A Closer Look at Harley's World

Harley’s World

Harley lives in an unnamed college town north of Denver, Colorado. Although The Harley Files are a work of fiction, and names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental, Harley’s world is inspired by the beautiful northern Colorado town of Fort Collins, Colorado. Harley grew up in this unnamed town north of Denver and now attends the local university. Her parents still reside in the town, along with her aunt, Jen. Harley’s brother, Gray, lives in Denver where he is a detective. Here is some facts and fun information of the town of Fort Collins, Colorado.

The Town of Fort Collins, Colorado:

History and Facts: Fort Collins is a city of about 150,000 residents located in northern Colorado about 65 miles from Denver, Colorado and 45 miles south of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Fort Collins is in Larimer County, Colorado and is home to Colorado State University. Fort Collins was founded as a military outpost by the US Army in 1864. It was known as Camp Collins and is located on the Cache La Pourdre River.

Geography: Fort Collins is at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills in the northern front range of Colorado. The Great Plains of Colorado lies to the east of the city. The elevation is about 5,000 ft above sea level. Longs Peak, reaching just over 14,000 ft. above sea level can be seen clearly from the city. The Cache La Pourdre River runs through the city.

Climate: Fort Collins has a semi-arid climate with low participation and four distinct seasons. Summer ranges from mild to hot and can reach above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters can be mild to moderately cold. Average snowfall is about 55 inches and snow melts within a few days of falling. Colorado experiences lots of sunshine with approximately 300 plus days of sunshine a year. The average temperature is 70 degree Fahrenheit.

Culture: Most of Fort Collins’ culture is focused around the university. There is a local music circuit which is highly influenced by its college town atmosphere. Fort Collins is also home to many well-known microbreweries. The city hosts a number of festivals each year in the historic downtown area.

Major Industries: Fort Collins' economy has a mix of manufacturing and service-related businesses. Some of the largest employers include: Colorado State University, Hewlett Packard, Poudre Valley Health Systems, Budweiser and more.