Crawford, Nebraska
| Crawford, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Downtown Crawford: 2nd Street, looking north from Linn Street
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 Location of Crawford, Nebraska |
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| Coordinates: 42°41′1″N 103°24′44″W / 42.68361°N 103.41222°WCoordinates: 42°41′1″N 103°24′44″W / 42.68361°N 103.41222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Dawes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.18 sq mi (3.06 km2) |
| • Land | 1.18 sq mi (3.06 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,678 ft (1,121 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 997 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 992 |
| • Density | 844.9/sq mi (326.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 69339 |
| Area code(s) | 308 |
| FIPS code | 31-11195 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0835534 |
| Website | http://www.crawfordnebraska.net/ |
Crawford is a city in Dawes County, in the northwestern part of the state of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1886 and was named for the late Captain Emmet Crawford who had previously been stationed at nearby Fort Robinson.
The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad reached Fort Robinson in 1886 on its way to Wyoming. Several miles east of the Fort the railroad passed through a tree claim belonging to William Annin (also spelled "Annon"), who sold his claim for a new townsite. The "tent city" that sprang up was named after Lt. Emmet Crawford, who had been formerly stationed at Fort Robinson but was killed in Mexico in January 1886. The town's original plat was filed on June 21, 1886 by the Western Townsite Company. E.A. Thompson and William D. Edger (editor of the original Crawford Clipper) circulated a petition for Crawford to become a village, but upon getting only 69 of the 200 needed signatures, secured the remaining signatures from willing soldiers at Fort Robinson. Crawford was incorporated in August 1886.
The soldiers kept the town supplied with much business during its early years because of their want for entertainment. Crawford was a very wild town, and was home to many saloons and brothels. In fact, Calamity Jane came to Crawford from Deadwood, South Dakota with ten dancing girls and set up a tent south of town. There were also a number of murders that took place in Crawford, most involving soldiers from Fort Robinson.
A second railroad, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, reached Crawford in 1889, providing an additional boost to the community. In 1907 Crawford became a city, and by 1911 Crawford had the seventh-most business volume in Nebraska. Through the years Crawford saw many businesses come and go, including a brick works, mica mill, pickle factory, and a Nash Finch Company warehouse. Crawford also lobbied for a state normal school, but the school (now Chadron State College) was established in nearby Chadron due to Crawford's proximity to Fort Robinson. Perhaps the most fascinating Crawford business was the Elite Theater, which was established circa 1910 in a converted saloon. The theater was owned and operated by Mrs. Georgianna Higgins, thought to be the first woman theater owner in the United States.
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