Executive Summary

The following highlights summarize information from each data page section of Compass:

Community Development	Community Living	Crime & Safety
Economy	Education	Enrichments
Environment	Health	Demographics

Additional summary information about our community can be found in the 2002 Index of Larimer County Well-Being

Community Development

Growth

From 2002 to 2006, housing unit growth was consistently higher than population growth in Colorado, Larimer County, and Larimer County communities. Loveland had the largest difference in housing versus population growth, with housing units increasing 17.0%, and population increasing only 10.1%. (Housing Units)
In 2005, there was approximately 59% more miles of road in Fort Collins than in Loveland. However, from 2001 to 2005 Loveland roads grew at a faster rate, 16.3%, compared to 11.1%. (Miles of Road)
In Larimer County, the rate of approved new residential units per 1,000 people has decreased 35% since 2001. The actual number of new dwellings decreased as well, from 4,268 in 2001 to 2,964 in 2005. (New Residential Units)
Larimer County's population grew by approximately 9% between 2000 and 2006. Colorado's Department of Local Affairs Demography Office estimates that the annual population will increase each year by approximately 2.1% through 2016. (Population Size and Growth)

Housing

Since 2003, vacancy rates have declined slightly each year to 7.9% in the second quarter of 2007. Average rent increased to $758 in 2007. According to the 2000 Census, 42% of Larimer County renters were paying 30% or more of their household income for rent. (Affordable Rental Cost)
In 2007, 276 LarimerCountyhouseholds resided in public housing units, while 1,298 households received Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers. Changes in Federal policies and funding levels have caused a decrease in some local housing assistance. (Federally Subsidized Housing)
From 2003 to 2007, Median Family Income (MFI) in Larimer County increased 5.2%, while the median home sale price in Fort Collins increased 6.8%. (Home Ownership/Affordable Housing)
Counting the homeless population in Larimer County is an inexact science. We know how many people stay in evening shelters (1,277 per year in 2003) and in day shelters (a high of 60 per day). We know that in 2003, 635 students in Poudre School District and 129 in Thompson School District were designated as homeless. What we do not know is how many of these sources count the same person more than once, and how many homeless people do not come in contact with available resources. (Homelessness)
In 2006, 80% of Larimer County households contained married couples, and 35% of those families had children under 18. Larimer County had a lower median age of 34.6 than the national average of 36.4. (Household Types & Age of Residents)
The trend of occupied housing units showed a decline of 7.3% for Larimer County and 4.6% for Colorado from 2001 to 2005. The seven year average percent of occupied housing units for Larimer County was 89.4%. Estes Park remained the leader of vacant housing units at 29.4% most likely due to the number of seasonal housing and tourist economy in this area. (Housing Occupancy)
From 2002 through 2006, the number of homes sold in Fort Collins and Loveland/Berthoud remained consistent, with Fort Collins' sales exceeding those in Loveland/Berthoud area by approximately 1,900 each year. During the five-year period, Estes Park and the Loveland/ Berthoud area median sale prices increased by 21% and 23% respectively, while the Fort Collins median sale price increased only 7% during that same period. (Residential Home Sales)

Transportation

From 2001 to 2005, the percentage of Colorado State University students riding Transfort increased 8% over five years, while the percentage of youth riding Fort Collins public transportation increased 7%. (Public Transportation)
In 2001, the majority of residential vehicles in Fort Collins, Loveland, and the Northern Front Range traveled from 0 to 20 miles daily. Overall, residents of Fort Collins traveled the shortest distances in an average day, when compared to the other two areas. (Vehicle Miles Traveled)
In 2005 there were 45,654 more vehicles on our community's roads than in 1996, an increase of 19% for the ten year period. (Vehicle Registration)
Census 2000 revealed the majority of households in the United States, Colorado and Larimer County had at least two vehicles available. Larimer County has a higher percentage of 'two' and 'three or more' vehicle households than the nation and the state. (Vehicles Per Household)
2000 Census data indicate the majority of commuters in Larimer County commute less than 30 minutes. Fewer than 20% of commuters who drove to work were carpooling regularly. (Work Commute)

