Crawford is a city in Dawes County, Nebraska, United States, in the Great Plains region.

[4] It was incorporated in 1886 and was named for the late Captain Emmet Crawford, who had been stationed at nearby Fort Robinson.

The "tent city" that sprang up around the railroad was named after Lt. Emmet Crawford, who had been formerly stationed at Fort Robinson but was killed in Mexico in January 1886.

[6][8] A second railroad, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, reached Crawford in 1889, providing an additional boost to the community.

Through the following years, the town had a variety of industries, including a brick works, mica mill, pickle factory, and a Nash Finch Company warehouse.

The state thought that Crawford's proximity to Fort Robinson would not be good for the school's young women students.

But many found it impossible to successfully conduct dry-land farming on the 640-acre plots made available, and began to sell out to ranchers.

Because of urbanization and people seeking jobs, and the decline of family agriculture on the Great Plains, the population has been steadily decreasing since.

[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.18 square miles (3.06 km2), all land.

Crawford sits 3,675 feet above sea level, and the surrounding area is rolling, with bluffs and low hills.

[18] Fort Robinson is a state park and National Historic Landmark District several miles west of Crawford that includes two museums and a play theatre.

Also, two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places are within the city limits, the Co-operative Block Building and the US Post Office.

Yearly events in Crawford include the Peabody Hale Fiddle Contest, the Old West Trail PRCA Rodeo, the Northwest Nebraska Rock Swap, numerous Independence Day activities, and the Fort Robinson Western & Wildlife Art Show.

Fort Robinson State Park[21] and the Nebraska National Forest are also local recreational areas.

The original Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad line was abandoned west of Crawford in 1992 by modern successor Chicago and North Western.