Benjamin F. Crowell was an influential individual in the organization and development of Colorado City and El Paso County.

In 1860, Crowell and his family immigrated to Colorado City by way of the Santa Fe Trail along the Arkansas River. Because of his printing and bookbinding skills, Crowell published the first newspaper of Colorado City-The Colorado City Journal-in May 1861.

After the federal government created the Colorado Territory in February 1861, newly commissioned Territorial Governor William Gilpin charged all of the mining communities with creating local governments. As a result, the citizens of El Paso County held a convention on November 24, 1861, nominating Benjamin F. Crowell to run for county commissioner. After the elections a short time later, Crowell became one of three of the first El Paso County Commissioners.

Besides running the newspaper and his civic duties as a commissioner, Crowell and his family operated a farm on Bachelor Flats located approximately four miles below Colorado City.