Greeley is a city that combines the influences of the relaxed contemporary west and emerging cultural opportunities. The spectacular setting, with the prairie extending to the east, and the towering mountains to the west, provides endless opportunity for outdoor enjoyment. It is a university town, with galleries and museums, and a popular local annual rodeo. The estimated population in July 2004 was 84,815. It’s a great place to relocate, as housing prices are still quite reasonable.
Location
Greeley is the county seat of Weld county, Colorado. It is located an hour northeast of the capitol city of Denver, and is west of the Rocky Mountains and Front Range. Aurora is the nearest city with a population of over 200,000. It is 50 miles south of Greeley. Denver is 63 miles southwest of Greeley. Evans and Garden City are the closest cities to Greeley, both within 3 miles. La Salle, Eaton, Gilcrest, Milliken, Kersey and Ault are all within 15 miles of Greeley.
Geography
Greeley sits in a spectacular setting, with the prairie extending to the east, and the towering mountains to the west. The elevation of Greeley is 4,664 feet, with a total land area of 29.9 square miles. Greeley is located between the Cache La Poudre, and the South Platte Rivers. Reservoirs in Greeley include West Greeley Reservoir, Greeley Lake West Reservoir, Neill Brothers Reservoir, Neuman Lake and Cottonwood Lake.
Jobs
The major industries providing employment are educational, health and social services, (22.9%), manufacturing (12.5%), and retail trade (12.3%). Greeley is the main business address for UAP Holding Corporation (agriculture chemicals). Over half of the residents also work in the city (65.7%). The average commute for those who are employed elsewhere is 20 minutes.
Housing
The median housing price in Greeley is $175,800. Unlike many other housing markets, there are still very reasonably priced homes in northern Colorado. A three bedroom/two bath new construction single family home can be purchased in Greeley for under $200,000.
Recreation
There are numerous parks in Greeley, with a variety of recreational offerings including football, soccer, baseball and softball fields, tennis and basketball courts, in-line hockey and skate parks, pools, playgrounds, walking paths, fishing, dog runs, and picnic facilities with shelters.
Some of the parks in Greeley include Island Grove Regional Park, Gateway Lakes Natural Area, Bittersweet Park, Greeley West Park, Monfort Park, Sandborn Park, Centennial Park, Peak View Park, and East Memorial Park.
There are three golf courses within the city limits of Greeley. The Greeley Country Club is a private 18-hole course, and Boomerang Links and the Highland Hills Golf Course each offer 18-hole public courses.
Special Attractions/Events
The University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, where famous author James Michener received his master’s degree in 1935. He taught there for several years, and eventually used Greeley as the setting of his historical Colorado novel, Centennial. The university draws many guest artists and speakers who add to the cultural landscape of the town.
Each spring, Greeley hosts one of the largest jazz festivals in the U.S. The city is also home to the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra.
Boulder is an hour’s drive from Greeley and is the home of the University of Colorado. It is set in the foothills and has 33,000 acres of parks and trails. It is a progressive town, with environmental and spiritual interests well represented. It has a lively commercial district that includes the Pearl Street Mall, with great shopping and dining. Boulder also hosts the summer-long Colorado Music Festival, and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
Historic Tidbits
The community was named for Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, who called for young Americans to “Go West”. Greeley was one of the first stops for settlers who were aiming for the Rocky Mountains, but then decided to stop short of crossing them.
Greeley is located in the area that was once a major stagecoach stop on the Overland Trail, originally called the Cherokee City Station. It was one of the busiest places on the Overland Trail, being a junction for the trip south to Denver. Historical records indicate that it was also the site of the first birth of a white child in Colorado, a girl.
The most impressive historical attraction is the Centennial Village Museum that includes buildings that date back to the 1870’s. It is a collection of old homes, a church, a schoolhouse, and other buildings. The Museum is open from April through October.
Other historical sites include the Meeker Home Museum, the historic house of Nathan Meeker, known to be the town’s founder, and Fort Vasquez, (1835), which gives a view of life in the area before the founding of the town.
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