Community Living

In 2008, there were approximately 387 Larimer County public charities with assets above $25,000. Health and Human Services organizations represented 31% of these charities. (Public Charities)
According to the City of Fort Collins 2006 Citizen Survey, 'Job Opportunities' and 'Overall, economic health' were rated the lowest among living aspects in Fort Collins. (Citizens Perception of Tolerance & Diversity)
By a margin of almost 30%, Population Growth was identified by survey respondents as a critical problem for Larimer County in 2001. The other four issues - Alcohol Abuse, Illegal Drug Use, Teen Pregnancy, and Violent Crime - were identified at similar rates of around 10.4% of the respondents. (Community Concerns)
From 2000 to 2006, the number of Larimer County residents identifying themselves as Hispanic increased from 8.3% to 9.5% of the total population. Larimer County continues to have a significantly lower Hispanic population than the Colorado average (19.5%). (Larimer County Population Race & Ethnicity)
54.0% of respondents to the 2004 Health District Survey viewed our community's Quality of Life positively. Females were much more likely than males to respond that Quality of Life was a 'Serious/Very Serious Problem'. (Quality of Life)
In 2003, the Fort Collins Area United Way and United Way of Loveland/Berthoud/Estes Park joined together. The merge was done in an effort to meet the growing needs of the communities during difficult economic times in a way that would create the most impact. After the merge, United Way of Larimer County successfully increased fundraising from 2004 to 2007 by 33%. (United Way Donations)
According to the 2001 Health District Community Survey, the older, more educated, or wealthier a respondent was, the more likely that he or she would have voted within the previous 12 months. (Voter Characteristics)
From 1994 to 2002, while Larimer County had a higher percentage of registered voters than the United States and Colorado, but the lowest voter turnout of the three regions. However, in 2004, voter turnout increased 46% from 2002 figures (Voter Participation)

Crime and Safety

In 2006, adult probation caseloads increased 12% from the previous year, with active cases growing from 2,501 to 2,795 (June 30th point-in-time counts). The rate of adults on probation returned to the highest level, previously reported in 2000, 13 per 1,000 adults. (Adult Probation)
The number of reports to Adult Protective Services (APS) increased from 1997 to 2006 by 55%. The majority of Adult Protective Services reports involve self-neglect (71% of 2006 reports). (Adult Abuse)
The rate of total adult arrests in the 8th Judicial District increased from 49.5 per 1,000 adults in 2005 to 50.7 per 1,000 adults in 2006. (Adult Arrests)
The proportions of alcohol related vehicle fatalities in Larimer County fluctuated between 2001 to 2005; however the rates generally exceeded national standards. The majority of alcohol-related fatalities occurred in Males, aged 15-24. (Alcohol Related Traffic Fatalities)
In 2001, 4776 offenders participated in one of the four Alternative Sentencing Unit programs provided by the Sheriff's Department. Each of these programs, Workenders, Work Release, Community Service, and Home Detention, provides diversion from more costly jail stays. (Alternative Sentencing Unit [ASU])
The rate of charges filed against adults increased each year from 2000 to 2003. However, since that time, the rate has remained constant until a definite decrease in 2006. (Charges Filed - Adults)
From 2002 to 2006, Larimer County law enforcement reports and arrests for domestic violence increased 92%. In 2006 local victim assistance agencies received 1,622 domestic violence related calls, the majority of those being crisis situations. (Domestic Violence)
In June 2002, the Larimer County Detention Center inmate population reached an all time high of 461. Updated projections show that in 10 years the average daily population will be at 755, which is an increase of 89%. Detention Center staff estimate that in 2002 approximately 10% of inmates were female, 80% of all inmates were drug and alcohol involved, and 24% received psychotropic medication while incarcerated.(Jail Population & Capacity)
Among Larimer County law enforcement agencies, the rate of personnel per 1000 residents ranged from 2.96 in Estes Park, to .73 for the Colorado State University Police Department in 2001. Each law enforcement agency's area of coverage varies a great deal, from 2640 square miles for the Larimer County Sheriff's Office to six square miles for the Estes Park Police Department. (Law Enforcement Coverage)
Two recent surveys indicate that the majority of residents of Fort Collins (79%), and Loveland (94%) believe that their communities are safe places to live. (Perceived Levels of Safety)
The monthly average number of transient people held in the Larimer County Detention Center has increased 40% in the past two years from 21.3 transients per month in 2000 to 29.9 in 2002. (Transients in Jail)

