NORTH FORK VALLEY

The North Fork Valley is now recognized as "The Farm-to­-Table Capital of Colorado" because of its focus on producing organic fruits and veggies. The land also provides grazing for livestock, deer and elk. The town, part of a Colorado Creative District, attracts artists, musicians and crafts people, and is becoming an entrepreneurial hub for artisanal food, wine and beer. The local theater, the Paradise, is a venue not only for movies but also for live music, original plays and other community events.

Paonia and Hotchkiss share the bounty from lavender, wineries, orchards and rich agricultural roots that draw people in from around the country to enjoy their natural and organic benefits.

A lively town with a strong volunteer ethic, Paonia is home to several thriving nonprofits, including KVNF public radio, Solar Energy International, and High Country News. It hosts events such as a traditional July 4th Cherry Days celebration, Arts and Farm Tour, Mountain Harvest Festival, Oktoberfest, and a Christmas downtown celebration that features a craft market, hay rides and visits with Santa.

Enos T. Hotchkiss was one of the first white men to set eyes on the North Fork Valley when he rode in on horseback in 1879. Hotchkiss staked out a ranch in 1881 and established the North Fork as a prominent cattle/sheep and fruit-growing region. 

The Duke brothers, followed Mr. Hotchkiss in 1881 and planted 500 acres with apples, peaches and pears. The Dukes and Mr. Hotchkiss owned lots in town and some on surrounding mesas.

Hotchkiss provided a diverse economy that included cattle, fruit and mining. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad introduced rail transport by 1902. The Hotchkiss Fruit Company promoted Hotchkiss fruit as far away as New York City and Chicago. 

Today, Hotchkiss is a rural, quiet community of about 1,000 residents. Its livelihood is primarily agriculture and tourism. Hotchkiss is home to the North Fork Pool and Recreation District and adjoining soccer fields. The Delta County Fairgrounds are located in Hotchkiss,and is home to the County Fair the first full week of August. Summer kicks off in May with the Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials, and ends in September most years with the Colorado Grand, a classic 

car tour.  The area lavender, orchards and wineries are an additional draw.

Crawford, on Highway 92, was founded primarily on cattle, hay and grain. Too high for economically viable fruit growing, and far from North Fork coal deposits, Crawford was cattle country, and still is. The region was first settled by cattlemen who grazed herds of shorthorn cattle on summer mountain pastures and wintered them on the "dobies," or adobe hills, that range in gentle undulations down toward the North Fork Valley. 

Crawford was established on the Smith Fork of the Gunnison in the early 1880s. The town was named for Captain George Crawford, an early pioneer who, in passing through in 1882, remarked to town founder Harry Grant that the growing community needed a post office. The post office was established in 1887.

Today, Crawford remains a ranching and agricultural community - quiet, rural and remote. Crawford Pioneer Days is held annually to celebrate the heritage of the community. Tourism adds to the local economy thanks to recreational amenities at Crawford State Park and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Crawford provides the necessary attractions and support for a great recreational experience. 

Look for a prominent butte to the east of Crawford. Needle Rock is the weathered remains of a volcanic neck. An interpretive trail near its base provides an opportunity to explore.