Editing Loveland, Colorado (section)

==Economy==
Because of its location along U.S. 34, at one of the principal access routes to [[Estes Park, Colorado|Estes Park]] and [[Rocky Mountain National Park]], Loveland receives a significant amount of pass-through [[tourism|tourist]] traffic, especially in the summer months. In addition, the city serves as a [[bedroom community]] to commuters in many directions: to employment locations in [[Boulder, Colorado|Boulder]], [[Westminster, Colorado|Westminster]] and other parts of the [[Denver metropolitan area|Denver Metropolitan area]]; and also to the college towns of [[Fort Collins]] ([[Colorado State University|CSU]]), [[Greeley, Colorado|Greeley]] ([[University of Northern Colorado|UNC]]), and [[Boulder, Colorado|Boulder]], ([[University of Colorado at Boulder|CU]]).

Loveland has aggressively expanded its incorporated limits eastward to embrace the interchange of [[Interstate 25]] and [[U.S. Highway 34]], and is currently developing the area. The intersection has become a primary commercial hub of [[northern Colorado]], with the construction of shopping centers and the [[Blue Arena]]. A new medical center<ref>[http://www.bannerhealth.com/Locations/Colorado/McKee+Medical+Center/_McKee+Medical+Center+Home.htm McKee Medial Center]</ref> and mall<ref>[http://www.thepromenadeshopsatcenterra.com/index.cfm The Promenade Shops at Centerra]</ref> have also been built at the I-25/US-34 interchange. This area is known as Centerra. The interchange is shared with its smaller neighbor [[Johnstown, Colorado|Johnstown]], of Weld County.

===Valentine Re-Mailing Program===
Loveland is the home of the [[Valentine's Day|Valentine]] Re-Mailing Program. For decades people from across the world have sent their valentines to Loveland, Colorado, to be hand-stamped with a cachet and verse, and a specially designed postal cancelation. A new verse and stamp are selected each year through a contest held by the [[Loveland Chamber of Commerce]] and residents can submit their poems and artwork to be judged. On average, this program re-mails more than 160,000 cards from the United States and more than 110 countries. Loveland's Valentine Re-mailing Program has inspired many other Valentine's Day programs including the Official Loveland Valentine, Miss Loveland Valentine and the Thompson Valley Rotary Heart's Program.

Loveland's Valentine Re-mailing Program began in January 1947 by Ted Thompson and Elmer Ivers, the Loveland postmaster after Ivers received about 30 valentines from individuals requesting to have the cards postmarked from Loveland for "a romantic extra touch." The two thought re-mailing valentines would be an opportunity to advertise Loveland, and the Loveland Chamber of Commerce agreed to promote the service. Thompson designed a cachet with the message, "A Valentine Greeting from Sweetheart Town, Loveland, Colorado," and the image was a heart pierced by an arrow over the [[Rocky Mountains]]. The cachet was used twice, then Thompson started the tradition of changing it each year at the request of collectors. Since then, a different verse and design have been used every year.

In addition to the mailing program, community members can pay to purchase a large valentine message on wooden hearts that are displayed on the streets across Loveland. Many of these public valentines are engagement proposals, anniversary messages, and annual traditions.