Child/Youth Data

In 2005, the rate of cases filed against juveniles by the District Attorney's Office (33.6 per 1,000 youth) were the lowest in the past 16 years, however cases did increase slightly in 2006. (Charges Filed - Juveniles)
Although the population of children ages 0 to 17 has remained fairly stable during the period 2003 to 2007, the number of substantiated cases of child abuse rose steadily from 2003 through 2006. In 2007, fewer child abuse incidents were reported and there was a 17% decrease in the rate of substantiated cases from the previous year. Prior to 2007, better training among mandatory reporters (i.e., teachers, doctors, nurses) and an influx of methamphetamine ('meth') cases may have contributed to the increased number of abuse reports. (Child Abuse)
The executive summary should be updated to read: Total juvenile arrests decreased 32% from 1997 to 2006. Alcohol and drug offenses comprise nearly one third of all yearly arrests. (Arrests)
In 2006, Juvenile Probation rates returned to the same level as the previously reported ten-year low, 9.5 per thousand (2004). During that same time (1997 to 2006), the juvenile population (age 10 - 17) in Larimer and Jackson counties increased by 10%. (Juvenile Probation)

Economy

Business Economy

Larimer County's sells more livestock than other farm products, including crops. While the dollars earned through livestock sales dropped from 1987 to 1997, the dollars earned from crops rose. (Agriculture in Larimer County)
From 2002 to 2006, employment in the Manufacturingsector, one of the highest paying sectors, decreased by 25% resulting in a loss of 4,049 jobs. (Employment & Wages by Industry)
While Larimer County has several global employers such as Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies, and Anheuser-Busch, it is the entrepreneur and small business owners that are the true major employers in Larimer County. Businesses with up to four employees accounted for 58% of all establishments in Larimer County in 2003. (Larimer County Employers)
In 1997, 94.4% of Larimer County firms were owned by White residents. The majority of minority firm owners, 50.9%, were Hispanic. (Minority Business Ownership)
In 2005, per capita personal income in Larimer County ($34,323) was similar to the national average ($34,586), but lower than Colorado ($37,946). Colorado's personal per capita income ranked eighth highest in the nation in 2006. (Per Capita Income)
In general, the Fort Collins/Loveland MSA had lower unemployment rates than both Colorado and the United States from July 2006 to December 2007. (Unemployment Rate)

