By: Max Zenk

Fort Collins, Colo.- Fort Collins, Colorado, is known nationally for its historical Old Town roots and its frequent comparison to the magical essence of Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A.  As Coloradoan writer Erin Udell explains, Old Town, Fort Collins “…inspired the ultimate urban fantasy… frothy row of gingerbread storefronts…” when describing Old Town’s influence on Disneyland’s design. Although the appearance is uncanny, the question still lies: is the picture-perfect city truly the happiest place on earth?

As a current resident of Fort Collins, I have discovered the historic downtown sector and its emphasis on the value of real connection and community, contrary to physical appeal. Contradictory to Disneyland’s plotted mysticality, Old Town, Fort Collins is a real downtown with a strong sense of community through an extensive web of small businesses.  They have created a booming economy of small boutiques and corner stores while also keeping the community feeling many Fort Collins residents attribute to their attachment to the city. Similarly, social scientists Litvin and DiForio attribute the charm of downtowns, namely King Street in Charleston, to “…new restaurants, local boutiques, and regional and national stores added to the traditional mix of local merchants…”. Fort Collins fulfills this ideology by providing access to both essential chains and small shops within close proximity.

Furthermore, the strong backing for small businesses diversifies the ownership in Fort Collins and provides more extensive opportunities for minority and female-owned businesses. This is crucial to the success of Old Town because it further demonstrates the city’s commitment to serving those of all ethnic and economic backgrounds and creates a wider variety of stores and retailers in the district. As society progresses into the future, the importance of an ‘archaic’ downtown structure on communal health and happiness will continue to develop into an ever more pressing concern with the necessity for national action, truly demonstrating the strong differentiation between the physical mysticality of Main Street U.S.A. and the true communality of Old Town, Fort Collins.