Ordway

Ordway is the County Seat of Crowley County

History

Ordway began its journey in the early 1890s, with a post office established in 1890 and officially named after Denver politician George N. Ordway. In 1891, George N. Ordway and two business partners laid out the town—initially just two tar roofed shacks, a general store, and a lot of open land. Their pitch to investors from Denver and Greeley centered on irrigated agriculture, capitalizing on rich soil and favorable climate—helping launch farming of onions, plums, apples, corn, cherries, and the famed Rocky Ford cantaloupes. The Missouri Pacific Railway depot, erected around this time, further boosted growth by linking Ordway with larger trade networks. Although the depot burned down in 1918 and was rebuilt, it eventually disappeared, leaving only the railroad tracks as reminders Meanwhile, irrigation projects—such as the Colorado Canal diverting water from Bob Creek—opened up tens of thousands of acres for farming by the early 1890s. This agricultural boom turned Ordway into a bustling commercial center. By incorporation in 1900, the town already featured a grain mill and elevator, a Methodist church, saloon, pool hall, lumberyard, plus a bank and newspaper (First National Bank of Ordway and the Ordway New Era in 1902). In 1911, Crowley County was formed, and after a contentious rivalry with nearby Sugar City, Ordway was designated as the county seat. The first courthouse was erected in 1915. The early 20th century saw expansive agricultural operations like the Boston Farm—a 5,400 acre estate with a grand 25 room house—though it was later broken into smaller farms. Ordway’s prime likely spanned from the 1900s through the 1920s, when irrigation, rail access, agriculture, and civic infrastructure converged to fuel population and economic growth. While the town then stabilized, its agricultural roots—particularly farming and livestock—remain the backbone of the community. Today, it's still noted for a large, 60,000 head cattle feedlot and its agrarian heritage. • Its vintage Town Hall, built in 1923, served multiple roles: town hall, community library, police station, jail, and even part of the fire hall. • Ordway is a friendly waypoint for cyclists crossing the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, particularly along Highway 96, since the trail's establishment in 1976. • Annual community events include the Ordway Summer Festival (3rd weekend in June) featuring classic car shows and parades, and Crowley County Days (last week of July), known for its unique pitchfork served roast beef barbecue.

Geography

Ordway sits at 38.21972° N, 103.75722° W. It was incorporated on September 4, 1900. Elevation is around 4,311 ft (1,314 m) .Ordway serves as Crowley County’s seat. Crowley County which overall spans 800 sq mi, with 787 sq mi of land and 13 sq mi (1.6%) water—the latter including Lake Meredith, a key local lake As of the 2020 Census, Ordway had a population of 1,066—a decline of about 1.3% from 2010. Population trends show dramatic growth from the turn of the century—138 in 1900 to over 1,186 by 1920—followed by fluctuations, peaking near 1,290 in 195.

Comment

Ordway like so many other towns in south east colorado are inextricably linked to irrigation, railroad or cattle. It was actually the only community that had a large cattle operation neaarby. As a side note I was fascinated by the "Hotel Ordway" that had replaced the entire front entrance area with a huge mirror.