Crawford County survey shows strong support for housing, mixed views on countywide zoning and renewables

Crawford County planners presented the results of a comprehensive-plan survey to the Crawford County Commission on a September 2025 meeting, reporting 2,303 responses and outlining resident priorities including new housing, expanded utilities and targeted economic incentives.

The presentation by consultant Joshua Alton opened with the survey’s scope and sample: “2,303,” Alton said when asked the total responses. He told commissioners the sample was dominated by long-term, property-owning residents and that the data included both paper and electronic surveys.

The results identified housing as a primary local concern: respondents reported an older housing stock, limited new construction and a preference for single-family homes. Alton said most respondents rated housing quality “fair to poor,” and that roughly 86% of respondents had lived in Crawford County 10 years or longer. He said 96% of respondents identified as permanent residents and cited a stated margin of error of about 3%.

On zoning, the survey produced mixed results. About 40% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with countywide zoning, Alton said; a large share were neutral. Alton recommended…