Longmont Apartments and Rentals

Head north on Interstate 25 alongside Rocky Mountain National Park for 30 miles and you will find yourself in the beautiful community of Longmont. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, spectacular views of the mountains, a buzzing restaurant scene and plenty of high-tech companies, it is no wonder that many Colorado residents are finding Longmont apartments for rent. Named one of the "Best Places to Live" in both 2006 and 2008, this beautiful, thriving city is showing no signs of slowing down its progress.

The areas in Central Colorado were occupied by Dakota and Cheyenne Indians until the first European explorers and adventurers came into the area in the early 19th century. The first American explorer who settled in the community was Stephen H. Long, whom the city is named after. Fur traders, miners and trappers soon followed and a settlement began to form.

Soon after, Longmont got some strange visitors. In 1870, a group of well-to-do Chicagoans decided to start a new town in Colorado. They sold memberships and used the money they made to purchase 60,000 acres of land and building materials to set up a small town in the uninhabited area. By the summer of 1871, the building was complete and what was originally known as the "Chicago-Colorado Colony" was officially changed to Longmont.

The city has doubled its population just about every ten years due to farmers settling here for the rich soil, which is a rarity in the dry Colorado climate. The Dust Bowl, world wars, the Great Depression and an influenza outbreak took a toll on the blossoming town, and the community was forced to rebuild. After World War II, the economy quickly shifted from agriculture to technology production. Even today, Longmont remains one of the cities with the highest concentration of software-related jobs in the country.

One of the most well respected institutions in the Longmont area is Front Range Community College. With associate degrees and certificate programs in many fields, there are plenty of ways to get a kickstart to your career here. This school also collaborates with two dozen Colorado businesses and organization in clean energy technology. Regardless of whether you are attending college at Front Range or commuting to the Boulder or Denver areas, finding rentals in Longmont near Interstate 25 would be your safest bet for getting to and from class quickly.

The largest private employer in the area is Seagate Technology, a computer disk drive manufacturer, according to the city's official government website. Although software and interface production is a major source of the employment here, there is also a profitable Crocs plant and large biopharmaceutical company here. With such an innovative eye for the future, it is easy to see why so many people are flocking to this area for the jobs of tomorrow.

Because of its recent growth spurt and close proximity to two major cities in Colorado, the cost of living here is slightly higher than the national average, according to city-data.com. However, the median household income has seen a slight bump in the past ten years, so you should be able to find affordable apartments in the area. The median gross rent in 2009 was $868 per month.

One of the biggest attractions for locals and visitors in the area is Rocky Mountain National Park. Complete with beautiful wildflowers, western wildlife, 300 miles of hiking trails and camping facilities, there is never a reason to be bored here. The park is also committed to environmental conservation and is an epicenter for glacial studies. Learning about the anatomy of the mountains here is a great way to find out more about what makes this community so proud of its natural surroundings.  

To find your next rental apartment or house in Longmont, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.