Flagler

Flagler, Colorado is a small statutory town along Interstate 70 and the former Rock Island Railroad line. I

History

Flagler began in 1888 as a small settlement along the newly built Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. An early post office and store in the area operated under the name Bowser in the late 1880s, and a townsite known as Malowe (or Malow) developed beside the tracks before the present name was adopted. Flagler was officially incorporated as a town in November 1916, formalizing its status as a growing plains community. The town was renamed Flagler in honor of Henry Flagler, the prominent railroad builder and oil magnate, after his daughter is said to have admired the area and requested the change. This tied the community’s identity to the broader railroad and oil era, and the new name replaced the early designations of Bowser and Malowe used during its first years as a rail siding and trading point. Current popluation of Flagler is 556

Major Industries

Agriculture is the town’s main economic base, with Flagler functioning as a hub for grain, livestock, and farm supply activity for the surrounding High Plains. Over time, local businesses, a grain elevator, banking, and highway‑oriented services along I‑70 have complemented the original railroad‑centered economy while still serving the same farm and ranch segments.

Geography

Flagler is located at approximately 39.293° N and 103.067° W. The town sits at an elevation of about 4,970 feet.

Obscure and Notable Facts

The Flagler Hotel, built in 1908–1909 by W.H. Lavington and W.L. Price, later became the town’s hospital and today serves as the Town Hall and library.