The town is 914 metres above sea level, and much of It�s surrounding districts being higher, this is what ensures Crookwell at least one good snowfall per year. Crookwell's climate changes readily depending on the season, its summer days can be very hot, while the nights are always cool/cold.

Crookwell was originally known as 'Kiama', and was surveyed in 1860. The Royal Hotel was built in 1862 and the 1st school opened in 1864, by which time the population was 130. A Wesleyan Church was built at Crookwell in 1865, The Anglican Church in 1866 and the first Post Office opened in 1867.
Goulburn Street (Main Street) was laid out in 1869. By 1872 the population had increased to 1000. The first Passenger Coach was introduced in 1875 to hasten access to Goulburn. By 1878 there were also at least two Hotels, a Bank, a Tannery, a Police Station, a Cordial Factory, a Flour Mill, Saddlery, Blacksmith's, Butcher and five Stores. The first Town Show (The Crookwell Show) took place in 1879 and The Telegraph was connected in 1881. A butter factory was built at Crookwell in 1890. The railway arrived in 1901, and The local shire was established in 1906.

Recent History

Over the past few years in Crookwell there has been a major shift in lifestyle. The average age of grazing property owners is getting older; there are very few young people on the land. On a family property of say 1000 acres in the past, one son would have come home to help his father and be able to have a comfortable income for both families. These days with barely a living for one family the son would have to find employment elsewhere other then on the families farm. Another example of the above situation is that the property would be cut up into several smaller blocks. The son would still work elsewhere, while the main block still run the same; absentee owners would own the other small blocks. They would have the father care taking the blocks, which in turn would supplement his income.

With these subdivisions, where grazers have sheep, cattle and grow potatoes, they may have a nursery or grow grapes and in some cases nothing is done and the land is neglected, noxious weeds and animals may become a problem. One example of a property to be subdivided is "Norfolk Rise", which has been in the same family, since the early 1850's. Over the years it has changed from a sheep grazing and potato growing property to a sheep and cattle property. Besides the obvious changes "Norfolk Rise's" has been subdivided into several small blocks. All the small blocks of land have now been sold, to a range of different owns, who will each bring with them a new way of life for "Norfolk Rise".

Crookwell Council along with many of the local residents decided a few years ago to change the outlook of Crookwell historical Main Street, to a more modern & safer design much like that of the town of Young. What had been planned to be just a matter of fixing the damaged draining system in Goulburn Street, became one of Crookwell's largest geological changes this decade. Many people use to look upon Goulburn St as being a plain old street, with a few shops here and there, this was the place where many of us would only go to when needing to buy something. It had never been thought of as a tourist attraction. Now days when visitors or anyone else for that matter drives into Crookwell are firstly met with retard and widened road, which all motorists like. Secondly they are met with the great beauty that is the town of Crookwell, that being the newly installed Round-about which is covered with gorgeous roses and a tall light post, which some say can be seen from Kilometres away on a clear night. Moving further into the town, there are pretty little ornamental Cherry Trees, which have been planted evenly along both sides of the street, guarded against dangerous motorists by colourful tree guards.

As well as this Crookwell's Council now days, is more aware of people's safety as well as the beauty of the town. They have improved the crossing by turning it into a main feature. Adding a warm atmosphere of beautiful flower gardens with pansies and other flowering plants. Seats have also been placed at the crossing, which gives the area a friendly atmosphere that helps attract people to the crossing and therefore save lives.

Over the years the Business District of Crookwell has also seen a number of changes, new businesses come and go, bringing with them, new employment opportunities for the local people. But there's always the fact that some business haven't serviced the past few years as well as many people, due to the last drought having a bad effect on much of the district, which will hopefully bounce back in a few years.

Crookwell is renowned for its Hockey and many sports fields like Jean Todkill Park, which once was sheep grazing property. The land was donated to the Crookwell Hockey Association by Jean Todkill family after her untimely death. A dam has been made to water the fields and large pine trees planted for protection from the wind. They look really nice situated on the Goulburn Rd, just as motorists enter Crookwell from the Goulburn end.

A large subdivision called Laver Place has been developed not that far from Crookwell High School on a site that use to be grazing land. It has become popular site for new houses, which at this point in time making a lot of work for local builders in the area.
Telstra Tower has been erected to improve phone services, particularly in small places such as Peelwood, its situated as the back of the Telstra Office.
There is a Mobile Phone Tower in Millers Paddock on Old Binda Rd at the back of the Ostrich Farm. Pinelea Ostrich Farm was started a few yrs ago as an alternative to having all sheep as well.

There have also been many changes over the years to the district surrounding Crookwell. On the Kialla Rd there are now subdivisions and new houses where properties one were. Many sheep and cattle still graze along this road. There's also a Gladioli Farm owned by The Willis Family, they employ a lot of people at picking and packing times, this property was used for sheep only.

Heading on out towards the Laggan area there has been a lot of subdivision near Redground, which in later years has become quite a popular place to build new homes. Mostly due to the fact that the owners can live every close to Crookwell & still have a property large enough to provide an income from or just have a hobby farm.

The Laggan area it's self has always been known for its sheep and cattle grazing as well as potatoes and some of the best fat lambs in the district. Times are slowly changing, some of the properties are being sold, their owners moving and some retiring. Two properties now changed to Nurseries. Laggan Nursery sells strawberries and plants also have ducks, goats, sheep and horses instead of all sheep grazing. The other Nursery grows flowers sold in local shop or you can pick your own. Once cattle grazed it now has a hot house cool room & flowerbeds with a few sheep grazing.
 

Today

EDUCATION
Preschool: Crookwell Preschool
Primary Schools: Bigga, Binda, Tuena, Five Mile Tree, Laggan and Crookwell; St Mary
High School: Crookwell High
Adult Education through Southern Region Community College and The Neighbourhood Centre

COMMUNITY SERVICES
Library; 2 Doctors, 1 Dentist, Baby Health Centre, Crookwell Hospital, Retirement Units, Hostel, Haney Nursing Home, Women's Health Clinic, Crookwell Day Centre - Occupational Therapy, Visiting Physiotherapy, Speech therapy and other services.

RECREATION
There are many Sporting Facilities including: Golf, Bowls, Tennis, Field Hockey, Cricket, Touch Football, Rugby League, Rugby Union. Others: Crookwell Amateur Dramatic Society; Open Gardens in Spring and Autumn; Off Road Racing; Crookwell Country Weekend; Binda Picnic Races; Tuena Gold rush Festival.

Over time Crookwell like every other town or city in the world sees many changes if not in the environment, but in the people who live there. Crookwell has seen a lot over the past 10 years, and should keep getting stronger as it starts to recover after so many years of hardship.