Eaton

Eaton is in the heart of northeast Colorado's farmland. Just 10 miles north of Greeley and due east of Fort Collins, Eaton is a town of about 2,500 people. The farming communities around Eaton and in the entire region depend on the irrigation systems engineered by the town's namesake, Benjamin Harrison Eaton, who was a leader in creating and implementing the irrigation system that transformed the dry high plains into arable land. Eaton, the man, was also the governor of Colorado from 1885-1887.

Eaton is on the Union Pacific Railroad and when the train blows is horn and you look around to see the free farmland and the Rocky Mountains in the distance this little town feels like a real country western town in the plains. Modern day recreation is found in the golf course north of town at the Eaton Country Club, the neighborhood just south of the course is one of the new and nicer neighborhoods in town.

There are ranches and farmhouses for miles surrounding the area. Looking online I saw quite a few foreclosure properties in town and in the surrounding countryside. Homes in town average around $200,000 some really cheap.

Eaton is one of those outlying towns you don't hear much about, but that can be a good thing. In addition to almost no crime, there is a small town atmosphere where neighbors have known each other for years, but there are also new people in the mix. Within the town are small homes built on nice tree lined streets which have a feel of years gone by. On the outskirts of town are some large custom homes which have brought new residents to this quiet town. The median home price is $200,000 but for the homes in town it's probably closer to $100,000. Due to the custom homes going up into the $700,000 range this has brought that median price up.

Eaton is situated east of the mountains, but still has plenty of nice views. The town was named after the third Governor of Colorado and has several parks in the town named after him. There is the A.J. Eaton house museum located on Elm Avenue which discusses the history of the American Flag and talks about the many wars we have been in. There are some mannequins wearing old military uniforms and a lot of memorabilia to see.

The population of Eaton is roughly 4,400 and much of the community is surrounded by farms and ranches. Agriculture is all around and a big part of this community.

The schools in Eaton all rank high on state standardized testing scores and are very good in many sports. The coaches insist on good grades for their athletes, which is such a good thing. There seems to be good camaraderie within the student body, at least from an outsiders look in.

For anyone who doesn't need to live near a big city or works on the internet, this would be a great place to live, especially for those with children. There are only a few restaurants and shops, but the small town feel is warm and welcoming.