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The Town of Peetz
4/21/2025
Member of the Week
The biggest little town for its size in Colorado!
In 1900, the town was called Mercer by the Burlington Northern Railroad which built a section house and depot there. The name was changed to Peetz in honor of Peter Peetz who homesteaded here in 1903, having forty acres to the west of the railroad tracks where Peetz now lies, and eighty acres to the east of the railroad. The forty acres of Mr. Peetz's land west of the railroad tracks was sold to the Lincoln Land Company and plotted for a town. Peetz grew slowly till World War I brought better prices and the town grew to its highest population, 440. There were over 50 business ventures at that time.
The depression and dust bowl hit together in the thirties and banks closed. Many pioneers left, depleting the population, which never rose again.
Constant in the history of Peetz is a school, starting in a one room schoolhouse over to the railroad depot in 1903. In 1911, a large frame house was erected in the northeast part of town. In 1917, a three-story brick school with a gym and basement was built. This served as the house of learning until 1944, when it burned to the ground. In 1945, the present stucco building was erected. There have been many additions since then.
Water and lights were installed in the Town in 1917, the phone system in 1918. Through the years of 1916-1960 their baseball team was known throughout the states. Baseball was "King" of the tableland! The "farm boys" took on all comers, playing on many semi-pro teams.
In 1907, a prairie fire started at Kimball, Nebraska and burned to the railroad tracks at Peetz. Another prairie fire threatened to wipe out the town in 1916.
Peetz now has a population of around 200. The school is one of the state's best. The business section includes the grain elevator, the service station, the Hot Spot (a bar/restaurant,) the telephone office, and a post office. The best wheat across the country is still raised in this area. The two churches and the school continue to hold Peetz together.
The Town of Peetz supplies water/sewer/trash service for all residents. Marick’s Waste Disposal is the Town’s trash provider. Xcel Energy supplies electricity service for the Town. Heating fuel is all privately owned propane tanks. The Town also oversees the Peetz Cemetery and keeps cemetery records.
Traci Davenport has been the Mayor of Peetz since 2008. The Town Board is made up of 7 Trustees, including the mayor. The Board meets once a month on the second Monday of each month.
Evelyn Gardiner replaced Dawn Fiscus in 2018 as Clerk/Treasurer. Her part-time office hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00-4:00 and Tuesday afternoons from 1:30-4:00. Gardiner is a Notary Public, a free service offered by the Town.
Ron Gentry became the full-time Maintenance Manager in January 2024. Gentry was named Colorado Rural Water Association (CRWA) Rookie Water Operator of the Year at the CRWA Conference held in Loveland in March. He can be reached at 970-466-2256 Mon-Fri. from 7:30-3:30.
Peetz has hosted its annual fall celebration in conjunction with the Peetz School homecoming celebration, known as For Peetz Sake Days, since 1970. The event features a free meal on Friday evening during Homecoming Week, hosted by various civic organizations in town, a free breakfast on Saturday morning hosted by the Peetz Fire Department, a Main Street parade, children’s games, horseshoe tournament, arts and crafts fair, high school football and volleyball games, Homecoming dance at the high school, and a dance at the Hot Spot Smokehouse for adults. The Lion’s Club is in charge of selecting the parade marshals each year.
The Town Hall is located at 621 Main Street, PO Box 7, Peetz, CO 80747, call 970-344-2473 or find them on Facebook at www.townofpeetz.com.
Please join the Logan County Chamber of Commerce in congratulating The Town of Peetz as this week’s Member of the Week and tying our Community together!
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