Crowley Apartment Renter's Guide
Crowley Apartment Renter's Guide
Overview
At one point in time, Crowley had more cows than people. Pioneers started farming there in 1848 around Deer Creek, and after the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroads were built there, the settlers all cheered for the master of transportation for the railroad, S.H. Crowley. It was still just a big old farm community for about 100 more years. Then, like most of the rest of north Texas, the population just exploded and it has never been the same since.
Crowley is a suburb south of Fort Worth
At one point in time, Crowley had more cows than people. Pioneers started farming there in 1848 around Deer Creek, and after the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroads were built there, the settlers all cheered for the master of transportation for the railroad, S.H. Crowley. It was still just a big old farm community for about 100 more years. Then, like most of the rest of north Texas, the population just exploded and it has never been the same since.
Crowley is a suburb south of Fort Worth. It is part of the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex that has seen astronomical growth for more than 20 years and isn't showing any sign of slowing down. Thousands of people move to the Dallas / Fort Worth area every month, in large part because the weather is warm, jobs are abundant and housing is cheap.
Moving to Crowley
Get in line! No, seriously, there's a lot of competition for rentals here. This is one hot area! When you want to find an apartment for rent in Crowley, you might have an easier time finding one -especially if a two-bedroom apartment will be enough. Three bedroom apartments are in high demand and usually have a waiting list.
If you want to find a house for rent, or even a rent to own house, be prepared to spend more time looking, though. Competition is high for all housing here, from apartments to rental homes, and especially when you want to buy a home. The number of people moving to the area has kept pace with and even exceeded the available housing. It's encouraging to see all the new construction of all types of housing taking place, but expect the stiff competition for housing to continue until those units are completed.
When you do finally find a great place to rent, you need to move quickly. This is not the kind of place where you can take a week or two to sleep on it! Come prepared to fill out an application on the spot when you look at an available property. If you're the lucky bidder and get approved for a place, expect that you'll have to pay the usual deposits and upfront costs like first (and sometimes also last) month's rent and additional pet deposits if you find pet friendly apartments.
Neighborhoods
Panther Heights: This is one of the newer and middle-priced neighborhoods in Crowley, which includes several streets with Rancho in their name, like Rancho Verde Pkwy, as well as the major road W. Cleburne Rd.
Deer Creek Estates: This neighborhood includes some of the biggest and most expensive houses in Crowley. This large neighborhood in West Crowley includes the major streets of Renfro, SW Alsbury and Crowley Rd.
Creekside: This neighborhood is one of the largest within Crowley, with more than 785 residents. It's located off of Crowley Rd and Main St.
Bear Creek: The Bear Creek neighborhood has a lot of parks and beautiful green surroundings. Nature lovers and people who love to be active will really appreciate the walking trails here.
Carson Ranch Estates: This neighborhood lies between McCart Ave and Crowley Road and has a well-established community group that helps the residents stick together.
Life in Crowley
Like most of Texas, life in Crowley is all about spreading out. With no shortage of land, there's plenty of room to just sprawl in all directions, and that's exactly what has happened. That's great news when it comes to feeling like you have some privacy and a little distance from your neighbors. But unfortunately it's not great news when it comes to commuting, especially when there is almost no public transportation to speak of.
Almost everyone in Crowley drives their own car, since public transportation options are few and far between. See, it wasn't that long ago, relatively speaking, that Crowley was a very country kind of suburb on the outskirts of Fort Worth. The transportation options haven't been able to keep with the rapid growth in the area. So take a deep breath and suck it up, because you are going to be spending a lot of time in the car.
Even with fairly long commutes, life in Crowley is worth it. Despite being a suburb of a large, fast growing city, Crowley still maintains some small town charms. If you've ever seen the show "Friday Night Lights," you should know that the Texan appreciation for its high school football teams isn't just fictional. On Friday nights in the fall, you will find a lot of your neighbors cheering on the local team!
You may be far enough away from the big city to feel like you have some peace and quiet, but you won't have to leave Crowley to have a good meal. Locals who appreciate a great slice of pizza rave about Chelsea Pizza, where they have a variety of traditional and gourmet topping combinations and even have gluten free pizza options. If good old Texas barbeque is more your speed -and what self-respecting Texan doesn't love barbeque? -- don't miss Cousins Pit Barbeque.
When you want to indulge your sweet tooth, check out Honey Donuts and BJ Donuts and Kolaches. Decide if you prefer one over their other, and be prepared to do several taste tests to make up your mind!
Although nearly every place in Texas has air conditioning, that doesn't mean you should never spend any time outdoors! The city of Crowley has a great public parks and recreation system that you can take advantage of and spend some time enjoying nature. Spring and fall are especially beautiful in Crowley, especially compared to other parts of the country that may be experiencing snow during those same months!
Bicentennial Park is the crown jewel of the Crowley parks system. It has a splash pad that's open during the months of May through September, and trust usyou'll need a place to cool off during those months! The park also has two pavilions that are available for rent on a first come, first served basis. The Harry S. Teeter Park has shade-covered playground equipment, which is a must to protect kids' skin from the blistering Texas sun! And the Dionne Bagsby All Sports Complex has two soccer fields and five ball fields, with the thoughtful inclusion of shade over the bleachers.
When you want a bit more of city life, you're not far away from the cultural amenities of downtown Fort Worth, too. The Fort Worth Zoo is well maintained and is an enjoyable place for animal lovers to spend a day. The Botanical Gardens are beautiful in any season and are so lush and green that you would hardly know that you're in Texas. If you have an appreciation for capital-C culture, the Bass Performance Hall has events that rival anything you would see in New York City or Los Angeles.
Crowley offers an affordable place to live with a comfortable mix of small-town charm and nearby big-city amenities. What's not to love?