Individual Economy

From 1998 to 2007, the number of foreclosure filings in Larimer County increased 502%. The biggest year-to-year increase (33%) occurred between 2005 and 2006. From 2000 to 2005, the rate of bankruptcy filings in Larimer County increased by 128%, while the state rate increased by 154%. Between 2005 and 2006, the rate of bankruptcy filings decreased drastically due to major changes in bankruptcy law. (Bankruptcy and Foreclosure)
From 2000 to 2007, there was a 51% increase in the number of households receiving food stamps in Larimer County. Residents age 18 and under are approximately 52% of total food stamp recipients. (Food Stamps)
When examining local Median Family Income (MFI) by racial classification, there are discrepancies in Larimer County among incomes of different races. According to the United States Census, variations in MFI by racial category included 'Whites' at $49,956, 'Asians' at $47,563, and 'Hispanics or Latinos' at $36,884. (Income by Racial Classification)
From FYE 2000 to FYE 2007, the number of Larimer County households submitting applications for heating assistance increased 174%. (Low Energy Assistance Program - LEAP)
The Median Family Income (MFI) in Larimer County grew 17.9% between 2001 and 2006, compared to Colorado’s 13.3% increase, and the nation’s 13.5% increase for the same period. The 2008 MFI for Larimer County is $75,000. (Median Family Income)
In 2003, per capita personal income in Larimer County ($32,037) was similar to the national average ($31,632), but lower than Colorado ($34,283). Colorado's personal per capita income ranked seventh highest in the nation in 2004. (Per Capita Income)
Larimer County's child poverty rate increased nearly 13% between 2005 and 2006, outpacing the rates for Colorado and the United States. Children in Larimer County in female single-parent households are three times more likely to live in poverty (24%) than male single-parent households (8%). (Poverty)
A family of four in Larimer County (consisting of two adults working full time plus an infant and a preschooler) needs a minimum of $55,584 (2008) annually to afford food, shelter, transportation, health and child care, among other basic necessities. (Self-Sufficient Wages)
During the five-year period from 2003 to 2007, there was a 66% decrease in the average monthly number of households in Larimer County receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits. (TANF)

Education

Early Childhood Education

From 2004 to 2005, the average monthly number of Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cases decreased slightly (5%), while the average monthly payment to child care providers increased 6%. (Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP))
In 2000, 70.9% of Larimer County's three and four year olds (4384) were enrolled in a nursery school or preschool. (Enrollment - Preschool)

K - 12 and Adult Education

In general, from 2003 to 2007, Larimer County school districts had higher ACT scores than the Colorado average. (ACT Scores)
From 2001 to 2007, Hispanic student enrollment in LarimerCountyschool districts increased by 44%. In comparison, total enrollment in LarimerCountypublic schools only increased 3.7%. (Enrollment - Ethnicity)
In 2006, Larimer County School Districts continued to register higher than the State in percentages of students scoring in the 'Proficient and Advanced'* category, with the exceptions of 6th and 7th grade writing which were lower. (CSAP Scores)
In Larimer County School Districts, student suspensions increased 7% from 2003 to 2004. Thompson School District had the largest percentage of expulsions (1.4% or 30 Students) followed by Poudre (1.1% or 21 students) and Park (0.3% or 1 student) School Districts. Hispanic females continued to appear over represented in school disciplinary actions. They were involved in 21.5% of disciplinary actions; in comparison Hispanics represented 14.2% of the total female enrollment in 2004. (Disciplinary Actions)
During the school year 2003-04, the Colorado Department of Education implemented a more accurate student data collection system. As a result, in 2004 all Larimer County Districts had a marked increase in drop-out rates, but rates began to decline the following year. In 2005, Hispanic students comprised nearly 15% of the student population in Larimer County; however, 29% of students dropping out that year were Hispanic. (Dropout Rates)
In 2000, 84% of American adults age 25 and over had at least completed high school; 26% had a bachelor's degree or higher. Larimer County had a higher level of educational attainment than the state or nation. 92% of residents over age 25 had at least a high school diploma or G.E.D., and 40% held a Bachelors degree or higher. (Educational Attainment)
Enrollment in Larimer County School Districts is predominately White non - Hispanic. Hispanic students made up the largest and fastest growing minority from 1998 to 2002. (Enrollment - Ethnicity)
Larimer County public school enrollment increased by 2% from 2003-04 to 2007-08. Park School District enrollment fell by 11.4% from 2003-04 to 2007-08, which was an actual drop of 155 students. (Enrollment - Public Schools)
In 2007, the majority of PK-12 students in Larimer County were enrolled in public schools (91.4%), followed by non-public school enrollment (7.1%) and Home-based schooling (1.5%). (Enrollment - Public, Home-Based & Non-Public Schools)
From 2003 to 2007, Larimer County’s three school districts experienced about a 2% increase in the number of students qualifying for free and reduced lunches. Statewide, over the same time period, eligibility grew by about 4%. (Students Eligible for Free/Reduced School Lunch)
In 2007, special education students comprised 10.9% of the total student enrollment in Larimer County public schools. (Enrollment - Special Education)
In Larimer County public schools, funding per pupil increased slightly but steadily from 2001 to 2007. In 2001, Amendment 23 required that the State legislature increase the base per pupil funding annually by inflation plus one percent. (Funding Per Pupil)
In 2007, Park School District was the only district to have an increase in the percentage of graduating Hispanic students. Larimer County School Districts had higher graduation rates than the state average from 1998 to 2007. (High School Graduation Rates)
In 2005, the average pupil/teacher ratio in the Larimer County School Districts increased slightly from 15.8 pupils per teacher in 2004 to 16.9. (Student/Teacher Ratios)
For school year 2005-06, the percentages of students from each race/ethnic group, with the exception of White (not Hispanic), were higher than those of teachers. White (not Hispanic) teachers were over-represented while Hispanic teachers were under-represented in relation to the number of students from each group. (Teachers - Ethnicity & Gender)
Between 2000-01 and 2006-07 school years, average salaries in Park School District had the highest percentage increase (32%) followed by Thompson (15%) and Poudre (14%). (Teachers Salary)

