Located in northeast Colorado, Phillips County is an agricultural goldmine, with the majority of its land composed of farms and ranches. A top producer of sheep, cattle, hogs, and corn, the county extends across 688 square miles and is home to over 300 farms.
Phillips County can be accessed from the two major highways, US 386 and US 6, that intersect in Holyoke. These highways connect to the neighboring counties of Sedgwick, Logan, and Yuma, as well as to Nebraska to the east. The Denver metro area is just over 2 hours away.
Like other counties in this corner of Colorado, Phillips County was originally part of Weld County. The area briefly became part of Logan County as well until its incorporation in 1889. It was named after R.O. Phillips, the secretary of the Lincoln Land Company.
Agriculture in Phillips County started booming in the early 1900s due to the introduction of winter wheat, and again in the mid-20th century when farmers gained access to water from the Ogallala Aquifer.
Today, the county is home to over 4,200 residents (as of 2017 Census estimates) and its most populous city is Holyoke, the county seat.
Holyoke is where you will find more than half of the county’s residents – it has a population of approximately 2,300 –as well as most businesses and services. Among the city’s attractions is the W. E. Heginbotham House, an elegant 1920s Craftsman listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which now serves as a public library.
Other communities in Phillips County are:
- Haxtun
- Amherst
- Paoli
Phillips County real estate
Real estate in Phillips County is a mix of single-family homes of various sizes as well as agricultural properties that range from hobby farms to expansive acreage. Ranch-style homes are prevalent and there are quite a few well-preserved residences that date back to the 1920s and earlier.
Phillips County attractions and activities
- Phillips CountyFair – The Phillips County Fair, held at the Phillips County Fairgrounds in Holyoke, is a much-awaited annual event.Held every July,it features art exhibits, live entertainment, and delicious food. The fairgrounds complex is also home to the Phillips County Raceway.
- Homesteader’s Park– Located at the Phillips County Fairgrounds complex, this enormous park has a universally accessible playground, a splash pad, a turf field, a disc golf course, and a network of walking and biking paths.
- Ballyneal Golf Course – Avid golfers will certainly enjoy teeing off at what has often been described as one of the best golf courses in the world. This private golf resort in Holyoke offers challenging links-style golf set against a hilly landscape that wouldn’t look out of place on the Scottish coast.
- Holyoke Lions Club Fishin’ Hole – Spend the day from the dock at the two fully stocked ponds in the Holyoke Lions Club Fishin’ Hole. The fishing center also has picnic areas and a handicap area for fishing.
Looking for the perfect horse property, farm or ranch home in Phillips County? Get in touch with me, Claudia Hewell at 970-672-6976 or send me an email at Claudia@HorsePropertyDeals.com today.