: 250x200px
- **map caption**: Location of Fort Morgan in Morgan County, Colorado
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: U.S. state, State
- **subdivision type2**: List of counties in Colorado, County
- **subdivision name2**: Morgan County, Colorado, Morgan
- **government type**: Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality, Home Rule Municipality
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **leader name**: Kevin Lindell
- **established title2**: Municipal corporation, Incorporated
- **established date2**: June 15, 1887
- **unit pref**: Imperial
- **area total km2**: 12.75
- **area land km2**: 12.57
- **area water km2**: 0.18
- **area total sq mi**: 4.92
- **area land sq mi**: 4.85
- **area water sq mi**: 0.07
- **area water percent**: 1.32%
- **population as of**: 2020 United States Census, 2020
- **population total**: 11,597
- **population density km2**: 902.93
- **population density sq mi**: 2338.35
- **timezone**: Mountain Standard Time Zone, MST
- **utc offset**: −7
- **timezone dst**: Mountain Daylight Time, MDT
- **utc offset dst**: −6
- **elevation m**: 1297
- **elevation ft**: 4324
- **postal code type**: ZIP codes
- **postal code**: 80701 & 80705
- **area code**: Area code 970, 970
- **blank name**: Federal Information Processing Standard, FIPS code
- **blank info**: 08-27810
- **blank1 name**: Geographic Names Information System, GNIS feature ID
- **blank1 info**: 0204722
- **website**: [http://www.cityoffortmorgan.com/ City of Fort Morgan]