Enrichments

According to the 2002 County Business Patterns (U.S. Census), in Colorado, Larimer County ranks second only to Boulder County in arts, entertainment and recreational establishments available to residents. (Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Establishments)
Between 2001 and 2002, Larimer County had a 45% gain in independent artists, writers, and performers (from 11 to 16).'Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters' represent the largest portion of local performing arts companies. (Performing Arts Companies and Independent Artists, Writers, & Performers)
Although in 2006, Larimer County’s averaged HAPLR score was lower than the state average, four of the six public libraries in Larimer County scored higher. The number of library materials available ranged from Fort Collins Public Library with 344,624 books and bound volumes,to Red Feather Lakes Library, which housed 10,949. (Public Libraries)

Environment

Quality of Environment

In 2005, all three major air pollutants monitored in Larimer County were well within acceptable limits as determined by the EPA. Ozone levels have been a concern in the past, but seem to be decreasing due to new pollution controls implemented in the Denver Metro area. (Ambient Air Quality)
In 2003, the Colorado Division of Wildlife estimated that from 2.7-5.2% of Larimer County mule deer were infected with chronic wasting disease. (Chronic Wasting Disease)
Between 1997 and 2006, Berthoud, Little Thompson and West Fort Collins were each cited once for health violations. (Public Drinking Water Quality)
From 2001 to 2005, Larimer County rivers and streams met the designation for an "outstanding water" source. This designation indicates rivers and streams meet criteria to support aquatic life and primary recreation. Some recent trends for local rivers and streams include decreasing pH levels and increasing E coli levels. (Surface Water Quality)
From 2003 to 2005, the percentage of days in Fort Collins that were not in compliant with the State visibility standard increased by 3%. However, the percentage of days that were designated as "missing" due to high humidity or instrument problems also increased during this time. (Visibility)
413 different species of wildlife have been found in Larimer County; of these, 185 are known to commonly occur. Commonly occurring species include 6 species of amphibians, 9 species of reptiles, 102 species of birds, and 68 species of mammals. (Wildlife Species)

