Crawford in Delta County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Crawford

Last of the Cowtowns

— Crawford Country —

Crawford Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 20, 2025

1. Crawford Marker

Inscription.
As one author put it, “Crawford is a unique cow town, one of the last of its kind in the West.” The boardwalk, old church and adjoining cemetery add western flavor to this center of cattle and sheep ranching.

Prior to WWII several of the most progressive businesses in Delta County could be found in Crawford. It boasted a State Bank, an electric light plant and a telephone co-op. There was a hotel, a theater, three grocery and dry goods stores, two meat markets and packing plants, plus a cheese factory, flour mill, creamery and dairy route, pharmacy and barber shop. A black-smithing and iron works firm served many needs, like silver-mounted spurs which sold for an attractive price. There was a trucking firm and stage route, plus a weekly newspaper.

Now there are many home-based industries here which include well known art glass blowers, woodworking and fine furniture craftsmen, metal workers, sculptors, quilters, seamstresses, fine art painters, antique collectors, stained glass workers and weavers.

Visit our town hall and community center; opening in 1908 it was the public school building for grades 1-12. The last high

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school class graduated in 1962 when this building became an elementary school, providing education for grades 1-8. In 1982 a new elementary school was built and the town purchased the historic building.

For further information on trails, activities, events or directions visit any one of Crawford's friendly merchants. For emergency medical service 911 is available in our area.

[photo captions]
• Crawford Community Church
• Blown Glass
• Town Hall / Community Center
• Oldest House in Crawford

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 38° 42.227′ N, 107° 36.632′ W. Marker is in Crawford, Colorado, in Delta County. It is on State Highway 92 just west of F Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is mounted in the West Elk Loop Byway interpretive kiosk in front of the Crawford Town Hall & Community Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 425 Colorado Highway 92, Crawford CO 81415, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 20, 2025

2. Crawford Marker

This is the leftmost of 3 panels on the south side of the West Elk Loop Byway interpretive kiosk.

the Western Slope.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Crawford State Park (here, next to this marker); Agriculture (here, next to this marker); West Elk Loop (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named West Elk Loop (approx. 8.4 miles away); Hotchkiss-Crawford Historical Museum (approx. 8.8 miles away); Hotchkiss Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 8.9 miles away); First Hotchkiss School Bell (approx. 8.9 miles away); Hotchkiss Memorial Hall (approx. 8.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crawford.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Crawford, Colorado

Also see . . . Crawford, Colorado (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Crawford was founded in 1882. The town was named for George A. Crawford, governor-elect
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 20, 2025

3. West Elk Loop Byway Interpretive Kiosk
The marker is mounted inside the interpretive kiosk.
of Kansas and a founder of Grand Junction, Colorado. The Crawford, Colorado, post office opened on April 14, 1883. The surrounding mesas and valleys support a farming and ranching community.

(Submitted on January 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Crawford Town Hall & Community Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 20, 2025

4. Crawford Town Hall & Community Center

It is about 45 meters northeast of the West Elk Loop Byway Interpretive Kiosk.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 75 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.