Crawford was originally settled around 1740. Crawford was originally part of the Town of Montgomery. Crawford was established as a town in 1823. In 1813, the town was branded as the butter capital of the world. Searsville, once an economic center and location of the town government, lost its status when the railroad came to the town through another area.
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,875 people, 2,707 households, and 2,133 families residing in the town. The population density was 196.3 people per square mile. There were 2,851 housing units at an average density of 71.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 95.59% white, 1.19% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% of the population. There were 2,707 households, out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couplesliving together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.29. In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males. The median income for a household in the town was $57,063, and the median income for a family was $63,722. Males had a median income of $42,200 versus $30,763 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,614. About 2.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Crawford
Bullville - A hamlet in the south part of Crawford on NY-17K at the intersection of NY-302.
Collabar - a hamlet in the south part of Crawford on NY-17K.
Hopewell - a former community in the town.
Pine Bush - hamlet in the town's northwest corner at the junction of NY-52 and NY-302.