Orchard City, CO: Where is the Historic Main Street?
Orchard City, Colorado
Orchard City is a statutory town in central Delta County, Colorado. State Highway 65 passes through the town, leading to county seat Delta (to the south) and Cedaredge (to the north).
August 2025: After lunch and exploring the small town of Cedaredge, we traveled a few miles south to the incorporated town of Orchard City.
Generally, we start our explorations of a small town in their historic business district. However, we were not able to identify a town center in Orchard City. We were a bit confused about how a historic town with over 3000 residents has such a small and scattered brick-and-mortar business footprint. Keep reading to learn the interesting reason why!
- 2023 population: 3,193
- 2023 median age: 53.9
- 2023 median household income: $65,282
- 2023 median property value: $286,500
Orchard City – A Brief History
Early 1900s – Small communities form a thriving fruit orchard Economy
Early settlements in the area included 3 communities – Austin, Eckhart and Cory. Fruit orchards and supporting services provide a living for many.
Austin was the dominant community, due to its proximity to the Gunnison River (ie. ice production) and a natural carbon dioxide spring (ie. dry ice production). It was a commercial hub because it had a railroad that carried both passengers and freight. Many businesses developed around the railroad, and by 1910, Austin had fruit sheds, a canning factory, general merchandise stores, a bank, a drugstore, a pool hall, and even a cement block factory
1910 – A community emergency requires a Plan!
Residence began getting sick with Typhoid and Diphtheria. Locals soon realized the illness was due to the unclean drinking water, which traveled from the river in a ditch. To solve this problem, the 3 communities worked together on a water pipeline plan to bring cleaner “mountain water” down from the Grand Mesa. Nearby, Cedaredge decided to lay the pipeline to the south end of town, and Austin would lay the rest of the pipeline.
1911 – How do 3 small communities fund and build a Pipeline? Teamwork!
The 3 communities discovered that building a pipeline required a bond to fund its construction, and that a bond requires an incorporated town.
1912 – Orchard City is created to solve a water quality problem
Although Austin was the largest town, it was not large enough to incorporate on its own. While Austin tried to figure out a solution, the desperate area ranchers decided to take action and build the pipeline themselves. Thus, part of the area was incorporated in 1912 under the common name of Orchard City, after their common defining feature. Unfortunately, the new town of Orchard City was also not large enough to float a bond!
After much discussion, the Austin residents agreed to annex into Orchard City and the combined communities were finally able to obtain a $50,000 bond for the pipeline, which was completed in 1916. Eventually, the small communities of Eckert and Cory became part of Orchard City as well as they tapped into the water pipeline.
1980s – Legacy of 3 communities – a legal glitch is discovered and fixed
It was not discovered until the 1980s that Eckert and Cory had never been properly annexed. The Town of Orchard City had to spend thousands of dollars publishing legal notices to finish the annexation.
By the 1980s the three communities were officially combined as they are today to form Orchard City. Each has separate post offices, separate zip codes, and separate histories, but all are part of one common entity.
Source: History | Orchard City, CO – Official Website
Small Town Vibe
Our Favorite Stop-by in Orchard City!
The Eckert Presbyterian Church
Although we did not find a business district on the map, we did notice an intersection along Hwy 64 and North Road with a beautiful old church! it is quite stunning and worth a look.
Other Places we missed
Online research indicates that we missed a couple of other community favorite places!
- Fritchman Orchards – Google Maps
- Route 65 – Google Maps – restaurant
- Living Waters Greenhouse – Google Maps
- Anderson’s Saddlery Custom Boots and Repair – Google Maps
- Orchard City Park – Google Maps
Small Town Vibe
A Spotlight on Placemaking Plans
Through online research, we found a
Community Master Plan (2016)
“The Orchard City Master Plan is a resource and a tool to help in decision-making on matters of land use and future town growth.
Instead, the Master Plan “is a framework for informed decision-making that will help guide growth in a manner that maintains quality of life, protects community values and helps Orchard City prepare for the future. It is intended to provide information and guidelines that clearly reflect town priorities while allowing some flexibility and interpretation.” (source: Community Master Plan | Orchard City, CO – Official Website)
