Larimer County Dept. of Health and Environment

We promote a healthy community and reduce unnecessary suffering caused by preventable disease, disability, or death. This is accomplished by providing community health and environmental health services, communicable disease control, health education, vital records management, health data assessment, development of policies that advance the public's health, and advocacy for community-based services that provide needed health care.

Larimer County is named after General William Larimer, 1809-1875. He was an early settler of Denver and the county was named after him as a 'thank you'. The Territorial legislature of Colorado named Larimer a county in 1861. More information on General William Larimer.

Larimer County is located in north central Colorado. It is the seventh largest county in Colorado based on population. The county extends to the Continental Divide and includes several mountain communities and Rocky Mountain National Park. The County encompasses 2,640 square miles that include some of the finest irrigated farmland in the state, as well as vast stretches of scenic ranch lands, forests and high mountain peaks. Over 50% of Larimer County is publicly owned, most of which is land within Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to these federal lands, Colorado State Parks and Recreation Area, Larimer County Parks and local parks within urban areas combine to provide a wide spectrum of recreational opportunities that are enjoyed by both residents and visitors.

Major attractions in the area include the Poudre River Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park. Other major visitor attractions in the County include the Anheuser Busch Brewery and Colorado State University in Fort Collins, sculpture shows and bronze foundry tours in Loveland, and the Scottish Highlands Festival in Estes Park. Loveland and Estes Park are also known as gateways to Rocky Mountain National Park, which receives over 3 million visitors each year.