Use of Resources

From 2004 to 2005, electricity consumption in Fort Collins and Estes Park, in terms of megawatt-hours, increased by 1.5% and 0.02% respectively. Consumption in Loveland decreased 4.4% during this same time. (Electricity Consumption)
Natural gas consumption in Fort Collins increased by 12% from 1995 to 2004. This increase could be due, in part, to the gradual increase in customers during those years. (Natural Gas Consumption)
The total acreage in the Larimer County Open Lands program increased by 19% from 1999 to 2003. In terms of square miles, the total acreage increased from 13.2 square miles in 1999 to 25.6 square miles in 2003 (640 acres = 1 square mile). (Open Lands)
Recycling in Larimer County decreased by 10% from 2000 to 2001 due to changes in collection regulations. Recycling has since rebounded, increasing by 34% from 2001 to 2006. (Recycling)
The amount of solid waste collected at the Larimer County Landfill decreased 10.6% from 2005 to 2006. According to the 2006 Waste Characterization Study, at least 25.5% of all waste collected at the Landfill is made up of paper products. (Solid Waste)
Larimer County utilizes approximately 83% of water resources for crop irrigation. Of all community water systems, the City of Fort Collins had the highest usage, however the City of Loveland had recent large increases in both residential and commercial sectors. (Water Consumption)
Wind energy consumption in Fort Collins increased from 1999 to 2004, expanding from 4 million kilowatt hours to 31 million kilowatt hours (an increase of 675%). This is due to the increase in the number of wind turbines at the Medicine Bow Wind Project site and the increase in number of commercial and residential customers purchasing wind-generated electricity. (Wind Energy Consumption )

Health

Physical Health & Access to Care

Disease & Mortality Rates

In Larimer County, cancer incidence rates increased from 1994 to 2002, while mortality rates decreased between 2002-2004. (Cancer Incidence & Mortality)
From 2002 to 2006, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates declined in Colorado and Larimer County and were well below national rates. Males over the age of 75 have the highest mortality rates, while females over 75 have the highest number of total deaths due to CVD. (Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Mortality)
While the rate for diabetes in Larimer County was still below rates for Colorado and United States in 2006, it has shown a gradual increase from 2002 to 2006. Also, the overall local and national trends indicate that diabetes, as a direct cause of death, is on the rise. (Diabetes)
In 2004, the percentages of Larimer County respondents who met the moderate and vigorous activity recommendations exceeded the Healthy People 2010 goal of 30% for both genders and all age groups. (Exercise)
From 2003 to 2004, the incidence of local mortality from lung cancer in males decreased, while female incidences increased. Nationally the death rates for males have declined, however, female death rates have remained consistent since 1995. (Lung Cancer Incidence & Mortality)
Both Colorado and Larimer County have lower (better) mortality rates than the nation. Heart disease and cancer represented the greatest causes of death in Larimer County in 2005. (Mortality)
Half (50%) of all Larimer County adults are considered overweight, according to the 2004-05 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey for Larimer County. Married (currently or previously) males, aged 55-64 were most likely to be overweight. (Overweight and Obesity)
In Larimer County Mortality Rates due to unintentional injury increased from 1999 to 2005. Injuries that most commonly result in death include motor vehicle accidents and falls. Groups that are most affected include those 65 and older, males, and those of White race. (Unintentional Injury Mortality )

Children's Health

From 2001 to 2005, the most prevalent birth defects among Larimer County infants included heart defects, genital/urinary defects, and muscular/skeletal defects. (Birth Defects)
The five-year average rate of mortality (2002 to 2006) was higher for Colorado than for Larimer County (6.1 per 1,000 compared to 5.3 per 1,000). Colorado and Larimer County’s infant death rates have been consistently lower than the national rate of 6.8 over the five years. (Infant Mortality)
In 2006, Larimer County had 282 low birth weight babies (5.5 lbs or less) and 43 very low birth weight babies (3.3 lbs or less). Larimer County had consistently lower percentages of low birth weight babies than Colorado, but was similar to the national average. (Low Birth Weight Babies)

