Windsor is a home rule municipality located at the heart of Northern Colorado that has grown tremendously due to its strategic placing. The town is situated in both Larimer and Weld counties-a good disposition as it enjoys the benefits of both counties. Windsor was incorporated and recognized as a town in 1890 after being platted in 1882.
Windsor Geography
It covers 26.26 square miles, with land taking up 25.08 square miles and water having 1.18 square miles. According to the 2010 census, Windsor had a population of 18,644, which is estimated to have increased in 2019 to about 30,477. Usually, the catchy town lies in the UTC-7 (MST) time zone, fluctuating to UTC-6 (MDT) during summer. Travelling from Windsor to Denver, the capital state of Northern Colorado, you will cover 59 miles, up to 95 km. The town neighbours Fort Collins and Loveland, excellent tourist attraction sites making Windsor a great place to consider residing in either as a getaway or a permanent residence.
Windsor History
The town’s history is rich with tales of a settler called J.L Hilton, who built a small house between Fort Collins and Greeley. This halfway house was a landmark that would eventually attract railroad construction. Subsequently, the house and the railroad would soon become instrumental in opening up Windsor. The alluvial plains of Windsor would then attract irrigation, which was vital in the town’s early development. Through irrigation, wheat production boomed in the rich alluvial plains of Windsor. It led to the opening of commercial establishments such as;
Windsor Milling and Elevator Company – In turn, Windsor began attracting permanent residents in the early 1870s. Apart from flour mills and railway deports, Windsor had sugar production enterprises that facilitated its economic development. Notably, the town’s centrality in populous Colorado and its thriving economy have made Windsor ripe for urban settlement.
Windsor Demographics
Demographically, the town’s population has increased exponentially from a population of 305 in 1900 to a population of 30,477 in 2019. Historically, most of the town’s inhabitants were German or Russian. However, the ethnic demographics have diversified due to industrialization and urbanization. The city maintains its heritage through cultural festivities and traditions. The age distribution is relatively balanced, with the youth taking up 29%, young adults 16%, middle adults 29%, and seniors taking up 26%.
Housing is widely accepted, and real estate agencies offer various housing units. Housing unit types include single-family detached, most common, taking up 82%, single-family attached, 7%, and multi-family houses taking up 11%. The education attainment rate is commendable, with most residents having attained an education by 25 years. 97.6% have a High School Graduate or a GED, while 27.7% have a Bachelor’s Degree. In terms of employment, manufacturing industries are leading with 35.8%, professional and Technical services come in second at 10% employment rate, while healthcare is at 10%. Demographics are a key player in determining whether Windsor is the place to be.
Windsor Activities
Windsor has museums, namely, Boardwalk Park Museum and the Art & Heritage Center, otherwise called AHC. Boardwalk Park has preserved the the1882 train depot and the 1886 schoolhouse. The museum has managed to freeze time and allow tourists to explore life as it was in the early days of Windsor. The museum also boasts of Windsor’s American Indian bison kill site and snippets of early town settlement, giving tourists a feel of Windsor’s expansion during the sugar beet boom. AHC is the old guard responsible for the preservation arts and culture of Windsor, Colorado. It displays artwork during exhibits hosted throughout the year. AHC also provides cultural programs to teach the community and tourists about Windsor. Windsor Severance Fire Rescue Museum is situated on 6th street and showcases the history of the mitigating fire team. The museum restores and preserves memorabilia of historic fires, including three fire trucks. The museum also has many fire extinguishers and glass fire grenades. Arguably, Windsor is hell-bent on keeping its treasures and is proud of displaying its history.
The town is lively and hosts a Summer Concert Series each summer. It indicates the town’s desire to promote and support creativity. On Thursday evenings, the concert features local, regional, and nationally known bands at Windsor’s lakeside Boardwalk Park. The beautiful scenery accompanied by music is one lively affair. Thursdays are auspicious in Windsor because the town hosts a Farmers Market on Thursdays from June to September. Windsor celebrates its most significant event, Harvest Festival, over Labor Day weekend. This weekend usually has carnivores, parades, garden fairs, concerts, and hot air balloon festivals.
Windsor Living
The town has invested in recreation with 25 developed and undeveloped parks totalling 2oo acres. Boardwalk Park is near Windsor Lake and has a swim beach, a wheelchair-accessible playground, picnic shelters, and boating trails. Main Park is located south of the town hall and is full of sports grounds. It has basketball courts, pickleball, and sand volleyball courts. Moreover, the Windsor Community Recreation Center near the police station and the high school serves the community exponentially. It offers recreational classes, senior recreation, athletic leagues, and adaptive recreation to people living with disabilities. Windsor Lake is located north of Boardwalk Park and offers many recreational activities, including boating, fishing, and swimming. All 25 parks serve the recreation purpose of Windsor, making Windsor a worthy tourist hotspot.
Windsor Famous Residents
Windsor is home to people of great renown like Jean Bethke Elshtain, a political philosopher, and the Governor of Colorado, Benjamin Harrison Eaton. Windsor is one of the best places to live in Colorado as it offers a suburban feel with tons of parks and the promise of a conservative community.