Communities
Crowley County sits on the high plains of eastern Colorado and is comprised of rolling hills and beautiful plains. The landscape is a mixture of farming and ranching, with abundant wildlife, great fishing, beautiful lakes and four of the nicest communities you will find anywhere.
Crowley County is one of Colorado's best places to relax and unwind. Fishing, camping, boating, jet skiing, bird watching, bicycling, you name it. In many ways, Crowley County is Colorado as it was intended to be.
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Crowley
In the youngest of the four sister towns, you will find peace and quiet.
The Town of Crowley was named after State Senator John H. Crowley who was instrumental in the formation of Crowley County. Started by a gentleman and farmer by the name of A.J. Bowers, Crowley has protected a rural way of life and economy, still based on integrity and caring for one another.
In the Town of Crowley they take being a good neighbor to heart. Hospitality is more than just an expression posted over the doorway of a business, it is way of life. In fact, they are so friendly that Crowley is the home of the County's only museum and the one of Southeastern Colorado's premiere gathering spots.
Contact Information:
Town Clerk: Leslie Terrones
Email: townofcrowley@crowleycounty.
The Town of Crowley hosts its town operations in the lower level of the Crowley Heritage Center.
Town of Crowley
300 Main Street
P.O. Box 24
Crowley, CO 81033
Phone: 719.267.3384
Fax: 719.267.3384
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday from 9:00 to 12:00
Utilities:
Electricity & Natural Gas
Black Hills Energy
Customer service: 888.890.5554
Emergency service: 800.694.8989
Water/Sewer/Trash
Town of Crowley - Town Hall
Customer service: 719.267.3384
Water/sewer manager: 719.267.3498
Olney Springs
Olney Springs is located on Highway 96 and has a population of 350. As the railroad came through the cattle ranch of Mr. Cronk a settlement sprung up and soon grew into a town. Mr. Cronk mapped out a section of the land and recorded it as Town of Olney Springs. In 1912 the town became incorporated and the first council was formed and adopting ordinances.
Businesses in town include the Town Hall, Fire Department and Post Office. Across from the Town Hall is a Veteran's Memorial that honors all veterans from all wars and is the location of numerous monthly community activities. On the north side of town you will see the old School House. Behind the old school is the Senior Citizen Center, and two blocks to the west you'll find the Olney Springs United Community Methodist Church.
For recreation there is a playground behind the Town Hall, ballpark north of town. Every December we have a Chili Supper at the Senior Citizen Center with a Parade of Lights that goes all over town. After the parade desert and coffee is served back at the Senior Citizens Center and everyone is welcome. The Saturday before Christmas Santa arrives on the back of a 1946 Red Fire truck that drives up and down every street in town stopping on each block. He greets young and old with a sack of goodies and listens to their wish lists.
The majority of employment in our area is from farming, ranching and the two prisons that the town lies between. Other residents commute to Pueblo and other nearby locations. If you are traveling on Highway 96, stop in to say "Hi"...you'll be greeted with a friendly hometown atmosphere.
Contact Information:
Town Clerk:
E-mail: olneyclerk@gmail.com
Town of Olney Springs
401 Warner / PO Box 156
Olney Springs, CO 81062
Phone: 719.267.5567
Ordway
A small town just off the beaten path in southeastern Colorado, the Town of Ordway was founded in 1911 and serves as the county seat of Crowley County and hails proudly as the home of the Chargers!
We are proud of our heritage and welcome visitors with a wide range of entertainment year-round, from a Friday night football game to a weekend stay at any of our two large lakes just outside of town.
Lake Henry and Lake Meredith are a short drive east on Highway 96 and offer outdoorsmen boating, wind sailing, fishing and free camping opportunities with beaches to enjoy the summer sun. Ordway is also home to a reservoir north of town on Highway 71. Our lakes are sure to offer stories worthy of tales of how the big one got away!