Gender-Related Health Issues

Breast Cancer Mortality in Larimer County was 19% lower than the state of Colorado in 2005 and was 9% lower than Larimer County’s 2004 rate. (Women's Health)
Male mortality rates for the ten leading causes of death (2005) in Colorado exceeded rates in Larimer County for all causes (except suicide, kidney disease, and diabetes). From 1999 to 2003, the rates of deaths from prostate cancer among men in Larimer County declined. (Men's Health)
From 2002 to 2006, the rate of first trimester prenatal care received by mothers in LarimerCountywas higher than the average of Colorado. Non-Hispanic mothers over the age of 25 were more likely than younger groups to receive early prenatal care. Both Coloradoand LarimerCounty, mothers aged between 30 and 34 have the highest number of receiving prenatal care and non-Hispanic mothers tend to receive prenatal care more than the other ethnic groups. (Prenatal Care)
From 2001 to 2005, Larimer County births to mothers age 15-17, ranged from 55 (2003) to a high of 103 births (2001). Hispanic teen fertility rates continue to be significantly higher than Non-Hispanic rates. (Teen Fertility and Birth Rates)

Mental Health & Emotional Well-being

While the majority of the 2004 survey respondents reported experiencing depression and other mental health problems, the percentage of reported depression decreased from 60% in 2001 to 58% in 2004. (Mental Health Status)
From 2002 to 2006, the 5 year average rate of suicide in Colorado and Larimer County shows marked increases at the 85 and above age group compared to other age groups. In Larimer County, residents ages 85 and above had a suicide rate 2.6 times higher than the rate for 15 to 19 year old age group. Larimer County also shows a distinct increase in suicides at the 55 to 64 age group compared to other age groups and is greater than the Colorado average for this age group. (Suicide)

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Alcohol related offenses are consistently the most common reason for adult arrests. From 1995 to 2002, the overall number of adult arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol declined by 2.3 arrests per 1,000. During the same time there was an increase in the rate of arrests involving narcotics (up 1.4 per 1,000). (Adult Alcohol & Drug Arrests)
From 1998 to 2005, percentages of Larimer County and Colorado adults participating in binge drinking and chronic drinking remained fairly stable, according to a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment survey. (Adult Alcohol Use)
In 2004-2005, smoking rates in both Larimer County and Colorado increased by a small percentage (Larimer County: 121 out of 654, Colorado: 2,218 out of 11,825 surveyed). More data are needed to determine whether this is a long-term trend. ( Adult Tobacco Use)
The proportions of alcohol related vehicle fatalities in Larimer County have fluctuated, but overall have increased from 1999 to 2003. In 2003, 79% of the drivers who survived fatal motor vehicle accidents had consumed no alcohol, compared to 21% of the individuals with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.01 or greater, meaning that they consumed some amount of alcohol. (Alcohol Related Traffic Fatalities)
Colorado and Larimer County showed both increases and decreases in the percentage of smokers per category from 2001 to 2005. As the Colorado Tobacco Attitudes and Behavior Survey (TABS) has only been conducted twice, it is uncertain whether there are long-term trends. (Community Attitudes Toward Smoking)
For juveniles, alcohol and drug arrests comprise approximately one third of all yearly arrests from 1995 to 2002. In 1999, a new trend began: the percent of juvenile alcohol and drug crime arrests exceeded property crime arrests. (Juvenile Alcohol & Drug Arrests)
From 2002 to 2006, an average of 8.6% pregnant women in Larimer County consumed alcohol during the last three months of their pregnancy. For that same period, locally, an average of 10.4% of pregnant women smoked. (Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use)
In 2005, Larimer County and Colorado reported the highest number of treatment admissions were for alcohol abuse, almost 40% of all admissions. From 2003 to 2005, local methamphetamine treatment admissions more than doubled. (Substance Abuse Treatment)
In 2002, youth in Larimer County School Districts were more likely to use alcohol than to use marijuana and/or cigarettes. Among the three districts, Poudre School District had the highest percentage of 10th and 12th grade students using alcohol, and it was also higher than the state average. Poudre School District also had the highest percentage of 10th and 12th graders who reported binge drinking. A greater percentage of 10th and 12th grade students from Thompson and Poudre School Districts used marijuana than did statewide. The most surprising data was the percentage of students who reported driving while drunk, including students under 16 who do not possess driver's licenses. (Youth Alcohol, Tobacco, & Other Drugs: Use, Behavior, Perceptions & Attitudes)
Smoking rates among middle and high school smokers decreased between 2001 and 2006. Quit attempts among high school students increased, with females attempting to quit more often than males. (Youth Attitudes Toward Smoking)

