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Longmont began in an unusual way. In
1870, a group of prominent men in Chicago decided to start a new town
in Colorado. To do this, they sold membership in the new town, called
"The Chicago-Colorado Colony," and used the money to buy 60,000 acres
of land in a carefully chosen site in northern Colorado. They brought
people, lumber, and building materials to the barren site, and by 1871,
a new town was built. They named it "Longmont," after nearby Long's
Peak.
The City of Longmont currently has
over 100 designated historic structures located throughout the City. A
structure may be designated for preservation if it has historical,
architectural or geographical importance to the community. Applications
for designation are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission
and approved by the Longmont City Council. There are several financial
incentives available for designated structures, including tax credits
for qualified rehabilitation and refunds for certain building permit
fees.
The City of Longmont has two
nationally registered historic districts
(http://www.nationalhistoricalregister.com/CO/boulder/state.html). The
purpose of these districts is to recognize areas that have special
character and interest. The West Side Historic District (added 1987 -
District - #86002846) is roughly bounded by Fifth Avenue, Terry Street,
Third Avenue, and Grant Street. The East Side Historic District (added
1986 - District - #86002812) is roughly bounded by Long's Peak Avenue,
Collyer Street, Fourth Avenue, and Emery Street.
The West Side Historic District, west
of downtown Longmont, incorporates two neighborhoods, Thompson Park and
Central School. Residences, reflecting a wide variety of architectural
styles, primarily date from 1871 to 1930, with the most intense
development occurring between 1900 and 1930.
— History courtesy of the
City of Longmont and the Longmont Museum
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