Buildings
The commercial district was first established on 8th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, with many wood frame structures. The buildings were adobe, wood frame or brick structures, and by 1879 the area had grown into a larger area, bounded by the railroad tracks and 9th Avenue on the east and west and by 7th Street and 9th Street on the north and south. However, all of the original commercial buildings have been replaced, primarily with brick buildings. There were several reasons for the use of brick:
- there were several brick factories in Greeley
- An 1880 fire destroyed a wood frame hotel known as the Greeley House.
Greeley's growth increased tremendously at the turn of the century, with many new businesses, industrial growth and building construction accompanying the population growth. Greeley's population grew from 3,023 in 1900 to 8,179 in 1910. Agricultural and industrial laborers worked at the new sugar beet factory, which was built in 1902 at 1st Avenue and 13th Street, and at the flour mill located at 7th Avenue and 5th Street.