Our historic town offers three cafes with home-style cooking certain to satisfy all of your taste buds, two coffee shops, two taverns, grocery store, gas station complete with full-service attendants, drug/medical supply store, hotel with very charming rooms, churches for every religion, hardware store, and a secondhand shop.
Ordway is also the place to stop for relax for those bicycling across America. The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail is well traveled as it includes Highway 96. We've been here to welcome all cyclists since the trail was established as Biker Centennial in 1976.
Town of Ordway
Sugar City
Arguably Colorado's sweetest town, the hamlet of Sugar City was once the site of the only independently owned sugar operation in the United States of America. Sugar City has gone through many stages over the years, eventually becoming the charming town it now is.
Boasting some of the best examples of turn of the last century architecture, Sugar City is blessed with two former Lutheran Churches showcasing twentieth century workmanship.
The bells of Saint Paul's Church ring out promptly at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning announcing not only the start of a new week, but also the call of a bygone era. The bells which are still rung manually take many a listener back to a time when life was simpler. Friendly people, a privately owned cafe, and children playing in the park, all lead the average citizen to enjoy a simpler life.
An evening summer breeze while listening to the crickets and watching the star filled skies simply can't be beat. Less than three miles from two lakes, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, swimming, and boating are all available options on a weekday afternoon following work, that is of course if you're not involved in one of the numerous activities available in town or nearby. Sugar City has a wide array of activities including an active Senior Community, 4-H Clubs, Boy Scouts and much more.
A quiet bedroom community, Sugar City has affordable housing prices, DSL and High-Speed internet, satellite and dish options, and quiet neighbors.
Each year is another opportunity to enjoy life at its best. Easter egg hunts are common. Fourth of July celebrations include a community picnic and games at the park. The fireworks, although simple, seem more spectacular here as their only real competition in the summer sky is the brilliant stars, which are visible to the naked eye. Summer has also provided the background for a relatively new community summer luau hosted in the main park.
Come Christmas time, the lighting of the Christmas tree in Sugar City is a must attend event, the actual lighting is the culmination of over a week's work. The men of the town gather round to put up and stake the community tree nearly a week before. Meanwhile, the town's seniors and children hand craft decorations for the tree. As time nears, the lights are strung, as the anticipation builds. Finally, on the big day the tree is decorated, and food is prepared for the evening's event. That evening the town's citizens gather around the tree to share a cup of cider and other goodies, in between singing Christmas carols and awaiting a visit from Santa for the children and adults alike.
NEW: Tent City - revived for bicyclist's and others for a night's stay with a porta potty, water and a BBQ pit.
Contact Information:
Town Clerk & Treasurer: Davida Moreland
E-mail: townofsugarcity@gmail.com
Town Deputy Clerk & Treasurer: Victoria Bauer
E-mail: vickiebauertosc@yahoo.com
Town of Sugar City
205 Colorado /PO BOX 60
Sugar City, CO 81076
Phone: 719.267.3729
Fax: 719.267.3002
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
RELOCATION INFORMATION
Did you ever wish that a place existed where your children could be free to be kids, property taxes are low, crime is minimal, neighbors are neighbors in the true sense of the word, expansive views reign supreme and a slower pace is a way of life? It doesn't have to be a wish. It all can be found in Crowley County, Colorado. If you are planning to relocate, whether for a change of pace or for a change of lifestyle, Crowley County is the choice to consider. We are located on the beautiful rolling plains of southeastern Colorado, minutes away from larger cities but miles apart in atmosphere. Great schools, minimal crime, and affordable housing are essential ingredients for comfortable living, and they all can be found in Crowley County. Large crowds, heavy traffic and smog are aggravations of big city living and you won\'t find that here. Crowley County is home to just under 6,000 neighbors nestled into several friendly communities who are ready to welcome you.
