Greeley is the most populous municipality of Wels County, Colorado. It serves as the principal city of the Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. Greeley is one of the major cities of the Front Range Urban Corridor and is located in the northern half of Colorado and is 49 miles from the Colorado State Capitol, Denver.

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Greeley was 108,795, making it the tenth most populous city in the state of Colorado.

Geography

Greeley is just 40km east of the Rocky Mountains, and the Cache La Poudre River flows through the northern part of the city. The United States Census of 2020 places Greeley as having an area of 31,419 acres, with 102 acres being water.

History

Greeley has its roots in the union colony of Colorado. The town was founded in 1869 when a journalist named Nathan Miller of the New York Tribune got backing from his editor to search for a utopian farming community. Due to this, a committee travelled to Colorado to find a suitable site to set up the community. They purchased 12000 acres at the confluence of the rivers Cache la Poudre and South Platte. A short time later, residents arrived and took up residence in the new community. The name Union Colony would later be changed to Greeley in honour of Horace Greeley, who first came to the area in 1859 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, and the town was incorporated on April 6, 1886

Agriculture and farming were instrumental in the growth of Greeley City, and the city managed to adapt to new technologies as they emerged. The farmers in Greeley greatly benefited from the first and second World Wars as they provided higher market access and higher demand for farm produce. Farmers during the early days of Greeley mainly grew potatoes and sugar beets until sweeteners based on corn were introduced into the market in the 1940s, out-competing the sugar beets.

Greeley was purposefully located in an area that had a good water supply. The town’s pioneers did not know the vast deposits of oil and natural gas beneath it. Most of the oil and gas deposits were located in the farmer’s fields, while today, most of the oil is drilled within residential and urban areas. The exploration of oil and gas in the city of Greeley has, without a doubt, been a significant factor in its success.

Modern-day Greeley

Weld County is among the fastest-growing in Colorado, and this has seen an increase in population within Greeley and its environs. It has necessitated reorganising energy extraction, water resources, city development, and agriculture. In modern-day Greeley, real estate companies purchase agricultural land for development. The city is purchasing agricultural land because of the water rights, while oil and gas companies are also buying land for agriculture to pursue their energy goals.

In the parts of Greeley that still carry out agriculture, the main crops grown are; baby carrots, sugar beets, feed corn, wheat, barley, oats, dry beans and potatoes.

Modern-day Greeley also has good infrastructure. The Greeley-Evans Transit operates many local bus routes and provides public transportation in the Greeley area. Buses to Denver and Buffalo are also available through Express Arrow.

Things To Do While In Greeley, Colorado

Visitors to Greeley have a wide range of recreation options, and the list below cites some of those options.

  • Highland Hills Golf Course – It was established in 1964, and this course has been a recreation attraction for both locals and golfers from out of town. The championship level course offers drastic changes in elevation, aesthetic mountain views, and 18 holes, which can be challenging even to the more experienced big hitters.
  • Weldwerks Brewing Company – This establishment offers locally-made craft beers for beer lovers and is located on 8th Avenue in Greeley. This facility has everything from hop-filled IPA and Berlin-style brews to milk stout guaranteed to leave your taste buds yearning for more.
  • Kress Cinema & Lounge – It is one of few independent movie houses in the city. It offers a complimentary bar and restaurant services, making it the perfect evening destination for movie lovers and those who enjoy good food, craft beer, and cocktails. The movie selection is top-notch and covers all the popular film genres across the years and fan favourites.
  • Centennial Village Museum – It is a great place to visit if you are a fan of history, especially Greeley. This museum has a modern twist as it features actors dressed in period costumes that interact with visitors

Schools In Greeley, Colorado

For the most part, Greeley lies in the Weld County School District 6. Four high schools serve Greeley; Greeley Central High School, Jefferson High School, Northridge High School and Greeley West High School.

In the Greeley area, four middle schools teach students between 6-and 8. The middle schools are; Heath Middle, Brentwood Middle, Franklin Middle and Prairie Heights Middle School.

Some of the colleges and universities in and around Greeley are; the University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College and the Institute of Business and Medical Careers.

Living And Working In Greeley

The growth of Greeley has made it into one of the most desired places to live in Northern Colorado. Some of the most popular neighbourhoods are: Fox Run, Summer Park, Westmoor West, Gateway Estates, College Green Gardens
Economic developments have also propelled Greeley to be a city that offers employment in many fields such as agriculture, energy, medicine, technology and the service industry. The largest employers in the town of Greeley are;

  • JBS USA
  • Banner Health
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • State Farm
  • City of Greeley
  • Greeley-Evans School District 6