Crawford County.

• Author: Mayer, Kathy
• Position: Focus

While Crawford County isn't yet "the little engine that could," the 307-square-mile southern Indiana county of not quite 11,000 residents thinks it can achieve the title. And, indeed, it's well on its way.

Some of the hills it's already chugged up: a flooded-many-times-over town that's been rebuilt a few miles away, a new championship golf course on the town's former site, and 4 million square feet of underground space left over from limestone mining that are now a warehouse and distribution center.

Several other positive developments include a new wastewater-treatment plant under way, two industrial parks ready for more tenants, and a new revolving-loan fund for startup and existing businesses. With forests, caves, a river, a lake, the new golf course, luxury accommodations and a cooperative effort to attract visitors, tourism could soon boom. And with Interstate 64 crossing the county east to west, the county is easily accessed--by visitors and industrial transporters alike.

"Everyone is trying to work together," says Patricia Stroud, executive director of the Crawford County Economic Development Commission--the first to hold such a post in the county. "There's a lot of collaboration going on among towns, the chamber, elected officials and others. We're all working together to move ahead."

That's likely an easy task for county leaders, considering they've already moved an entire town--the county seat of English, with a population of about 650--which had flooded a number of times in several decades.

"English flooded in 1979 and again in 1987. The federal government came in with an offer to buy out all the people in flood plain and relocate them instead of rebuilding," recalls resident Gary Hammond.

It took 10 years to create the new town, and building continues. "In English, we'll soon break ground on a new courthouse and a new medical center," Stroud says.

In classic lemons-to-lemonade style, Hammond and partner Mark Megenity then developed the Old English Golf Course on the town's former site. Renowned golf-course designer Dr. Michael Hurdzan, known for his environmentally sensitive course designs, volunteered his services. The public course opened this spring.

The design incorporates some remains from the old town, such as roof trusses from the John Deere dealership used in a bridge, stones from the old library used in a retaining wall and part of old State Road 64 still visible. The course covers rolling terrain and hills of southern...