FOR FAMILIES
If you are seeking a change of pace for your family and are considering Southeastern Colorado, Crowley County should be at the top of your list! Our excellent school system ranks among the best in the area in academic performance, and our school sports programs are superb! Families can enjoy an outing to theaters, zoo, nature center, fishing, hunting, swimming, golfing, hiking, bowling etc., and are all either nearby or within less than an hour's drive. In Crowley County you can feel comfortable allowing your children the freedom to walk to and from school, ride their bike to a friend's house, or just walk down to the corner store for a soft drink on a hot summer day. For more information on our schools, please see the schools' page.
FOR RETIREES
If you are looking for a quiet, inexpensive place to retire, then Crowley County can't be beat! The affordable housing prices in our quiet communities mean that you will be able to retire comfortably without spending a lot of money on housing or taxes. Opportunities abound for retirees in this area, from our active Seniors groups to nearby golfing at Pueblo, Fowler, Rocky Ford and La Junta, to fishing, boating, walking the miles of country lanes, bird watching, or just chatting with your neighbors over a glass of tea on the porch.
POPULATION
The county is made up of four small towns: Ordway, population 1,009, Sugar City, population 242, Olney Springs, population 323, and Crowley, population 164. About 4,120 people call the unincorporated areas of Crowley County home.
HOUSING
If country life at an affordable price is what you are looking for, you need to call Crowley County home. The average price for an existing house in the county is just $57,200, well below the state average. If you would prefer to build a new house, there are plenty of wide-open spaces in or near any of our small towns. Whether you're raising a family, a first-time buyer, or looking for that quiet place to retire, you will find housing suitable for anyone's needs. If you are planning to rent instead of buy, then you will find affordable housing ranging from $450 to $650 per month. If a hometown atmosphere is what you're looking for, you'll find it here.
Crowley County offers affordable living for everyone. Whether you are looking for land with acreage, a comfortable family home or a retirement facility you will find exactly what you are looking for. Contact any of the trusted realtors below who will gladly assist you with your housing needs.
Realtor.com lists most of the houses for sale in Crowley County.
TAXES
With affordable housing prices, you can imagine what that will do to your property taxes! The average property tax mill levy in 2010 was 86.86 mills, based on an assessed valuation of $34,568,000.00. Colorado retail sales tax is assessed at 2.9%, county sales tax is 2.0%, and the city of Ordway has a sales tax of 2.0%.
CLIMATE
With over 300 days of sunshine per year, Crowley County experiences a favorable climate year-round. Any time of the year you can take advantage of any of the nearby golf courses, a quite walk along a county lane as well as a host of other activities The winters are generally mild, with occasional snow. Spring is absolutely gorgeous and not overly wet, allowing for hiking, fishing, bird watching, or enjoying the wildflowers on the prairie. The summers are generally hot and dry, perfect for boating, water-skiing or family barbeques. Fall weather is mild, with vivid seasonal colors, beautiful sunsets and clear starry nights.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg. Max Temp | 45 | 49 | 59 | 68 | 77 | 88 | 94 | 91 | 83 | 70 | 56 | 45 |
| Avg. Min Temp | 11 | 15 | 24 | 33 | 44 | 53 | 59 | 57 | 47 | 33 | 20 | 12 |
| Avg. Precip | .20 | .24 | .59 | 1.14 | 1.57 | 1.50 | 1.93 | 2.01 | .79 | .71 | .30 | .24 |
| Avg. Snow | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The leading sources of family income in Crowley County are agriculture, prisons, government and schools. Crowley County is the home of two prisons, the state-owned Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility and the privately owned Crowley County Correctional Facility. Other major employers in the area are the County Government, the School District and Crowley County Nursing Center. Some of our residents enjoy the peace and quiet of small-town living while commuting to work at the nearby cities. The Ordway Feedlot has over 60 employees on their payroll.
Come see for yourself what makes Crowley County one of Colorado's best places to call home!
MARIJUANA/HEMP CULTIVATION
Crowley county encourages the cultivation of both these cannabis products.