Crawford, Colorado Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Crawford, Colorado is a small town located in Delta County with a population of approximately 300 people. It is situated in the Gunnison River Valley, and is surrounded by the Uncompahgre Plateau to the west, and Grand Mesa to the east. The climate in Crawford is semi-arid with hot summers and cold winters. Snowfall can occur as early as October and as late as April.

The history of Crawford dates back to the 1880s when settlers first began moving into the area. The town was initially built around ranching and farming, but soon expanded to include other industries such as mining, timber, and tourism. In recent years, Crawford has become known for its arts scene with numerous galleries, music venues, and theaters.

Politics in Crawford are mainly centered around local issues such as water rights and economic development. The town’s economy relies heavily on tourism with many businesses catering to visitors exploring the area’s natural beauty or attending events at nearby ski resorts. There is also a vibrant agricultural sector that produces many of the region’s fruits and vegetables.

Crawford is home to two schools: Crawford Elementary School (K-6) and Delta County High School (7-12). Both schools offer a variety of educational opportunities including advanced placement classes, athletics programs, music classes, art classes, language classes, etc.

There are several notable landmarks in Crawford that attract visitors from all over Colorado including Black Canyon National Park which boasts some of America’s most stunning landscapes; Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area which offers hiking trails; Curecanti National Recreation Area which offers boating opportunities; Grand Mesa National Forest which offers camping sites; McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area which features amazing rock formations; and Uncompahgre Gorge which has picturesque views of waterfalls cascading over cliffsides.

Population: 366. Estimated population in July 2024: 386 (+5.5% change)
Males: 190 (51.9%), Females: 176 (48.1%)

Delta County

Zip code: 81415

Demographics

Median resident age: 36.1 years
Median household income: $23,281
Median house value: $97,400

Population by Race

Races in Crawford:

  • White Non-Hispanic (96.2%)
  • Hispanic (2.2%)
  • Other race (1.6%)
  • Two or more races (1.6%)
  • American Indian (1.1%)

Ancestries: German (28.1%), Irish (19.7%), English (12.0%), United States (8.2%), Scotch-Irish (7.9%), French (5.5%).

Elevation: 6520 feet

Land area: 0.3 square miles

Map of Crawford, CO

Population by Education

The population of Crawford, Colorado is approximately 600 people. It is a small rural town located in the northwest corner of the state. The majority of the population is white, with a slightly higher percentage of Hispanic citizens than the state average. There are also a small number of African American and Asian citizens living in Crawford.

Crawford is primarily a farming community, with most people working in agriculture-related businesses such as dairy farming and cattle ranching. The economy of Crawford is largely driven by tourism, as it is located near several popular recreational spots such as Black Canyon National Park and Grand Mesa National Forest. Additionally, many residents make their livings by providing services to tourists such as lodging, restaurants and retail stores.

Education is important to the residents of Crawford; there are three elementary schools in town that serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade. High school students attend Hotchkiss High School which serves students from neighboring towns as well as Crawford itself. There are also a few colleges and universities within close proximity to Crawford which offer educational opportunities for those seeking higher education.

Crawford has been able to maintain its small-town charm even with its growing population; it has kept its friendly atmosphere and tight-knit community spirit alive despite its growth over the years. It’s an ideal place to raise children or retire, since it offers all the amenities one would expect from a larger city without sacrificing on safety or quality of life for its citizens.

For population 25 years and over in Crawford

  • High school or higher: 70.9%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.3%
  • Unemployed: 6.3%
  • Mean travel time to work: 21.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Crawford town

  • Never married: 16.5%
  • Now married: 58.6%
  • Separated: 1.4%
  • Widowed: 10.5%
  • Divorced: 13.0%

1.4% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +166 (+83.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Crawford:

  • MONTROSE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 26 miles; MONTROSE, CO)
  • DELTA COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 33 miles; DELTA, CO)
  • GUNNISON VALLEY HOSPITAL (about 49 miles; GUNNISON, CO)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Crawford:

  • MONTROSE REGIONAL (about 24 miles; MONTROSE, CO; Abbreviation: MTJ)
  • GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE REGIONAL (about 50 miles; GUNNISON, CO; Abbreviation: GUC)
  • TELLURIDE REGIONAL (about 56 miles; TELLURIDE, CO; Abbreviation: TEX)

Other public-use airports nearest to Crawford:

  • CRAWFORD (about 2 miles; CRAWFORD, CO; Abbreviation: 99V)
  • NORTH FORK VALLEY (about 8 miles; PAONIA, CO; Abbreviation: 7V2)
  • BLAKE FIELD (about 31 miles; DELTA, CO; Abbreviation: 1V9)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Crawford:

  • WESTERN STATE COLLEGE COLORADO (about 47 miles; GUNNISON, CO; Full-time enrollment: 2,199)
  • COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE (about 59 miles; GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO; Full-time enrollment: 3,400)
  • MESA STATE COLLEGE (about 70 miles; GRAND JUNCTION, CO; Full-time enrollment: 4,415)
  • FORT LEWIS COLLEGE (about 99 miles; DURANGO, CO; Full-time enrollment: 4,051)
  • SAN JUAN COLLEGE (about 137 miles; FARMINGTON, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,837)
  • ADAMS STATE COLLEGE (about 147 miles; ALAMOSA, CO; Full-time enrollment: 4,147)
  • UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT COLORADO SPRINGS (about 181 miles; COLORADO SPRINGS, CO; Full-time enrollment: 4,953)

Public primary/middle school in Crawford:

  • CRAWFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 145; Location: 51 FIR AVE; Grades: KG – 08)