Demographics

Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 19 (May 2005) is a study of how successfully youth aging out of foster care transition into adulthood. The results suggest these youth face adulthood with educational deficits, mental health problems, economic insecurity, victimization, and early child-bearing. Executive Summary (Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago)
From 1990 to 2000, Larimer County's population grew at a slightly faster rate, 35.1%, than that of Colorado (31%). Larimer County continued to rank as the 7th largest county in Colorado according to the 2000 Census. The largest cities in Larimer County, Ft. Collins and Loveland, experienced similar percentage increases in population, 35.2% and 35.5%, respectively. (Population Size and Growth)
In 2006, Larimer County had a higher proportion of adults and a lower percentage of children and seniors than the United States. Larimer County and Colorado have similar proportions of seniors and Larimer County had slightly lower proportion of adults than did Colorado. (Population by Age)
From 1990 to 2000, Larimer County gained a larger percentage of Hispanics (1.7%) than any other ethnic group. At the time of the 2000 Census, 35% of Hispanics were adults age 30 to 64, and nearly 28% were of school age. (Population by Ethnicity)
Larimer County's 1% difference between the number of males and females in 1990 was all but erased in 2000. The county was split evenly between the sexes with only 186 more women than men in 2000, making the official percentage 50-50. (Population by Gender)

Additional Population Data

In 2007, there were a total of 228 adoption filings in Larimer County. Colorado had a total of 2,665 adoption filings for the same year. (Adoptions)
81% of Larimer County children lived with both parents in 2000, a slight decrease from 1990. The number of children who lived with their fathers more than doubled from 1990 to 2000. (Children in Families - Single and Two Parents)
In Larimer County, the most common types of out-of-home placement are foster homes, either through the Larimer County Family Foster Home program or through Child Placement Agencies. Kinship placements (placement with a relative of the child) increased 114% from FY2001 to FY2006, becoming the second most common type of placement. (Children in Out-of-Home Placement)
According to 2000 Census data, individuals with disabilities, within most age groups, were more likely than the general population to be in poverty. The most common types of disabilities in Larimer County were physical, go-outside-home, and employment disabilities. (Disabilities)
Foreign-born residents represent 4.3% of the Larimer County population. The majority of foreign-born residents in Larimer County are from Latin American countries. (Foreign-Born Residents)
There were almost 1000 grandparents in Larimer County who were responsible for the care of their grandchildren in 2000. Over half (54%) had been in that role for more than three years. (Grandparents as Caregivers)
In Larimer County, 83% of households contained married couples, and 45% of those families had children under 18. Householders living alone were the next most predominant household type at 11%. Larimer County had a slightly lower median age (33.2) than the national average. Berthoud had a substantially higher ratio of residents age 65 and older (16.7%) than the county average of 6.3%. (Household Types & Age of Residents)
In 2000, those who did not speak primarily English in the home comprised 8.5% of the population in Larimer County. Among these residents, the primary language spoken in the home was Spanish (12,401 residents). Larimer County is very similar to Colorado and the United States in the proportions of languages spoken in the home. (Language Spoken at Home)
From 2000 to 2007, there were more marriages than divorces in Larimer County. The marriage rate had minor fluctuations, ranging from 11.7 to 12.2 per 1,000 adults in Larimer County. (Marriage-Divorce Rates)
In 2005, the proportion of veterans to the adult population in Larimer County, 10.9%, was the same as the national percentage. The majority of local veterans served before 1975, with 31% serving only in the Vietnam conflict and 16% serving in World War II (2000 Census data). (Veterans)